Cattle selectivity by leopards suggests ways to mitigate human-leopard conflict

Area of Science:

• Wildlife ecology
• Carnivore-livestock interactions
• Predation analysis

Background:

• Livestock losses to carnivores are a significant economic and ecological challenge globally.
• Understanding predator prey selection is crucial for effective wildlife management and conservation.
• Leopard (Panthera pardus) predation on livestock, particularly cattle, is a concern in various ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific cattle characteristics (age, sex, coloration) preferred by leopards in the Hyrcanian forest, Iran.
• To quantify leopard predation selectivity across different spatial scales.
• To inform livestock management practices aimed at reducing carnivore-induced losses.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of an individual-based database of cattle (n=932) and leopard kills (n=70).
• Calculation of Jacobs' selectivity index for cattle age, sex, and coloration.
• Evaluation of selectivity at multiple scales: study area, sites, villages, and individual owners.

Main Results:

• Naturally colored cattle were significantly preferred by leopards compared to black and black-and-white cattle at all analyzed scales.
• Leopards showed a preference for male and juvenile cattle at the study area level.
• Selectivity patterns were consistent across different spatial scales, indicating robust prey preferences.

Conclusions:

• Livestock phenotypic (coloration) and biologic (age, sex) characteristics significantly influence leopard predation.
• Reducing the proportion of naturally colored cattle and managing access of males and juveniles to forests may mitigate losses.
• Further research within a predator-prey framework is needed to validate these findings and develop targeted conservation strategies.