Notes from the field Crawling towards species conservation First pumas monitored by Global Positional System at Brazilian anthropized Cerrado Fernanda Cavalcanti de Azevedo, Programa de Conservação Mamíferos do Cerrado (PCMC). Rua Vereador Nicomedes Nunes, 135/casa 10, Bosque, 38.446-000, Araguari-MG.
[email protected] Frederico Gemesio Lemos, PCMC & Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) / Campus Catalão / Departamento de Ciências, Biológicas. Avenida Lamartine P. Avelar, 1120 Bloco K, sala 7, Setor Universitário, 75.704-20, Catalão-GO.
[email protected] Ricardo Corassa Arrais, PCMC & Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal / Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia / Universidade de São Paulo Caio Filipe da Motta Lima, PCMC Rogério Cunha de Paula, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros (CENAP) / Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade.
T
he Cerrado is the most diverse tropical savanna in the world and in Rio Grande do Sul as Endangered (Marques 2002). The speand home of nearly 160,000 species, including endemic flora cies’ major threats seem to be habitat loss, low prey availability, veand fauna, which makes it one of 25 global conservation hotspots hicle strikes, and retaliatory killing from livestock depredation and (Myers et al. 2000). The second largest Brazilian biome, it extends prejudice (Crawshaw Jr. & Quigley 2002, Mazzolli et al. 2002). over eight States, particularly in the Central Western, comprisDespite few studies about diet, basic ecological data such as habitat ing entire Goiás and most parts of Minas Gerais States. At Minas preference, home range and population dynamics have been poorly Gerais, Cerrado holds with the Atlanassessed in the country. tic Rainforest (Mata Atlântica) 60% of The Triângulo Mineiro Brazilian mammals, which originally Puma Project, created in 2009 corresponded to almost 300 species, inby the Programa de Conservação cluding pumas (Puma concolor), hoary Mamíferos do Cerrado (PCMC) foxes (Lycalopex vetulus), giant armastarted with primary objectives dillos (Priodontes maximus) and others to assess the ecology of Cerrado (Paglia et al. 2012). pumas and collect data to proDespite its ecological importance, mote species management and in the past 35 years the Cerrado has conservation throughout fragbeen extensively altered for agriculture mented landscapes in southeastand cattle ranching, with more than ern and central Brazil. Activi80% of the ecosystem directly used by ties have been focusing on puma humans. Such habitat loss and fragdensity, home-range, responses mentation have been indicated as the to habitat quality and human acmost important factors in the process tivities, genetics, health and epiPuma concolor Vera captured in February 2011. Photo by F. G. Lemos. of extinction of several Neotropical taxa demiological risks from contact (Fonseca et al. 1994, Paglia et al. 2012). with domestic animals, threats to Unplanned development of this rich ecosystem and intense human survival, and prey availability. Another goal is to quantify and deoccupation pose significant threats to wildlife, especially wild carscribe predation upon livestock and develop methods to avoid connivores, which besides their extreme sensitivity to environmental flicts between this large predator and humans. changes are also persecuted due to conflicts with humans and liveThe study area comprises private ranches along the Araguari stock (Morato et al. 2009). River in the Paranaíba River Basin, Araguari municipality, TriânAmong such threatened wildlife, the puma is the second larggulo Mineiro region, Minas Gerais State. With more than 30.000 est cat of the Americas and has the widest Neotropical terrestrial hectares, the study area was originally a mosaic of physiognomammal distribution, occurring from southern Canada to south mies, from open grasslands, through Cerrado stricto sensu, deciduof South America (Hornocker & Negri 2010). This distribution reous and semi-deciduous forests, to veredas (wet fields). Currently, flects very important adjustments of the species, being able to init is a combination of small patches of Cerrado on a matrix of pashabit forests, swamps, mountains, and deserts. However, in some tures and coffee, soybean and sugar cane fields, crossed by paved countries it is a threatened species and in many regions free-ranging roads (Figure 1). The proximity with Araguari puts wildlife in close puma populations are decreasing (Hornocker & Negri 2010). contact with humans and domestic animals. Studies conducted by Pumas are listed as Near Threatened by the Brazilian Red List PCMC indicate the presence of a high diversity of medium and of Threatened Species, with P. c. greeni and P. c. capricornensis both large-sized mammals suggesting the area is important to other conclassified as Vulnerable (Chiarello et al. 2008). In Minas Gerais, nected regions. However, studies on carnivores and conservation São Paulo, Paraná and Rio de Janeiro it is classified as Vulnerable are urgent and necessary in the region. (Mikish & Berlins 2004, Morato et al. 2009, Biodiversitas 2012)
14
Wild Felid Monitor
Winter 2013
encounters) with prey availability (provided by cameratrapping), we will be able to create a profile of puma predation upon domestic animals in the study site. This may help us develop effective strategies to work with the local community in order to minimize losses caused by predators and reduce predator-human conflicts. Finally, preliminary data raised during these three years have been useful to assess the puma’s conservation status in the Triângulo Mineiro region. During the December 2011 Workshop for the National Action Plan for Puma Conservation (ICMBio 2011), data from Araguari was used to run a Vortex model specifically for this studied population. Results indicated that, according to the mortality rate Figure 1. Study area, municipality of Araguari, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The due road killing and conflict, pumas may be extirpated in area is a mosaic of Cerrado islands in a matrix of anthropized habitats. Photo by the municipality this century, if nothing is done. F. G. Lemos. Among several carnivore species, the puma is an adaptSince 2009 Triângulo Mineiro Puma Project captured seven able cat and plays the role of top-predator in most major pumas (three adult males, 1 subadult male, 3 subadult females), Neotropical ecosystems. Its wide distribution, the particularities from which three were equipped and monitored through Global on its ecology and behavior, and the challenges to its conservation, Positional System (GPS) / Very High Frequency (VHF) collars make the puma a good model and indicator of success of conser(LOTEK Wireless Fish and & Wildlife Monitoring; models 4400S vation programs. Besides, “umbrella” species’ conservation posiand 4500S). Individuals were captured through foot-loops installed tively and directly affects habitat and conservation of other species. at previous known trails (N = 5 captures), box traps (N = 1) and The next Triângulo Mineiro Puma Project actions include capturing one casually dog chase (N = 1). All captures were conducted with and collaring more up to 10 more pumas during 2013, camera-trap a assistance of a veterinarian and followed the requisites of Animal monitoring, biological samples collection (scats and blood), and edCare and Use Committee (Figure 2). Camera-trapping from 2009 ucational initiatives in order to improve the quality of life for both and 2011 confirmed the presence of all captured individuals and of pumas and humans. However, many more projects, government efat least six more untagged adult individuals in the area. forts and public support are urgently needed in other regions of CerTo our knowledge and according to the Centro Nacional de Pesrado and Brazil in order to assure the preservation of this magnifiquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros (CENAP), these are the cent but misunderstood predator. first pumas monitored by GPS technology in Brazil. After monitorPCMC is grateful to Consórcio Capim Branco de Energia its ing Male No. 1 for nine months (more than 600 locations), Male support, specifically the Triângulo Mineiro Puma Project, and to No. 2 for 12 months (30 locations), and Male No. 3 for 10 months Neotropical Grassland Conservancy for providing some of the (more than 600 locations and still being monitored), preliminary equipment. We are also indebted to CENAP for helping with vetdata indicate that pumas are very dependent on reminiscent islands erinarian staff and supplies, and to our field team compañeros Alan of original vegetation, which in the study area are restricted to very Grilo Nilo da Costa, Mozart C. de Freitas Júnior, Frederico A. de small fragmented private protected areas. Even small patches (100 – Sousa, Daniel Rocha and Hugo C. M. Costa for all their effort and 300 hectares) and forest strips (minimum of 50 meters wide), with commitment to puma conservation at Cerrado. Dr. Kátia G. F. Gia minimum vegetative cover, are used by pumas and seem to reprearetta provided valuable comments to the text. sent potential places for foraging, shelter, and mating. Many probContact authors for literature cited § ably also function as dispersal corridors or stepping stones. When the genetic analysis on captured individuals is finished, we will be able to determine if these cats are in contact with other neighboring pumas. Data from GPS-collared pumas will also help us assess travel and dispersal routes between habitat patches and regions, and improve our understanding of pumas spatial ecology and behavior at an anthropized area. Puma monitoring may also help to identify strategic crossing points along highways, and potential sites for building wildlife corridors to reduce puma – vehicle collisions, which we documented during our research (two subadult females and one adult male struck and killed during 2012). At least five adult pumas are also killed annually by farmers and cowboys who blame them for preying on Figure 2. Programa de Conservação Mamíferos do Cerrado team with the third Puma condomestic animals. By comparing data from puma color captured, named Seu Pantera in Feb 2011 (l to r: Frederico Souza, Frederico Lemos, Ferlocations and diet (fecal analysis and prey carcass nanda Azevedo, Mozart Freitas Júnior, Alan Grilo, Ricardo Arrais). Photo by PCMC
Wild Felid Monitor
Winter 2013
15
