Analysis of conflict reduction strategies in Iran; case study: Kharvana district, East Azerbaijan province

Authors

  • Naser-e-Asr Behnam Department of Environmental Science, Tabriz branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
  • Nader Habibzadeh Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22120/jwb.2020.130088.1160

Keywords:

Conflict, conservation, herder, nonlethal, wolf, small livestock

Abstract

Nowadays, population growth and the exploitation of the natural environments lead to encroachment of human activities in wildlife habitats, which increases human-wildlife conflicts, especially with carnivores. The investment of livestock owners and natural conservationists for mitigating these inconsistencies is vital. There is more evidence of an increasing trend in the complaints reported by Kharvana herders on wolf damages. This study aimed to capture people's attitudes about wolves and investigate the familiarity and feasibility of four nonlethal methods, including attractant removal, guarding dogs, alarm and scare tactics, and moving livestock for reducing the wolf depredation on small livestock (goat and sheep) in the region of interest. In this study, 15% of the herders in each village from Kharvana were selected for interviews. We analyzed survey responses from 77 Kharvana-based herdsmen. Surprisingly, the results indicated that although the majority of survey respondents reported an insufficient current level of protection from wolves and had a high desire to eliminate and kill wolves. There was a considerable number of responses that neither agreed nor disagreed with having experienced negative impacts from wolves. We found that there is a perceived feasibility of implementing all four strategies in areas used as wintering feeding sites compared to areas that are allowed to be grazed during the warm part of the year. The use of guarding dogs (median rank = 1) was the most and significantly locally-feasible livestock protection measure(Friedman (3) = 118.6, p <0.0001) for inclusion in conflict reduction programs that have already been used in the Kharvana area by the most herdsmen.

References

Andelt, W. F. (1999). Relative Effectiveness of Guarding-Dog Breeds to Deter Predation on Domestic Sheep in Colorado. Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006), 27(3), 706–714.

Bangs, E., Fritts, S. H., Fontaine, J., Smith, D. W., Murphy, K., Mack, C. M., & Niemeyer, C. C. (1998). Status Of Gray Wolf Restoration In Montana, Idaho, And Wyoming. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 26, 785–798.

Bangs, E., & Shivik, J. A. (2001). Managing wolf conflict with livestock in the Northwestern United States". Staff Publications, 550.

Behdarvand, N., Kaboli, M., Ahmadi, M., Nourani, E., Salman Mahini, A., & Asadi Aghbolaghi, M. (2014). Spatial risk model and mitigation implications for wolf–human conflict in a highly modified agroecosystem in western Iran. Biological Conservation, 177, 156–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.06.024

Bergstrom, B. J. (2017). Carnivore conservation: shifting the paradigm from control to coexistence. Journal of Mammalogy, 98(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw185

Brown, P. D. (2011). Wolves and Livestock: A review of tools to deter livestock predation and a case study of a proactive wolf conflict mitigation program developed in the Blackfoot Valley, Montana. The University of Montana.

Browne-Nuñez, C., Treves, A., MacFarland, D., Voyles, Z., & Turng, C. (2015). Tolerance of wolves in Wisconsin: A mixed-methods examination of policy effects on attitudes and behavioral inclinations. Biological Conservation, 189, 59–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.12.016

Bruns, A., Waltert, M., & Khorozyan, I. (2020). The effectiveness of livestock protection measures against wolves (Canis lupus) and implications for their co-existence with humans. Global Ecology and Conservation, 21, e00868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00868

Clark, P. E., Johnson, D. E., Larson, L. L., Louhaichi, M., Roland, T., & Williams, J. (2017). Effects of Wolf Presence on Daily Travel Distance of Range Cattle. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 70(6), 657–665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2017.06.010

Cooke, R. F., Bohnert, D. W., Reis, M. M., & Cappellozza, B. I. (2013). Wolf presence in the ranch of origin: Impacts on temperament and physiological responses of beef cattle following a simulated wolf encounter1. Journal of Animal Science, 91(12), 5905–5911. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2013-6777

Dressel, S., Sandström, C., & Ericsson, G. (2015). A meta-analysis of studies on attitudes toward bears and wolves across Europe 1976-2012. Conservation Biology, 29(2), 565–574. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12420

Eklund, A., López-Bao, J. V., Tourani, M., Chapron, G., & Frank, J. (2017). Limited evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to reduce livestock predation by large carnivores. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 2097. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02323-w

Fortin, D., Beyer, H. L., Boyce, M. S., Smith, D. W., Duchesne, T., & Mao, J. S. (2005). Wolves Influence Elk Movements: Behavior Shapes A Trophic Cascade In Yellowstone National Park. Ecology, 86(5), 1320–1330. https://doi.org/10.1890/04-0953

Gosling, E., Bojarska, K., Gula, R., & Kuehn, R. (2019). Recent arrivals or established tenants? History of wolf presence influences attitudes toward the carnivore. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 43(4), 639–650. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1027

Graham, G. I. H., Behrens, K. G., Carruthers, J., Diemont, M., du Plessis, J., Minnie, L., Richardson, P. R. K., Somers, M. J., Tambling, C. J., Turpie, J., van Niekerk, H. N., & Balfour, D. (2017). Livestock predation in South Africa: The need for and value of a scientific assessment. South African Journal of Science, Volume 113(Number 3/4). https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2017/a0198

Habibzadeh, N. (2016). Key determinants of human-wolf conflict in Shabestar county’s villages of East Azerbaijan province, Iran. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 62(2), 199–202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-016-0993-1

Hebblewhite, M., White, C. A., Nietvelt, C. G., McKenzie, J. A., Hurd, T. E., Fryxell, J. M., Bayley, S. E., & Paquet, P. C. (2005). Human Activity Mediates A Trophic Cascade Caused By Wolves. Ecology, 86(8), 2135–2144. https://doi.org/10.1890/04-1269

Center, I. S. (2017). Annual climate statistical survey of East Azerbaijan. https://www.amar.org.ir.

Johnson, C. N., & Wallach, A. D. (2016). The virtuous circle: predator-friendly farming and ecological restoration in Australia. Restoration Ecology, 24(6), 821–826. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12396

Kaczensky, P. (1998). Large carnivore depredation on livestock in Europe. Ursus, 11, 59–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/3872986

Kluever, B. M., Breck, S. W., Howery, L. D., Krausman, P. R., & Bergman, D. L. (2008). Vigilance in Cattle: The Influence of Predation, Social Interactions, and Environmental Factors. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 61(3), 321–328. https://doi.org/10.2111/07-087.1

Laporte, I., Muhly, T. B., Pitt, J. A., Alexander, M., & Musiani, M. (2010). Effects of Wolves on Elk and Cattle Behaviors: Implications for Livestock Production and Wolf Conservation. PLoS ONE, 5(8), e11954. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0011954

Linnell, J. D. ., & Cretois, B. (2018). Research for AGRI Committee–The revival of wolves and other largepredators and its impact on farmers and their livelihood in rural regions of Europe.

Madden, F. (2004). Creating Coexistence between Humans and Wildlife: Global Perspectives on Local Efforts to Address Human–Wildlife Conflict. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 9(4), 247–257. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871200490505675

Marker, L. L. ., Dickman, A. J. ., & Macdonald, D. W. (2005). Perceived effectiveness of livestock-guarding dogs placed on Namibian farms. Rangeland Ecology and Management, 4, 329–336.

Mech, L. D. ., & Boitani, L. (2004). Canids: Foxes, wolves, jackals and dogs status survey and conservation action plan.

Mech, L. D. ., & Boitani, L. (2010). Canis lupus. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. http://www.iucnredlist.org.

Muhly, T. B., & Musiani, M. (2009). Livestock depredation by wolves and the ranching economy in the Northwestern U.S. Ecological Economics, 68(8–9), 2439–2450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.04.008

Naughton-Treves, L., Grossberg, R., & Treves, A. (2003). Paying for Tolerance: Rural Citizens’ Attitudes toward Wolf Depredation and Compensation. Conservation Biology, 17(6), 1500–1511. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2003.00060.x

Nelson, A. A., Kauffman, M. J., Middleton, A. D., Jimenez, M. D., McWhirter, D. E., & Gerow, K. (2016). Native prey distribution and migration mediates wolf (Canis lupus) predation on domestic livestock in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 94(4), 291–299. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2015-0094

Nematpour, M. ., & Habibzadeh, N. (17 C.E.). The attitude of horand s villagers toward wildlife and determinants of human-wolf conflict, east Azerbaijan, Iran. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3. https://doi.org/10.22124/cjes.2019.3668

Newsome, T. M., Dellinger, J. A., Pavey, C. R., Ripple, W. J., Shores, C. R., Wirsing, A. J., & Dickman, C. R. (2015). The ecological effects of providing resource subsidies to predators. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 24(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12236

Pate, J. ., Manfredo, M. J. ., Bright, A. D. ., & Tischbein, G. (1996). Coloradans’ attitudes toward reintroducing the gray wolf into Colorado. Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Pearson, E. W., & Caroline, M. (1981). Predator Control in Relation to Livestock Losses in Central Texas. Journal of Range Management, 34(6), 435. https://doi.org/10.2307/3898093

Ravenelle, J., & Nyhus, P. J. (2017). Global patterns and trends in human-wildlife conflict compensation. Conservation Biology, 31(6), 1247–1256. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12948

Safavian, S., Alizadeh Shabani, A., Imani Harsini, J., & Naderi, M. (2018). Factors Affecting Predator-Prey Distribution in a Protected Area, Tehran, Iran (a Case with Wolves and Wild Sheep). Russian Journal of Ecology, 49(2), 172–179. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1067413618020121

Scasta, J. D., Stam, B., & Windh, J. L. (2017). Rancher-reported efficacy of lethal and non-lethal livestock predation mitigation strategies for a suite of carnivores. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 14105. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14462-1

Slagle, K., Bruskotter, J. T., Singh, A. S., & Schmidt, R. H. (2017). Attitudes toward predator control in the United States: 1995 and 2014. Journal of Mammalogy, 98(1), 7–16. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw144

Steele, J. R., Rashford, B. S., Foulke, T. K., Tanaka, J. A., & Taylor, D. T. (2013). Wolf (Canis lupus) Predation Impacts on Livestock Production: Direct Effects, Indirect Effects, and Implications for Compensation Ratios. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 66(5), 539–544. https://doi.org/10.2111/REM-D-13-00031.1

Stone, S. A., Breck, S. W., Timberlake, J., Haswell, P. M., Najera, F., Bean, B. S., & Thornhill, D. J. (2017). Adaptive use of nonlethal strategies for minimizing wolf–sheep conflict in Idaho. Journal of Mammalogy, 98(1), 33–44. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw188

Treves, A., & Karanth, K. U. (2003). Human-Carnivore Conflict and Perspectives on Carnivore Management Worldwide. Conservation Biology, 17(6), 1491–1499. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2003.00059.x

Treves, A., Krofel, M., & McManus, J. (2016). Predator control should not be a shot in the dark. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 14(7), 380–388. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1312

Treves, A., Naughton-Treves, L., & Shelley, V. (2013). Longitudinal Analysis of Attitudes Toward Wolves. Conservation Biology, 27(2), 315–323. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12009

Williams, C. K. ., Ericsson, G. ., & Heberlein, T. A. (2002). A quantitative summary of attitudes toward wolves and their reintroduction (1972-2000). Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Ziaie, H. (2011). A field guide to the mammals of Iran [in Persian]. Iranian Wildlife Center.

Downloads

Published

2021-03-30

How to Cite

Behnam , N.- e-A., & Habibzadeh, N. (2021). Analysis of conflict reduction strategies in Iran; case study: Kharvana district, East Azerbaijan province. Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity, 5(2), 44–55. https://doi.org/10.22120/jwb.2020.130088.1160