Electric fence mortalities; the shocking reality
Electric fences have been used in wildlife management since the 1930s and have increased in popularity in recent decades among landowners. The use of electric fences is popular within our study area with farmers using electric fences to define property boundaries as well as protect crops from wildlife and enclose livestock or game. Whilst it has been found that the use of electric fences can reduce crop foraging by baboons (Findlay 2016), it also has been observed that electric fences cause unintended consequences of electrocuting and often killing smaller animals. Arguably, electric fences cannot be recommended as a mitigation strategy to reduce crop foraging if their use causes other environmental damage. As a result of this, we are conducting a project to assess wildlife mortalities on electric fences with the aim of better understanding the consequences of their use and developing ways to reduce mortalities. To date, we have surveyed 15.9 km of electrified fence across five farms, 3.8 km of which was surveyed on a weekly basis across a two year period. Data was recorded in every location where a mortality was found, as well as at every 100 m where there was no mortality; these we used as controls. In total, 308 mortalities were found. Animals recorded included: Tortoises, non-ground birds, amphibians, lizards, snakes, mammals and ground birds. Tortoises were the group most affected by electric fences, making up 59.4% of recorded mortalities. Significantly more mortalities occurred during the summer (Nov-Apr), which was true for all groups except mammals. The height of the bottom electric wire had a significant impact on whether a mortality occurred, with 80% of mortalities occurring where the wire was less than 7 cm above ground. The number of mortalities found over this time period highlights the shocking reality of fence use and raises many concerns. This data is part of an ongoing project. We are continuing to survey electric fences and will be trialling different fence modifications as well as assessing the impact of these mortalities on wildlife population numbers. Keep an eye out for future updates! If you’re interested in assisting with this project, please do get in touch.
A year in the life of a troop of Dump baboons
During 2020, PhD student Topu Rahman from Durham University, UK conducted his fieldwork at AWCRC studying the effects of human waste food on the behaviour and hormonal responses of a wild chacma baboon troop. After habituating a troop of baboons that spends time at the local dump, Rahman and his team of research assistants recorded behavioural data through scan, focal and ad-libitum sampling. Additionally they collected faecal samples for laboratory analysis of glucocorticoid levels to assess stress. Although the study troop is small, they were subjected to several challenging events during the research period. They sleep under a water tower, near a village which often brings them into close proximity to local people. Baboons have been known to supplement their diet with items they “borrow” from people’s houses or gardens. This, along with their enjoyment of playing, especially on tin buildings before dawn, has brought them into some conflict with the villagers. During the initial study period, the troop lost one adult female to unknown natural causes in June, experienced one still-birth in July, and two separate shooting events in September and October. Sadly, nothing prepares you for finding the bodies of animals that you have studied intimately for months. Whilst working conditions, during fieldwork, can be harsh and unpleasant it does have many magical moments and it was a privilege for team to be able to observe the troops interactions so closely. During data collection the team embarked on a mission to create a documentary demonstrating what research life really entails and to give an insight into a baboon troop that is using human food to supplement their diet. Please click the link below to watch the documentary: https://youtu.be/2l2wvkEaYbQ Data collection on the troop is continuing and we look forward to future updates from Rahman’s analysis and the team collecting data in the field.
A week in the life of an AWCRC volunteer…
One of our current volunteers shares an insight into their time as a Primate and Predator (PPP) volunteer at the AWCRC. Over the space of a week they have the chance to get involved in a variety of projects from assisting PhD students with fieldwork to learning new office based skills. Amongst all of this there is also time to watch the sunset from camp and enjoy a braai with the other students and volunteers in camp. Over to Yola: On Monday, I went out with Ben (a PhD student) at 5:30 AM because we wanted to go to one of the baboons sleeping sites. We heard the baboons from the main road so we decided to try and follow them but unfortunately we weren’t successful. After that we checked all of the traps which have been set up to trap and then collar baboons for Ben’s PhD project. We wanted to see if the food used as bait was being eaten because that would mean the baboons are getting used to the trap and are not afraid of going inside, which is a good thing for us. The rest of the day was spent just sitting on the road, hoping to see some baboons crossing the road and film them to have an idea of the size of the troop. On Tuesday, I went out with Rebecca (another PhD student). We started our day by driving around the known baboon sleeping sites on camp to spot which tree the baboons had slept in so it would be easier for the other volunteers to follow them that day. After that we went on another farm. Here we sat next to the crop field where our goal was to see some crop raiding. For several hours nothing showed up but around midday we saw some individuals on a tree next to the field. We decided to go to that tree and follow their tracks. We discovered that they were probably living on the farm next to that one. Wednesday was my office day. I spent the day helping with data entry and camera trap image tagging. Thursday and Friday I went out again with Ben. We were again looking for his focal baboon troop but we didn’t see them these days, as is the sometimes the way with fieldwork. On Friday evening we had a braai with everyone at camp. And Saturday I was in the office, doing some camera trap tagging. I was also given an introduction to ARCMap which was quite interesting and a new skill for me. Every week is different and in previous weeks, I have also had the opportunity to help collect long term data on the dump-raiding troop of baboons in town. It’s great to be able to get involved in all the different projects going on.