dc.contributor.author |
Belton, L.E. (Lydia)
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Cameron, Elissa Z.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Dalerum, Fredrik
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2019-03-05T11:12:01Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2018 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Many large carnivores are attracted to anthropogenic sites, typically, because they offer easy access to anthropogenic resources, such as garbage. Such behaviour could lead to increased contacts between people and carnivores, with the potential for escalated conflicts. Within protected areas, carnivores experience limited risks of visiting anthropogenic sites. However, conflict could still arise, so that it is important to evaluate the drivers for visitation within protected areas. We tested how age, sex and social rank influenced seasonal visitation rates by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) at two sites with elevated human activity and infrastructure within the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Social rank did not influence visitation rates, and differences among age classes did not correspond to differences in abilities to procure native food. Instead, juveniles had higher visitation rates than older individuals, but only during the wet season. Visitation rates were not consistently higher during the dry season, nor was there more pronounced differences between age classes in the dry season. Our results suggest the anthropogenic sites were visited as part of exploratory behaviour coupled with occasional rewards. Our study also showed a large individual variation in tendencies towards visiting anthropogenic sites, but only for younger animals. We call for additional studies quantifying individual variation in tendencies to visit anthropogenic sites, and argue that deterrents and limitations in rewards of visiting anthropogenic sites might be efficient in preventing human-hyaena conflict within the Kruger National Park. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Mammal Research Institute |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Zoology and Entomology |
en_ZA |
dc.description.embargo |
2019-11-15 |
|
dc.description.librarian |
hj2019 |
en_ZA |
dc.description.sponsorship |
The National Research Foundation (incentive funding for rated researchers awarded to to EZC and FD), by the University of Pretoria (incentive funding for rated researchers awarded to EZC and FD and a research fellow-ship awarded to FD) and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (research fellowship awarded to FD). |
en_ZA |
dc.description.uri |
https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tafz20 |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation |
LE Belton, EZ Cameron & F Dalerum (2018) Spotted hyaena visitation at anthropogenic sites in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, African Zoology, 53:3, 113-118, DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2018.1518728. |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn |
1562-7020 (print) |
|
dc.identifier.issn |
2224-073X (online) |
|
dc.identifier.other |
10.1080/15627020.2018.1518728 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/68565 |
|
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_ZA |
dc.publisher |
NISC (Pty) Ltd and Informa UK Limited (trading as Taylor & Francis Group) |
en_ZA |
dc.rights |
© Zoological Society of Southern Africa. This is an electronic version of an article published in African Zoology, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 113-118, 2018. doi : 10.1080/15627020.2018.1518728. African Zoology is available online at : https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tafz20. |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Anthropogenic resources |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Carnivora |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Exploratory behaviour |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Protected areas (PAs) |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) |
en_ZA |
dc.title |
Spotted hyaena visitation at anthropogenic sites in the Kruger National Park, South Africa |
en_ZA |
dc.type |
Postprint Article |
en_ZA |