Title
Tiger predation on livestock in Gedang, Medog, southeast Tibet
Author(s)
Zhang E., Schaller G.B., Lu Z., Zhang H.
Published
2002
Publisher
Acta Theriologica Sinica
Abstract
Once the distribution of tigers (Paruhera tigris) extended throughout the broad-leaved forests of southeastern Tibet. These tigers are now extinct except for one remnant population in Medog County. From May to June 2000, a survey was conducted in Gedang Village (Xiang in Chinese), the only place in the county where losses of livestock to tigers are high. It was found that the amount of livestock killed was high in 1994 and 1995, but after that it dropped greatly, probably in part because one persistent livestock killer was shot in 1996. Between the early 1993 and late 1990s, the xiang's cattle population dropped by 11%. However, horses and mules increased by 23% because more animals were bought elsewhere for use in transport. In 1999, the xiang lost 7.8% of its cattle and 1.9% of its horses to tiger predation. 4-5 tigers including a female with large cub was reported by local officials in the area that year. A total of 21 households were interviewed. Of these a household lost on average 0.8 cattle and 0.2 horses during the previous 12 months; nine households had no losses. One reason that tigers are tempted by livestock is lack of sufficient wild prey. Widespread illegal hunting has greatly reduced tiger's principal prey population such as wild pig, takin, red goral, and mutjacs. Until recovery of wildlife populations, an effort must be made to reduce tiger predation on livestock. Conservation recommendations were as follows: (1) Villagers should herd and guard their animals cooperatively instead of permitting livestock to wander untended. (2) Overgrown abandoned fields, slopes covered with tall bracken fern, and thickets near villages should be cleared and converted to open pastures, with some of them fenced, to remove cover in which tigers can hide, and (3) Some animals could also be housed in stalls, especially in winter when much of the predation occurs.
Keywords
felid; livestock; predation; prey availability; China; Animalia; Bos taurus; Budorcas taxicolor; Equidae; Equus caballus; Felidae; Filicophyta; Naemorhedus baileyi; Naemorhedus goral; Panthera; Panthera tigris; Pteridium aquilinum; Sus scrofa
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