A critical evaluation of historical data on two damage causing predators, Canis mesomelas and Caracal caracal

Abstract

English: The study focused on monthly hunt reports of two problem animal control clubs in the Mossel Bay district of the erstwhile Cape Province, namely the Cooper Jagklub and the Mosselbaai Sentrale Jagklub. These reports were the most complete set of data retrieved by ALPRU and also covered a substantial period from 1976 to 1992. The study was successful in creating computer software (ALPRU Predator Database) to capture and analyse historical data on predator control activities. Original handwritten records were manually captured on the ALPRU Predator Database and transformed during export to the ArcGIS environment. A large number of data tables and maps were generated for evaluation. Historical data were used with a view to: - Investigate whether it was possible to establish the measure of success of predator management practices used in the past. - To test the capacity and performance of the computer software for further application as a tool in predator management. The computer programmes could filter out specific sets of data for separate analysis. In the present study only maps showing stock losses as a result of predation and predators killed in control operations, were analysed. The two different sets of data were filtered out for the study period of 16 years, for separate years and for every month in a selection of three years, 1985 to 1987. The software highlighted several important issues and shortcomings in the dataset, namely: - The historical monthly hunt reports and especially the way in which the data were recorded, were never intended for further analysis. - Positive identification of the specific locations of farms proved to be especially difficult and time-consuming. - The data were incomplete regarding specific information which prevented definitive conclusions being drawn. - The format in which data regarding predator control activities is recorded and reported needs to be improved. - Despite the shortcomings in the dataset, the software proved very valuable in analysing major aspects of predation and predator control activities. The computer programmes can serve as a management tool in analysing data concerning predator activity and animal damage control. Currently, it provides for datasets to be analysed for any period, for example three months (one season), weeks, or even days. With the aid of the computer programmes developed for this study, the following factors can be analysed separately for more in-depth studies on damage causing animals: - different classes of different domestic animals killed by predators - different classes of different predator species killed in animal damage control operations - different animal damage control clubs, or selected groupings, or geographical areas - different animal damage control operators (usually referred to as problem animal hunters) - different methods used in animal damage control operations. The monthly hunt reports used in the past by official animal damage control clubs were not very useful in creating a clear understanding of how animal damage and animal damage control activities influence each other. This may in part be ascribed to the inadequate design or format of the monthly hunt report. Incomplete (regarding data) or incorrect (e.g. misspelling of farm names prevents positive identification of sites) monthly hunt reports distort the picture that could otherwise have been created by the data. Official quarterly inspection reports from the hunt clubs were useful as summaries of the hunting activities of a club and, when properly executed, may have prevented hunters from submitting incomplete or inadequate hunt reports. However, in this study the information provided by an independent official (supervisory capacity to the problem animal hunters) in the quarterly reports often helped in clarifying incomplete or inconsistent reporting by the hunters. A thorough understanding of animal damage control in South Africa, as well as more studies using the ALPRU Predator Database to interpret the extent of present day animal damage, could help to identify shortcomings in animal damage management. Therefore, the programmes developed for this study could assist in formulating more effective animal damage management strategies. Cooperation from all role players and stakeholders are necessary to enhance the potential and output of this computer programme. The correct filling out of hunt reports, the updating of data and submission of subsequent inspection reports is of utmost importance to ensure data that can be analysed and results that can be portrayed for similar studies. It is important that computer software such as this be utilised with current data sets to improve the fragmented and uncoordinated predator management activities in South Africa. It may assist in identifying best practices regarding methods and procedures of predator management with a view to reduce the impact of predation on the livestock industry. Two formats to record Livestock Predation and Predator Control Activities are presented. These include the basic information for the effective interpretation of the impact of predator control operators on damage causing animals and on livestock.

Afrikaans: Die studie was toegespits op die maandelikse jagverslae van twee probleemdierbeheerklubs in die Mosselbaaidistrik van die voormalige Kaapprovinsie, naamlik die Cooper Jagklub en die Mosselbaai Sentrale Jagklub. Hierdie verslae was die volledigste wat herwin kon word deur ALPRU en het ook ‘n redelike lang periode gedek vanaf 1976 tot 1992. Die studie was suksesvol in die skep van sagteware (ALPRU Predator Database) om historiese data oor roofdierbeheer vas te vang en te ontleed. Oorspronklike handgeskrewe rekords is met die hand ingevoer op die ALPRU Predator Database en tydens die uitvoer na die ArcGIS omgewing getransformeer. ’n Groot aantal tabelle en kaarte is geskep vir evaluasie. Historiese data is gebruik ten einde: - Ondersoek in te stel na die moontlikheid om die mate van sukses te bepaal wat in die verlede met roofdier bestuurspraktyke behaal is. - Die kapasiteit en verrigting van die sagteware te bepaal as hulpmiddel vir toekomstige toepassing in roofdierbestuur. Die sagteware kan spesifieke data selekteer vir afsonderlike ontleding. In die huidige studie is slegs kaarte ontleed ten opsigte van veeverliese as gevolg van predasie en roofdiere gedood tydens beheeroperasies. Hierdie datastelle is geselekteer vir die studietydperk van 16 jaar, vir afsonderlike jare en ook vir elke maand gedurende ‘n geselekteerde periode van drie jaar, 1985 tot 1987. Die sagteware beklemtoon verskeie belangrike sake en tekortkominge in die data, naamlik: - Die historiese maandelikse jagverslae en veral die wyse waarop die data aangeteken is, was nooit bedoel vir verdere ontleding nie. - Positiewe identifikasie van die spesifieke lokaliteit van plase was veral baie moeilik en tydrowend. - Die data was onvolledig ten opsigte van spesifieke inligting wat dit moeilik maak om finale afleidings te maak. - Die formaat waarin data ten opsigte van roofdierbeheer aangeteken en rapporteer word, benodig aansienlike verbetering. - Ten spyte van die tekortkominge in die datastel, was die sagteware baie waardevol in die ontleding van belangrike aspekte van roofdierskade en beheermaatreëls. Die sagteware kan dien as bestuurhulpmiddel om data rakende roofdieraktiwiteite en -beheer te ontleed. Tans kan die sagteware groot datastelle ontleed vir enige periode, byvoorbeeld driemaandeliks (’n seisoen), weke, of selfs dae. Met behulp van die sagteware wat in die studie ontwikkel is, kan die volgende faktore afsonderlik ontleed word tydens diepgaande studies oor diere wat skade veroorsaak: - verskillende klasse van verskillende plaasvee wat deur roofdiere gedood is - verskillende klasse van verskillende roofdierespesies wat tydens skadebeheer gedood is - verskillende skadebeheerklubs, of geselekteerde groepe, of geografiese gebiede - verskillende skadebeheeroperateurs (gewoonlik na verwys as probleemdierjagters) - verskillende metodes wat tydens beheeroperasies gebruik word. Die maandelikse jagverslae wat in die verlede deur amptelike probleemdierjagklubs gebruik is, was nie baie hulpvol om ‘n volledige begrip te vorm van die wyse waarop roofdierskade en beheermaatreëls mekaar wedersyds beïnvloed het nie. Dit mag gedeeltelik toegeskryf word aan die ontoereikende ontwerp en formaat van die maandelike jagverslae. Onvolledige (ten opsigte van data) of verkeerde (byvoorbeeld, plaasname wat verkeerd gespel is maak positiewe identifikasie onmoontlik) maandelikse jagverslae verwring die beeld wat andersins vanaf die data verkry kon word. Amptelike kwartaalikse inspeksieverslae van die klubs was waardevol as opsomming van jagbedrywighede en, wanneer behoorlik toegepas, mag dit verhoed dat jagters onvolledige of foutiewe verslae indien. Nietemin, in die studie het die inligting wat deur ’n onafhanklike beampte (toesighoudend oor die roofdierjagters) in die kwartaalikse inspeksieverslae aangebied is, dikwels gehelp om onvolledige of foutiewe gegewens deur jagters op te klaar. ’n Deeglike begrip van roofdierbeheer in Suid-Afrika, sowel as meer studies wat die ALPRU Predator Database gebruik om die omvang van huidige roofdierskade te verklaar, mag help om tekortkominge in roofdierbestuur te identifiseer. Die sagteware wat in hierdie studie ontwikkel is mag meehelp om meer effektiewe strategieë vir roofdierbeheer te formuleer. Samewerking deur alle rolspelers en belanghebbendes is noodsaaklik om die potensiaal en bydrae van die sagteware te verbeter. Die korrekte invul van jagverslae, die opdatering van data en indiening van opvolgende inspeksieverslae is van groot belang ten einde te verseker dat datastelle in soortgelyke studies behoorlik ontleed kan word. Dit is belangrik dat sagteware soos hierdie benut word om huidige datastelle te ontleed ten einde die gefragmenteerde en ongekoördineerde roofdierbestuur in Suid-Afrika te verbeter. Dit mag ook meehelp om beter praktyke te identifiseer ten opsigte van metodes en prosedures van roofdierbestuur ten einde die impak van roofdierskade op die veebedryf te verminder. Twee formate om Predasie op Vee en Roofdierbeheermaatreëels aan te teken word aangebied. Dit sluit basiese inligting vir die doeltreffende vertolking van die impak van roofdierbeheer deur operateurs op die roofdiere en die plaasvee in.