Feral donkey Equus asinus populations on the Karpaz peninsula, Cyprus

Abstract

Numerous researchers have documented the adverse effects of feral donkeys Equus asinus introduced to semi-arid ecosystems. With the release of feral donkeys and potential increasing populations in natural habitats in northern Cyprus, there is concern for negative impacts on vegetation and native species. In the north of the island, there has been only one published study of feral donkey populations, and population estimators were relatively subjective. We estimated feral donkey populations on the Karpaz Peninsula using line transect surveys and quantitative distance sampling estimators. We stratified the sampling by using 11 sample units within the study area. We evaluated potential biases associated with habitat, topography, and perpendicular distance from the transect line and found that these variables did not bias donkey detections during our surveys. Using program DISTANCE, we found that a hazard rate cosine model was the best model that described our distance data based on model selection criterion (Akaike's Information Criteria adjusted for small sample bias). Estimated effective strip width was 280.19 m and detection probability was 0.47 with this model. Estimated donkey density was 6.7 donkeys/km 2 , and estimated total abundance was 800 donkeys for the entire 132.5 km 2 study area. Of 95 donkey groups detected: 16% were detected in agricultural habitats with flat topography, 9% were detected in agricultural habitats with sloped topography, 24% were detected in shrub/forest habitats with flat topography, and 51% were detected in shrub/forest habitats with sloped topography. Of 102 behavioral observations recorded (multiple behaviors were detected in groups), frequencies of behaviors were 1% bedded, 70% standing, 22% grazing, 6% moving, and 2% other. Our estimated donkey population density in the Karpaz Peninsula was >2 times densities reported in arid regions of the United States and Australia, but slightly lower than earlier density estimates reported for the Karpaz region. These estimates of feral donkey populations in the Karpaz Peninsula provide a quantitative baseline from which to make population management decisions.

Molecular phylogeny of Anatolian and Cypriot donkey populations based on mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosomal STRs

“…However the number of the Cypriot donkeys is drastically reducing as well as the Anatolian donkeys (11). Hamrick et al (7) reported that 800 donkeys were in Karpaz peninsula in 2003.…”

Equid Assessment, Research and Scoping (EARS): The Development and Implementation of a New Equid Welfare Assessment and Monitoring Tool

“…In some areas, feral and free-roaming donkeys are able to live natural lives; they live in self-defined groups, are able to freely express their natural behaviour and adapt to local ecological conditions [58,59]. However, in other areas, they may be seen as 'pests', 'invasive species' or 'vermin' and are subject to aggressive measures for population control or eradication [53,[60][61][62]. In both contexts, feral donkeys can suffer from significant welfare problems [59] but the assessment of welfare in these contexts is lacking.…”

Dieta estacional de guanacos (Lama guanicoe) y burros ferales (Equus asinus) en un ambiente semiárido de San Luis, Argentina

“…En la actualidad se encuentra distribuida en todo el continente. A nivel mundial, muchos estudios demuestran los efectos adversos que las poblaciones de esta especie han generado en aquellas áreas donde han sido introducidos (Gordon and Illius 1989;Mishra et al 2004;Hamrick et al 2005;Australian Government 2011). En un ambiente natural, el mayor problema que generan es el ocasionado por competencia por alimento y agua con la fauna nativa, además de impactar fuertemente sobre las comunidades vegetales y la estructura del suelo (Álvarez Romero and Medelllín 2005;Beever and Aldridge 2011).…”