Low habitat overlap at landscape scale between wild camelids and feral donkeys in the Chilean desert

Malo, Juan E.; González, Benito A.; Mata, Cristina; Vielma, André; Donoso, Denise S.; Fuentes, Nicolás; Estades, Cristián F.

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2015.11.002

Cited by 12 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…None of the papers we reviewed provided evidence that donkeys were the primary cause of local native extinctions. Although most studies focused on the presence of donkeys in relation to effects on native species, several acknowledged other factors involved, including the presence of other herbivores or livestock in the area (Abella 2008, Attum et al 2009, Aguirre‐Muñoz et al 2011, Frey and Thacker 2018); historical effects such as past overgrazing, logging and forest clearance, or habitat loss resulting from agricultural and urban development (Beever et al 2006, Reus et al 2014, Malo et al 2016, Dias et al 2019); the effect of a changing climate, such as drought and fires (Beever et al 2006, Beever and Aldridge 2011, Dias et al 2019); and the presence of humans and human activities that modify the space and its use by different species (Sanchez 1974, Ovejero et al 2011, Acebes et al 2012, Fuentes‐Allende et al 2016, Malo et al 2016). Ranching practices, for instance, can result in the incursion of both cattle and donkeys into forest areas where they graze important vegetation (Schulz et al 2016).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main focus has been with attribution (i.e., accrediting effects to a single species in time). In studies that examined co‐occurrence between donkeys and other species, including spatial or diet overlap, several researchers suggest that competition is not always easy to detect or attribute, especially because species can develop complex strategies of avoidance or niche creation (Abella 2008, Marshal et al 2008, Malo et al 2016). For example, in a study of spatial overlap between donkeys and bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis ), bighorn sheep appeared to be less abundant in donkey‐occupied areas, but direct evidence of exploitative competition (e.g., for forage) was limited and results were compounded by environment factors (Marshal et al 2008).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The third largest global population exists in the United States, with an estimated 14,975 donkeys across 10 western states recorded in 2018 (Bureau of Land Management 2018). Free‐roaming donkeys have also been documented in Egypt (Attum et al 2009), South Africa (Vetter 1996, SANParks 2018), Argentina (Borgnia et al 2008, Acebes et al 2012, Reus et al 2014, Malo et al 2016), Chile (Fuentes‐Allende et al 2016), Mexico (Sánchez de la Vega and Godínez‐Alvarez 2010, Aguirre‐Muñoz et al 2011, Rorabaugh et al 2020), and Sri Lanka (Santiapillai et al 1999, Liyanage 2014), although exact population sizes are unknown. Small populations are reported in islands in the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean, including St Johns, Bonaire, Hawaii, Inagua, Turks and Caicos, Antigua, Saint Kitts, and Nevis (The Donkey Sanctuary, unpublished data), most of which are likely to exist in low densities (i.e., <200 individuals; C. L. Clancy, The Donkey Sanctuary, unpublished data).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Science and Knowledge of Free‐Roaming Donkeys—A Critical Review

Clancy¹,

Kubasiewicz²,

Raw³

et al. 2021

J Wildl Manag

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The emergence of free-roaming donkey (Equus asinus) populations globally has brought novel challenges for conservationists, land managers, and those concerned about animal welfare. We provide a review of the scientific literature pertaining to the place and role of free-roaming donkeys from 1950 until 2020. Using quantitative and qualitative techniques, namely categorical and thematic analysis and critical discourse analysis, to review >100 articles, we critically examine the logics and rationales that are used to either support or denounce donkey presence in particular landscapes and discuss their place and role in different ecological contexts. Free-roaming donkeys are largely understudied and clouded by dichotomous points of view, different conservation agendas, and the presence of other species in donkey habitat. There is an important need for more in-depth, site-specific studies on free-roaming donkeys that draw on tools and techniques from across the social and natural sciences. Such efforts would offer a richer, more holistic, and comprehensive picture of free-roaming donkeys that consider both human and animal perspectives and the wider environment. This has important implications for generating long-term sustainable management solutions for free-roaming donkeys.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Science and Knowledge of Free‐Roaming Donkeys—A Critical Review

Clancy¹,

Kubasiewicz²,

Raw³

et al. 2021

J Wildl Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, it is again necessary to understand the ecological role in the ecosystem, which will vary by region and biome. Few studies are being conducted to elucidate this issue (Dias et al, 2019;Hamrick et al, 2005;Lamoot et al, 2005;Malo et al, 2016).…”

Section: Ecological Rolementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ecological role and the potential impact of donkeys in native ecosystems are still inconclusive (Dias et al, 2019;Hamrick et al, 2005;Lamoot et al, 2005;Malo et al, 2016). Some variables are affecting the conclusions, and the discussions must consider other species, population size, territory, vegetation, etc.…”

Section: Ecological Rolementioning

confidence: 99%

Donkey skin trade: is it sustainable to slaughter donkeys for their skin?

Tatemoto

Lima²,

Santurtun³

et al. 2021

Braz. J. Vet. Res. Anim. Sci.

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Donkeys (Equus asinus) face a global crisis. The health, welfare, and even survival of donkeys are being compromised as the demand for their skins increases. It is driven by the production of ejiao, a traditional Chinese remedy believed by some to have medicinal properties. It is estimated that the ejiao industry currently requires approximately 4.8 million donkey skins per year. Since there is no productive chain for donkey skin production outside of China, the activity is extractive and has resulted in the decimation of donkeys. Gestation is 12 months in donkeys, increasing the risk of extinction if such practices are not controlled. In this scenario, the donkeys are collected (purchased for low prices, stolen, and collected from the side of the roads) and are then often transported for long distances, usually without water, food, or rest. The trade, in Brazil, poses significant biosecurity risks, particularly because examinations are rarely conducted and therefore infectious diseases, such as glanders and infectious anemia, remain undetected. Furthermore, in chronic stress situations, the immune system is suppressed, increasing the biosecurity risk, especially because donkeys are a silent carrier of diseases. Rarely there is traceability with animals from different origins being put together in “fake farms”, before being delivered to slaughterhouses. The opportunistic strategy of collecting animals, or buying for low prices, keeping them without access to food and veterinary assistance, is what makes this trade profitable. Our experience in donkey welfare and the global skin trade suggest that it will be enormously challenging and cost-prohibitive to run a trade at the standards required to be considered humane, sustainable, and safe. Although donkeys are being blamed for the involvement in road accidents, it is not an ethical solution to maintain this trade as an alternative. Moreover, the ecological role of donkeys in native ecosystems has not been elucidated, and some studies indicate they could even have a positive effect. Regardless of the future the donkeys will have; we must guarantee a life with the least dignity to the animals under our responsibility.

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Habitat selection and water dependency of feral burros in the Mojave Desert, California, USA

et al. 2023

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Expansion of feral burro (Equus asinus) populations across the southwestern United States is causing human-wildlife conflicts including rangeland degradation, competition with livestock and native species, and burro-vehicle collisions. On the Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) in California, feral burros interfere with military training and are involved in vehicle collisions and other conflicts (e.g., burros blocking access to buildings). Limited data on burro movements and resource use poses a challenge for the development of management plans and mitigation strategies. We estimated home range size, second-and thirdorder seasonal resource selection, and water dependency of 10 adult female feral burros fitted with global positioning system (GPS) collars on the NTC from November 2015 to April 2017.Mean 95% autocorrelated kernel home range size of female burros (253.9 ± 30.7 km 2 [SE]) did not differ among seasons or between burros that resided close to or far from urban areas.Burros selected areas closer to water in all seasons and at both spatial scales, but selection was stronger in the dry season and at the landscape scale. When available, burros strongly selected for areas closer to urban areas. Burros consistently selected for areas with green forage and at lower elevations, but selection for other topographical features was variable. Water use patterns were consistent with the resource selection results. Burros visited water sources twice as often (every 22.2 ± 6.3 hr) during the hot-dry season (Apr-Oct) compared to the cool-wet seasons (Nov-Mar;

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Low habitat overlap at landscape scale between wild camelids and feral donkeys in the Chilean desert

Cited by 12 publications

References 53 publications

Science and Knowledge of Free‐Roaming Donkeys—A Critical Review

Science and Knowledge of Free‐Roaming Donkeys—A Critical Review

Donkey skin trade: is it sustainable to slaughter donkeys for their skin?

Habitat selection and water dependency of feral burros in the Mojave Desert, California, USA

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