Subsistence hunting of Cuniculus pacain the middle of the Solimões River, Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

Ungulates, large primates and caviomorfs are cited by Amazonian hunters as preferred species. In this research, paca (Cuniculus paca) hunting was investigated in relation to water levels and the lunar cycle. In eight years of monitoring in the Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve, the killing of 625 pacas was registered in five monitored communities. Paca hunting took place mainly at night and the most commonly used method is "spotlighting". A positive correlation between the number of pacas killed and water level (r s =0.890; p<0.0001) was found. At least 37% of the pacas were hunted when moon illumination level was less than 10%, before moonrise or after moonset. In the Boa Esperança community, capture of paca tended to decrease on nights with high moon illumination (r s = -0.663; p=0.067). At the same time, an expressive catch-per-unity-effort decrease was also observed in this community (r 2 = -0.881; p<0.001), allowing us to predict unsustainable hunting levels for the next decade. The stock of animals in these areas could be continuously replaced if surrounding areas consisted of continuous forests. However, continuous hunting and deforestation force local hunters to travel longer distances to kill prey such as pacas. The confirmation of the relation between paca habits and lunar illumination and water level, a pattern described by local hunters, demonstrates the potential value of participatory research and the possibility of integrating traditional knowledge into scientific knowledge.Keywords: abundance, catch-per-unity-effort, Cuniculus paca, hunting, Amazon. Caça de subsistência de Cuniculus paca no Médio Solimões, Amazonas, Brasil ResumoUngulados, primatas de grande porte e caviomorfos são citados por caçadores amazônicos como espécies preferenciais. Neste trabalho, a caça de paca (Cuniculus paca) foi investigada em relação ao nível d'água e ao ciclo lunar. O abate de 625 pacas foi registrado em oito anos de monitoramento em cinco comunidades da Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Amanã. A caça de paca ocorre principalmente à noite e o método mais utilizado é a "focagem". Encontrou-se uma correlação positiva entre o número de pacas abatidas e o nível d'água (r s =0.890; p<0.0001). Pelo menos 37% dos indivíduos foram abatidos quando o nível de iluminação lunar era menor do que 10%, antes do nascer da lua ou após seu ocaso. Na comunidade da Boa Esperança, a captura de paca tendeu ao decrescimento em noites com altos níveis de iluminação lunar (r s =-0.663; p=0.067). Ao mesmo tempo, uma expressiva redução da captura por unidade de esforço foi observada nessa comunidade (r 2 =-0.881; p<0.001), permitindo-nos prever níveis de caça insustentáveis para a próxima década. Frente a extensas áreas contínuas de floresta, o estoque de animais nas áreas de caça poderia ser continuamente substituído, mas os efeitos combinados de caça constante e desmatamento forçam caçadores locais a se locomoverem por longas distâncias para abater presas como as pacas. A confirmação dos padrões descritos por moradores l...

Activity pattern of medium and large sized mammals and density estimates of Cuniculus paca (Rodentia: Cuniculidae) in the Brazilian Pampa

“…Cuniculus paca is considered an important game animal throughout its range (Emmons, 2016), and hunting can affect the density of local populations (Valsecchi et al, 2014). Methods for density estimation for this species have not been standardized, generating densities estimates varying from 3.5 individuals/km 2 in Peru (Emmons, 1987) to 93 individuals/km 2 (Beck-King et al, 1999) in Costa Rica.…”

Ride, shoot, and call: wildlife use among contemporary urban hunters in Tr&#234;s Fronteiras, Brazilian Amazon

“…Tapirus terrestris, Podocnemis unifilis), and the use of automatic traps reduces the selectivity of hunting. Even the hunting of the common Cuniculus paca in Alto Salimoes communities may be unsustainable under current deforestation and hunting pressures (Valsecchi et al 2014). Specialized hunters, whose main purpose is commercial, usually hunt in remote hunting grounds in territories where they do not necessarily have legitimacy for the use of wildlife, creating conflicts not only with governmental authorities but also with indigenous authorities.…”

First molecular identification of Echinococcus vogeli and Echinococcus granulosus (sensu stricto) G1 revealed in feces of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) from Acre, Brazil

“…The E. vogeli sylvatic cycle is based on a specific predator–prey relationship between the bush dog ( Speothos venaticus ), an indigenous canid in South America, and pacas [14, 18]. Within tropical forests, domestic dogs often accompany their owners during hunting [19] and are fed raw viscera as a reward for their activities [20]. Despite strong indications this practice can give rise to the synantropic cycle [14], it remains unclear whether such canids become infected with E. vogeli in the North Region of Brazil.…”