Assessing the Effect of Predator Control on Black‐Footed Cat Survival in Central South Africa
ABSTRACT The black‐footed cat, a small felid endemic to southern Africa, is particularly vulnerable to killing by larger carnivores while also being prone to developing renal diseases. Here, we investigated the effect of predator control on black‐footed cat populations by comparing adult annual survival between two sites, a nature reserve with little predator management and a sheep and game farm where jackals and caracals were lethally controlled. Although relatively low, survival rates were similar for both sites, suggesting that intraguild killing did not have an additive effect on black‐footed cat mortality. Disease was however prevalent and weakened individuals might have a reduced ability to evade predators.
Authors
- Michelle M. Schroeder (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3289-6588)
- Beryl Wilson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0467-2790)
- Nadine Lamberski
- Holly O’Donnell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2559-8788)
- Alexander Sliwa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9111-3371)
- Arne Lawrenz
- Chloé Warret Rodrigues (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5852-8498)
- Martina Küsters
- Jason R. Herrick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1123-0958)
- Sandra Lai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0128-3738)
Institutions
- Namibia University of Science and Technology (NA)
- University of Nebraska at Omaha (US)
- Zoological Society of San Diego (US)
- University of Wuppertal (DE)
- University of Namibia (NA)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Kimberley Hospital (ZA)
- Centre for Conservation and Research (LK)
- University of Manitoba (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- African Journal of Ecology
- Published
- 2024-08-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13316
- Primary Topic
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Rufford Foundation