Wildlife and feral dogs in a tropical wildlife refuge: complementary evidence from camera traps and active surveys
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v18i1.6592Keywords:
animal ecology, geographical distribution, habitat fragmentation, interspecific interaction, introduced species, tropical forestsAbstract
Introduction: In private protected areas, monitoring vertebrates and detecting feral domestic carnivores provide key information for conservation and management. Objective: To document the presence and composition of mammal and bird assemblages, as well as the presence of feral dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats (Felis catus) at Los Cusingos Wildlife Refuge. Methods: We conducted the study from September 8 to November 4, 2024, using diurnal surveys along trails and gardens (active sampling) and camera traps (passive sampling). We installed eight cameras operating continuously for 24 hours in hybrid mode and considered records of the same species at the same camera independent when separated by more than 30 minutes. Feral dogs and cats were individually identified based on visible characteristics. Amphibians and reptiles were also recorded opportunistically. Results: We recorded 136 wildlife species: 97 birds, 26 mammals, 8 reptiles, and 5 amphibians. Camera traps produced 836 valid records corresponding to 53 species, whereas active observations recorded 87 bird species, 10 mammal species, 7 reptile species, and 5 amphibian species. We identified 31 feral dogs and one feral cat. Camera traps were more effective for characterizing mammal diversity, whereas active sampling was more effective for birds. Conclusion: Both methods were complementary, and their combined use provided a more comprehensive characterization of the refuge's fauna. The presence of numerous feral dogs represents a potential threat to native wildlife and requires management and monitoring strategies.
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