http://journals.cambridge.org Downloaded: 09 Nov 2011 IP address: 190.56.16.201 Predation on livestock by large carnivores in the tropical lowlands of Guatemala J os E ´ R.S oto-Shoender and W illiam M.G iuliano Abstract Conflict with humans is a significant source of mortality in carnivore populations yet information on this issue is lacking for some areas where threatened carnivores such as the jaguar Panthera onca interact with humans. We interviewed cattle ranchers to examine patterns of predation on livestock by carnivores in the tropical lowlands of Guatemala and to determine if the ranchers applied man- agement practices recommended to prevent such predation by large felids. Additionally, we compared ranches with and without attacks on livestock to determine whether ranch characteristics and landscape structure near ranches ex- plains the variations in the occurrence of livestock predation by carnivores. Cattle losses to carnivores represented 0.7% of the cattle stock in all ranches surveyed. Jaguars were most often accused of livestock attacks (suggesting a negative perception of this felid in the area), followed by pumas Puma concolor and coyotes Canis latrans. Males and smaller cattle were most often attacked and general patterns of attacks on livestock were similar to sites previously studied in the neotropics. Landscape structure around ranches (e.g. forest cover, distance to forest, bodies of water and human settle- ments) best explained the probability of predation on livestock. Outreach programmes and conflict mitigation measures need to be implemented for those ranches that are distant from human settlements but near forest cover and water sources. The co-occurrence of predation by jaguars, pumas and coyotes is particular to Mesoamerica and conflict mitigation strategies proposed in studies elsewhere may need to be altered, and evaluated, to be effective in this region. Keywords Carnivore, coyote, Guatemala, human–carnivore conflict, jaguar, predation, puma Introduction H uman–wildlife conflicts have been identified as the most significant cause of adult mortality in large carnivores and may lead to significant population declines, even within protected areas (Woodroffe & Ginsberg, 1998). Consequently, efforts to identify and implement mitigation strategies for human–carnivore conflicts are required (Inskip & Zimmermann, 2009), especially at reserve bor- ders and in buffer zones where contact between humans and carnivores is more likely (Woodroffe & Ginsberg, 1998; Sunquist, 2002; Crawshaw, 2004). However, to propose viable and effective site-specific interventions a better un- derstanding of spatial and temporal patterns of such con- flicts is needed (Treves et al., 2006; Inskip & Zimmermann, 2009; Rosas-Rosas et al., 2010). In the neotropics human–carnivore conflicts typically arise when jaguars Panthera onca and pumas Puma concolor attack, or are blamed for attacks on, livestock, often resulting in the elimination of the individual carnivore believed responsible (Crawshaw, 2004). A review of studies address- ing human–felid conflicts (Inskip & Zimmermann, 2009) concluded there was a large gap in information on this issue for certain geographical areas and species. Although the pr- edation of livestock by jaguars and pumas has been ext- ensively studied in South America (Quigley & Crawshaw, 1992; Hoogesteijn et al., 1993; Hoogesteijn, 2001; Mazolli et al., 2002; Conforti & Azevedo, 2003; Polisar et al., 2003; Crawshaw, 2004; Graham et al., 2004; Zimmermann et al., 2005; Michalski et al., 2006; Azevedo & Murray, 2007; Azevedo, 2008; Palmeira et al., 2008), few studies have examined this issue in Mesoamerica (Rabinowitz, 1986; Saenz & Carrillo, 2002; Rosas-Rosas et al., 2008). As a result, little is known about predation on livestock in this region and it is not clear if the pattern of predation is similar to areas previously studied, or if husbandry practices and landscape features (i.e. possible mitigation factors) affect the occurrence of human–carnivore conflicts in the same manner throughout the neotropics. Conflict mitigation efforts have only recently been implemented in Mesoamerica and therefore detailed studies of this issue are required, especially in areas for which information is lacking such as the tropical lowlands of Guatemala. The northern Pete ´n District of Guatemala, along with adjacent protected areas in Belize and Mexico, forms part of the largest continuous forest in Mesoamerica, the Maya Forest (Grunberg, 2000). The Maya Forest has been identi- fied as an important site for the long-term conservation of jaguars (Sanderson et al., 2002). Despite this, forest frag- mentation in this district is increasing because of current land-use patterns (Grunberg, 2000; Hayes et al., 2002). Cattle ranching is one of the principal livelihoods in the area (Grunberg, 2000). Consequently, there is considerable overlap between livestock husbandry and wildlife, which may increase human–carnivore conflicts. Nevertheless, no efforts had formerly been undertaken to examine or JOSE ´ R. SOTO-SHOENDER (Corresponding author) and WILLIAM M. GIULIANO Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-0430, USA, and Wildlife Conserva- tion Society, Program for Guatemala, Casa No. 3, Avenida 15 de Marzo, Flores, Pete ´n, Guatemala. E-mail joesoto@ufl.edu Received 9 July 2010. Revision requested 8 October 2010. Accepted 16 December 2010. ª 2011 Fauna & Flora International, Oryx, 45(4), 561–568 doi:10.1017/S0030605310001845