A minimally invasive capture system for the safe and compassionate live-trapping of jaguar and puma

Abstract

Live trapping of large carnivores can have counter-productive effects on the animal's health and postrelease behavior. Nonetheless, trapping may be necessary for scientific inquiry, wildlife management and conservation. Capture methods should be efficient, selective, compassionate, and safe for both animals and people. Here, I review the methods used to capture the largest American felids, jaguars and pumas, and propose the use of a minimally invasive capture system (MICS). The device consists of a blowgun remotely controlled by means of cameras and a swiveling 2-way pan-tilt head. The blowgun is monitored by video camera and triggered from a distance of up to 400 m and is capable of shooting darts with high accuracy at distances of about 12 m. This method was developed a decade ago but has not been used despite clear advantages over traditional methods. The use of a MICS can be cheaper, lower in human investment, higher in efficiency and selectivity, and safer and more compassionate than the traditional methods used. The main disadvantages are related to manufacturing, as it must be custom built made by a specialized professional. In addition, any adjustments or repairs must also be handled by a specialist. Nevertheless, these challenges should not discourage the use of MICS, as ethical considerations are of growing importance worldwide when working with wild species. The use of MICS for the live-capture of wild jaguars and pumas (or other medium and large carnivores) deserves further consideration, testing, and discussion. ResumenLa captura de grandes carnívoros vivos puede tener efectos contraproducentes sobre la salud del animal y su comportamiento posterior cuando se libera. No obstante, la captura puede ser necesaria para la investigación científica, la gestión o la conservación de las especies involucradas. Los métodos de captura deben ser eficientes, selectivos, compasivos y seguros tanto para los animales como para las personas. En este artículo se revisan los métodos utilizados para capturar jaguares y pumas, y se propone el uso de un sistema de captura mínimamente invasivo (MICS). El dispositivo consiste en una cerbatana controlada a distancia por medio de cámaras, y es capaz de disparar dardos con alta precisión a distancias de hasta 12 m. Este método se desarrolló hace una década, pero no se ha utilizado a pesar de las claras ventajas con respecto a los métodos tradicionales. El uso de MICS puede ser más económico, necesitar de menor inversión humana, tener mayor eficiencia y selectividad, y ser más seguro y compasivo que los métodos tradicionales. Las principales desventajas están relacionadas con la fabricación, ya que debe ser hecha por un profesional especializado, y cualquier ajuste o reparación debe ser realizada por un especialista. Sin embargo, estos desafíos no deben desalentar el uso de MISC, ya que las consideraciones éticas tienen una importancia creciente a nivel mundial cuando se trabaja con especies silvestres. El uso de MICS para la captura en vivo de jaguares y pumas (u otros carnívo...

On the need for rigorous welfare and methodological reporting for the live capture of large carnivores: A response to de Araujo et al. (2021)

“…As such it is unclear whether minimally invasive alternatives may have been more appropriate (e.g. Palomares, 2018), and where, when and how the authors recommend this method be implemented or, indeed, which variant should be used. Articles recommending a modified technique should explain why invasive methods are required, before providing a clear description of the recommended variant.…”

First Capture of a Jaguar Using a Minimally Invasive Capture System for GPS Tracking in an Isolated Patch of Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil

“…We tried to trap jaguars and pumas (Puma concolor) between 26 September and 13 October 2018 (18 days) and between 19 June and 4 July 2019 (15 days). The methods authorized by the Brazilian environmental agencies for capturing large felids were foot-snares [6,12], the preferable method used in the country, and a minimum invasive capture system (MICS, described in detail in [10]; also see [13]). Despite foot-snares potentially posing a risk to animals and trappers, this capture technique is widely used and accepted for the capture of large felids (see review in [10]).…”

“…The methods authorized by the Brazilian environmental agencies for capturing large felids were foot-snares [6,12], the preferable method used in the country, and a minimum invasive capture system (MICS, described in detail in [10]; also see [13]). Despite foot-snares potentially posing a risk to animals and trappers, this capture technique is widely used and accepted for the capture of large felids (see review in [10]). The MICS has only previously been used to capture Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx [13]), with no previous use on larger felids despite the potential advantages of the technique.…”

“…Palomares [10] proposed the use of a minimally invasive capture system (MICS [13]) to efficiently and safely capture large neotropical felids, and in this study, we report the first successful capture of a jaguar (Panthera onca) using this technique. With this method, we were able to safely capture one of the last jaguars in an isolated Atlantic Forest patch in Southeastern Brazil [14] with a relatively low investment of effort, time, and resources, while ensuring the safety of the animal and trappers.…”

“…The use of radio and GPS tracking techniques over the last few decades has revealed the impact of human activity on the spatial ecology of these species. However, capturing and immobilizing large carnivores for tracking is often challenging and unsafe [6][7][8][9][10], and traditional capture methods, including trained hounds, box-traps, and foot-snares, have their own disadvantages [11,12].…”