Ecology, distribution and status of the Rock Hyrax,<i>Procavia capensis syriaca</i>, in Jordan

Rifai, Lina; Baker, Mohammad A. Abu; Amr, Zuhair S.

doi:10.1080/09397140.2000.10637829

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The rock hyrax, Procavia capensis , is a medium‐sized (3–4 kg) social mammal found throughout the sub‐Sahara, North Africa and the Middle East (Butynski, Hoeck, Koren, & de Jong, 2015). While on the verge of extinction in the neighboring countries (Rifai, Baker, & Amr, 2000), in Israel, the species is regarded as protected (under the Law of Wildlife Protection, 1955), and common in a range of environments, from arid deserts to woodlands. Within its broad geographic range, the rock hyrax distribution is often patchy as its presence is tightly associated with the presence of rock piles or boulder concentrations (Barry & Mundy, 2002; Gerlach & Hoeck, 2001).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shelter availability and human attitudes as drivers of rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) expansion along a rural–urban gradient

Ben‐Moshe

Iwamura‏

2020

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While anthropogenic land-use changes threaten wildlife globally, some species take advantage of such changes and disperse into urban areas. The wildlife in urban areas often promotes conflicts with humans, notably when the animals are associated with the spread of zoonotic diseases. In Israel, current urban invasion of rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) draws public attention, since the species is a reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis, a serious skin disease. The rock hyrax, however, has seldom been studied in densely populated areas, and the drivers for its urban expansion, as well as its abilities to live and spread in core urban areas, are relatively unknown.Here, we explore the rock hyrax expansion to urban areas process by examining the availability, characteristics and use of shelter along an urban gradient. Our findings suggest that a series of factors determines shelter availability and quality for the rock hyrax, which facilitates its dispersion across the urban gradient. We found that rock hyraxes from the Judean Desert expand to the peri-urban region of Jerusalem by colonizing new rocky shelters formed as by-products of urban development. With their populations reaching extreme densities in this area and saturating the available shelters, there is some spill over to the adjacent core urban areas where they colonize littered sites, which are made available due to the local socio-economic conditions and cultural norms of waste disposal and illegal placement of temporary structures.Our work emphasizes the significance of the urban gradient approach for studying the mechanisms promoting wildlife expansion to cities. Our findings suggest that changes in shelter availability and quality due to urban development, and cultural norms promote shifts of the hyrax population by pushing from the already established areas and pulling into new environment across the urban gradient. K E Y W O R D S invasion biology, Leishmania tropica, urban wildlife, zoonotic diseases | 4045 BEN-MOSHE aNd IWaMURa

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shelter availability and human attitudes as drivers of rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) expansion along a rural–urban gradient

Ben‐Moshe

Iwamura‏

2020

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…According to most of the respondents, the hyraxes never give any value to the community. In contrast, several researchers (Chiweshe, 2007;Rifai et al, 2000;Stevenson and Hesse, 1990) from Zimbabwe, Jordan and Yemen, respectively reported that meat of P. capensis is a source of food to local communities.…”

Section: Michael Tsilwo Church Forestmentioning

confidence: 95%

Knowledge, attitude and practices of peasants towards hyraxes in two selected church forests in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Girmay¹,

Teshome²,

Mahari³

2015

Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Church forests comprise local as well as global hotspots as critical conservation areas for a large portion of Ethiopian biodiversity. This study was conducted in two selected church forests based on presence of hyrax species and forest coverage in Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia to assess knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of peasants towards hyraxes in the church forests. Data collection was carried out from August, 2012 to January, 2013 using questionnaires' which contains both open and closed ended questions. The knowledge, attitude and practice of the local people towards the hyraxes and church forests were varied among the two church forests. Most respondents from Michael Tsilwo church forest had negative attitude towards the hyrax species although most respondents from Michael Romanat had positive attitude. The church forests have great contribution as habitat and source of food for the hyraxes in particular and many wild animals in general. Most of the local people living around the church forests do not seem to understand the ecological roles of the hyraxes and wildlife. Therefore, awareness creation programmes should be organized to the community and it will help to develop positive attitude towards hyraxes.

show abstract

“…They are medium sized (~3-4 kg) mammals, and are generally diurnal, but can also be active at night and on warm days in the desert (Mendelssohn 1965). The hyraxes are widespread in Africa and the Middle East (Harrison and Bates 1991, Rifai et al 2000). They are principally folivorous, feeding on leaves of perennial plants, but may also consume grasses, forbs, and fruits.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They prefer to forage close to their dens, which provide them refuge (Kotler et al 1999). Rock hyraxes are highly social and can live in colonies with over 50 individuals (Rifai et al 2000). They are preyed upon by the Verreaux's Eagle, Caracal, and Jungle Cat in the Jordan Valley (Rifai et al 2000).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rock hyraxes are highly social and can live in colonies with over 50 individuals (Rifai et al 2000). They are preyed upon by the Verreaux's Eagle, Caracal, and Jungle Cat in the Jordan Valley (Rifai et al 2000). Rock hyraxes are restricted to rocky habitats and kopjes, use rock crevices and boulder mounds for shelter, may move around from den to den, and range out from rocky refuges into the surrounding habitat for food (Kotler et al 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Patch use and site selection by a rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) in a human-dominated landscape in the West Bank of Palestine

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Populations of rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) increasingly occur in urbanizing areas of the Palestinian West Bank, and throughout the Middle East, in part due to construction methods that create rock piles that shelter hyraxes. We quantified activity densities of the hyraxes, environmental variables, and plant cover at four sites that differ in urbanization. The highest numbers occurred in the most urban site and peaked in June and October, with hyraxes traveling farther distances from their dens late in the season (October). Sites with higher activity densities of hyraxes had higher vapor pressures, signifying more mesic conditions. Thus, urbanization aids the expansion of hyraxes.

show abstract

Ecology, distribution and status of the Rock Hyrax,Procavia capensis syriaca, in Jordan

Cited by 5 publications

References 9 publications

Shelter availability and human attitudes as drivers of rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) expansion along a rural–urban gradient

Shelter availability and human attitudes as drivers of rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) expansion along a rural–urban gradient

Knowledge, attitude and practices of peasants towards hyraxes in two selected church forests in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Patch use and site selection by a rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) in a human-dominated landscape in the West Bank of Palestine

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About