Effects of provisioning on shark behaviour: Reply to Brunnschweiler & McKenzie (2010)

Abstract

, mostly related to the lack of a reference site or a control group in the methodology. In our study, we distinguished between 39 individuals of sicklefin lemon sharks Negaprion acutidens, mainly based on photo-identification. Our study was based on the field-survey approach, with time (a continuous variable) as the source of variation, and thus a control group was not necessary. We provide here additional data that support the notion that abundance of lemon sharks on the provisioning site was increasing, both in their number and fidelity. We maintain our conclusion that sicklefin lemon shark provisioning off Moorea Island can continue, but should be more intensely controlled.

A Framework to Evaluate Wildlife Feeding in Research, Wildlife Management, Tourism and Recreation

“…Feeding can support tourism by making the animals predictably and reliably viewable. Examples of species fed in tourism include: primates that are fed, so that time-constrained tourists in Japan can see a “monkey-on-demand” [ 61 ]; brown bears that are led to Finnish-Russian feeding sites to entertain 4,000 visitors annually [ 62 ]; komodo dragons whose feeding attracts more than 30,000 visitors to Indonesia annually [ 63 ]; salt-water crocodiles lured by staged feeding cruises in Australia [ 64 ]; African wildlife drawn to safari lodges by carcass feeding or watering holes [ 65 ]; and dolphins, fish, stingrays and sharks that are fed in warmer climates, like Hawaii, Australia, South Africa, Mexico and the Caribbean [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ].…”

“…Feeding wild animals can affect both individuals and populations, as animals may experience food-based aggression and social stress [ 28 ]. Studies have also documented population-level changes in abundance [ 66 ], behaviour and distribution [ 67 ], as well as behavioural changes in inter-connected species [ 68 ] and overall ecosystem concerns [ 71 ].…”

Human-wildlife interactions in a major tourist destination: Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica

“…This aggression and social stress are being caused by feeding (Lott 1996), as the case of the Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis Blainville, 1817), it became accustomed to receiving food from visitors, so the species has become more aggressive towards people and towards other individuals within the same species (De Sá Alves et al 2011). Changes have also been reported in the abundance of populations, in their behavior and distribution, because of the intentional feeding of wild fauna (Clua et al 2010;Corcoran et al 2013;Ferrera 2016). Many of the interactions between wildlife and humans, and the conflict that may occur, are a consequence of tourists offering food to the animals (Carne et al 2017).…”

Determining the Role of Hand Feeding Practices in Accidental Shark Bites on Scuba Divers

“…The Sicklefin Lemon shark behaviour in the context of shark provisioning was collectively and individually monitored through more than 1,000 hours of diving observation, in the framework of a long-term study (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010) implemented on the island of Moorea [9,17]. This study was conducted in close cooperation with a professional dive master (involved in shark feeding from 1997 to 2010) who was part of this same study and also the victim of the two bites that are described hereafter.…”