Health considerations of the rehabilitation of illegally traded houbara bustards <i>Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii</i> in the Middle East

Bailey, Tom; Silvanose, Christudas; Naldo, Jesus L.; Combreau, Olivier; Launay, Frédéric; Wernery, Ulrich; Kinne, Jöerg; Gough, R. E.; Manvell, R. J.

doi:10.1046/j.1365-3008.2000.00133.x

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The disease has also been reported in captive flocks of wild species, such as peregrine falcons in Germany (Krone et al., ) or Houbara Bustard species (hereafter ‘Houbara’) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco (Samour et al., ; Bailey et al., ; Le Loc'h et al., ). In this species, only sporadic cases have so far been recorded in captive‐breeding projects (Ostrowski et al., ,b, ) and mortality has been reported only in illegally trapped birds (Samour et al., ; Bailey et al., , ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outbreaks of Pox Disease Due to Canarypox-Like and Fowlpox-Like Viruses in Large-Scale Houbara Bustard Captive-Breeding Programmes, in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates

Loc’h

Paul

Camus-Bouclainville

et al. 2015

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Infectious diseases can be serious threats for the success of reinforcement programmes of endangered species. Houbara Bustard species (Chlamydotis undulata and Chlamydotis macqueenii), whose populations declined in the last decades, have been captive-bred for conservation purposes for more than 15 years in North Africa and the Middle East. Field observations show that pox disease, caused by avipoxviruses (APV), regularly emerges in conservation projects of Houbara Bustard, despite a very strict implementation of both vaccination and biosecurity. Data collected from captive flocks of Houbara Bustard in Morocco from 2006 through 2013 and in the United Arab Emirates from 2011 through 2013 were analysed, and molecular investigations were carried out to define the virus strains involved. Pox cases (n = 2311) were observed during more than half of the year (88% of the months in Morocco, 54% in the United Arab Emirates). Monthly morbidity rates showed strong variations across the time periods considered, species and study sites: Four outbreaks were described during the study period on both sites. Molecular typing revealed that infections were mostly due to canarypox-like viruses in Morocco while fowlpox-like viruses were predominant in the United Arab Emirates. This study highlights that APV remain a major threat to consider in bird conservation initiatives.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outbreaks of Pox Disease Due to Canarypox-Like and Fowlpox-Like Viruses in Large-Scale Houbara Bustard Captive-Breeding Programmes, in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates

Loc’h

Paul

Camus-Bouclainville

et al. 2015

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…Indeed, houbara bustards are now hunted by means of falconry all over their wintering range, from Pakistan in the east to Saudi Arabia in the west. This species is also heavily poached, especially in Pakistan, and sent to the Arabian peninsula for falcon training purposes (Bailey et al, 1999). These heavy pressures on the populations of this species raise strong concern about the sustainability of the hunting system as it is practised currently.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of annual mortality rates in adult‐sized migrant houbara bustards (Chlamydotis [undulata] macqueenii)

Combreau

Launay

Lawrence

2001

Animal Conservation

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Between the years 1994 and 2000, we assessed the mortality rate of adult-sized, migrant Asian houbara bustards (Chlamydotis [undulata] macqueenii) via banding and satellite tracking programmes. The birds were captured either on their breeding grounds in Kazakhstan (Taukum desert and Buzachi peninsula) and in China (Jungar basin) or on their wintering grounds in Pakistan (Cholistan desert) and in the United Arab Emirates (Baynunah area). For the banding programme, 104 houbara bustards were marked and statistical analysis was performed on the number of transmitters and rings returned by falconers. This allowed us to calculate a 0.045 (SD 0.061) annual mortality rate attributable to hunting activities. The tracking programme analysed the fate of 41 houbara bustards equipped with satellite transmitters (PTTs). Overall, the satellite-tracked birds were followed for 10,965 days and had travelled all over the distribution range of the species in Asia. The causes of mortality were assessed from the interpretation of the ARGOS data relayed by the sensors embarked on the PTTs. The annual mortality rate was derived from the calculation of the average finite daily survival rate using the Trent & Rongstad (1974) method. With this method, the overall annual mortality rate in adult-sized houbara bustards migrating through Asia was 0.283 (95%lcl 0.186-95%ucl 0.404). The hunting and poaching pressure could explain 73.5% of the observed mortality. The mortality rate during winter, when the houbara is under severe hunting pressure, was 11.2 times higher than during the breeding season. Houbara appear to be especially at risk in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. A VOR-TEX simulation showed that under current hunting and poaching pressures, the probability of extinction of the houbara population modelled can be anticipated at 50 years with a 94% probability. The maximum sustainable yield was estimated at 7.2% of the adult-sized population whereas as much as 20.8% is currently taken. This work stresses the need for conservationists and Arab falconers to take appropriate concerted measures as soon as possible.

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“…Health assessments and their reference values are central to animal diagnostics for zoos, pets and wildlife physiology and epidemiology (Christopher et al 1999;Bailey et al 2000;Atkins et al 2010;Ward et al 2012), and can guide recovery of species vulnerable to diseases (e.g. United States Fish and Wildlife Service 1994; Sainsbury and Vaughan-Higgins 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…TRAFFIC 2004;Fidenci and Maran 2009;Leuteritz and Weissgold 2013) and investing in forensic networks, methods and technology (among others, Cooper et al 2009;Ogden et al 2009;TRAFFIC 2010) to catch and prosecute poachers and traders. Often, confiscated wildlife are diseased, desiccated and emaciated, and suffer high mortality in transit (Bailey et al 2000;TRAFFIC 2004;Ward et al 2012) because poacher profits significantly outweigh poacher concern for wildlife welfare. Also, wildlife poaching can extirpate populations (Fidenci and Maran 2009;Leuteritz and Weissgold 2013) and releasing unhealthy wildlife may introduce disease to naive populations and communities (Bailey et al 2000;Real et al 2000;Sainsbury and Vaughan-Higgins 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Often, confiscated wildlife are diseased, desiccated and emaciated, and suffer high mortality in transit (Bailey et al 2000;TRAFFIC 2004;Ward et al 2012) because poacher profits significantly outweigh poacher concern for wildlife welfare. Also, wildlife poaching can extirpate populations (Fidenci and Maran 2009;Leuteritz and Weissgold 2013) and releasing unhealthy wildlife may introduce disease to naive populations and communities (Bailey et al 2000;Real et al 2000;Sainsbury and Vaughan-Higgins 2012). Thus, it is important to establish reference ranges for healthy wildlife, evaluate the health of native populations, and screen the health of imported and confiscated wildlife.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Body of evidence: forensic use of baseline health assessments to convict wildlife poachers

Henen

Hofmeyr

Baard³

2013

Wildl. Res.

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Context. Given the immense impact of wildlife trade, disease and repatriations on populations, health assessments can provide powerful forensic material to help convict wildlife poachers and minimise risks of releasing unhealthy wildlife. Aims. We aimed to use reference ranges to assess the health of confiscated tortoises, to illustrate forensic application of these ranges, and to advance analyses for future applications. Methods. We used analyses of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA), and composite indices, to compare wild and confiscate tortoise body condition, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration of males and females of three tortoise species. Subsequently, we used multivariate statistics (e.g. discriminant analyses) to evaluate the relative importance of species, sex and group (wild or confiscate) on tortoise condition and haematology. Key results. Our initial statistical tests demonstrated, at P < 0.05 to P < 0.0005, that confiscate body condition and haematology were compromised compared with that of wild tortoises. Subsequently, discriminant analyses strongly discriminated between most wild and confiscate groups (P < 0.0001), correctly classified individual health as wild or confiscate 80-90% of the time, indicated that species and sex effects were stronger than was the wild-confiscate category, and provided discriminant functions for use on other taxa and studies. Conclusions. The health assessments discriminated well between wild and confiscate tortoises. The results had considerable forensic value, being relevant, quickly generated using portable field equipment, reliable, accurate, easy to explain and convey in terms of likelihood in a court of law, synergistically consistent among variables and groups, a strong rebuttal to the poachers' specific statements, and consistent with other types of evidence. Multivariate analyses were consistent with, and more prudent and powerful than, the original statistical analyses. Discriminant functions can be applied in future studies and on other chelonian species, and should be developed for other wildlife species. Implications. Reference ranges provide considerable value for forensics, diagnostics and treatment. Given the disease risks resulting from the massive scale of wildlife trade and release, reference ranges should be developed for more species.

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Health considerations of the rehabilitation of illegally traded houbara bustards Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii in the Middle East

Cited by 16 publications

References 21 publications

Outbreaks of Pox Disease Due to Canarypox-Like and Fowlpox-Like Viruses in Large-Scale Houbara Bustard Captive-Breeding Programmes, in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates

Outbreaks of Pox Disease Due to Canarypox-Like and Fowlpox-Like Viruses in Large-Scale Houbara Bustard Captive-Breeding Programmes, in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates

An assessment of annual mortality rates in adult‐sized migrant houbara bustards (Chlamydotis [undulata] macqueenii)

Body of evidence: forensic use of baseline health assessments to convict wildlife poachers

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