Landowner perceptions of livestock predation: implications for persecution of an Amazonian apex predator

Abstract

Apex predators are widely threatened globally and generally considered a priority on the conservation biology agenda. The harpy eagle, Harpia harpyja, is an apex predator threatened by habitat loss and persecution and a flagship species for Neotropical conservation. We investigated the roles of social, economic and environmental factors related to livestock depredation by harpy eagles, causes of reported harpy eagle persecution by local landholders and the intent of future harpy eagle killings. We explored these issues using structured interviews with 184 local livestock owners, who had admitted killing a combined total of 181 harpy eagles. We found that livestock abundance and livestock husbandry were the best positive predictors of levels of self‐reported livestock predation by harpy eagles. Domestic livestock reported to be killed by harpy eagles (192) were mainly chickens (47.9%), followed by goats (22.4%), pigs (18.2%) and sheep (8.3%), with pets representing only ~3% of kills. Few harpy eagle killings were related to livestock predation, which accounted for less than 20% of all eagles killed. Instead, the main reason for killing harpy eagles was simple curiosity, and many interviewees reported later regretting their acts. Regarding intent to kill harpy eagles in the future, interviewees’ perceptions of the threat posed to livestock and humans by eagles, and the subjective norm, were unrelated to intent to kill harpy eagles further. The single most important factor in predicting intent to kill harpy eagles was whether the interviewee had suffered livestock predation by eagles in the past. Additionally, the intention to kill eagles was negatively associated with landholding size. Most of our interviewees were relatively large landowners, but they are typically outnumbered by smallholders who are more likely to persecute harpy eagles. Consequently, education, compensation and tourism activities should be directed to smallholders to mitigate unnecessary persecution and mortality of harpy eagles.

The prey of the Harpy Eagle in its last reproductive refuges in the Atlantic Forest

“…The population decline of prey in the CAFEC signifies declining resources for the Harpy Eagle. In addition to threats to Harpy Eagles due to declining nesting sites 79 , poor habitat quality in their home range 14 , and the hunting of individuals 34 , 74 , 107 , 108 , Harpy Eagles may be under even greater pressure as their prey is also under threat 15 .…”

“…Studies on the Harpy Eagle’s diet have been conducted mainly in the Amazon 9 – 11 , 15 , 33 , 34 and in the Atlantic Forest, some information on the Harpy Eagle’s diet has been gathered from studies conducted in Argentina 29 and Brazil 22 , 30 , 31 . However, no study has focused on the Harpy Eagle’s feeding habits in this region, where both the predator and its potential prey are dramatically at risk of extinction.…”

Human Persecution is An Important Threat to the Conservation of the Endangered Black-and-Chestnut Eagle in Northern Andes

“…Human persecution to mitigate or prevent the predation of domestic animals is an important threat to Neotropical eagles, especially those of larger size (Sarasola et al, 2018). For example, human persecution of the Harpy Eagle ( Harpia harpyja ) in Brazil is an important threat to the species (Miranda et al, 2021) and such persecution constitutes a relevant threat to the Chaco Eagle ( Buteogallus coronatus ) in Argentina (Barbar et al, 2016).…”

Diversidade De Interações Interespecíficas Em Ninhos De Uma Ave Predadora Harpia Harpyja Na Amazônia, Rondônia

“…A harpia (Harpia harpyja), também conhecida como gavião-real na Amazônia, é uma ave de rapina considerada a mais forte do mundo, e o principal predador no dossel de mamíferos arborícolas, e que também se alimenta de aves e répteis (Galetti;Carvalho-Jr, 2000;Aguiar-Silva et al, 2014;Aguiar-Silva et al, 2015). A harpia está na lista de animais ameaçados de extinção na categoria Vulnerável (Banhos et al, 2018;IUCN, 2022), principalmente pelo desflorestamento e diferentes situações de remoção de indivíduos (Trinca et al, 2008;Sanaiotti et al, 2015;Gusmão et al, 2016;Gusmão et al, 2020;Miranda et al, 2021;IUCN, 2022).…”