Baboon Foraging Behaviour: The Influence of Natural Food Availability and Anthropogenic Dump Food¬¬

Hidskes, Sam (2023) Baboon Foraging Behaviour: The Influence of Natural Food Availability and Anthropogenic Dump Food¬¬. Master's Research Project 2, Biology.

Preview	Text mBIO_2023_HidskesS.pdf.pdf Download (1MB) | Preview
	Text toestemming.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (158kB)

Abstract

The growing concern for conservation due to the increase in human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in human-modified areas (HMAs) such as farms, villages, and dumps is attributed to the reduction of wildlife habitats and the subsequent rise in confrontations. For example, high frequency of foraging by Chacma baboons (Papio ursinis) in human-modified areas (HMAs) negatively impacts livelihoods and creates a general sense of unsafety, leading to reduced tolerance for wildlife and sometimes resulting in lethal measures of retaliation. Despite the extensive and regular occurrence of HMA foraging by various baboon species across Africa, there are limited quantitative accounts of HMA primate behaviour or effective deterrents. This study, conducted in the Limpopo region of South Africa at a local dump in Alldays, aimed to understand the frequency of HMA foraging by the Lahla baboon troop and its potential correlation to the availability of natural and HMA food across seasons. Systematic behavioural observations and vegetation transects were used to gather data. Results revealed that time spent foraging at the dump by the Lahla troop was significantly higher during the dry season (Mar-Sep) compared to the wet season (Oct-Feb). Our food availability model showed higher energy availability in natural vegetation during the wet season and low energy availability during the dry season, while the dump remained a relatively stable energy source throughout the year. Current and previous research reve

Item Type:	Thesis (Master's Research Project 2)
Supervisor name:	Smit, C.
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Master's Research Project 2
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Mar 2023 10:31
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2023 10:31
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/29309

Actions (login required)

View Item