Counting prey species

Wildlife Research in Belize

Conservation research on Belizean mammals

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Are there enough wild prey for big cats?

Identifying and validating methods to assess wild prey abundance

Although many of the prey species are more abundant and less elusive than jaguars, counting them is no easy task. Perhaps with the exception of pacas, none of the main prey species of jaguars or pumas are individually identifiable from photos, therefore counting deer or peccaries using camera-trap photos is not as straightforward as counting individual jaguars. Furthermore, cameras placed to maximise capture rate of one species may not be optimally located to detect other species. Consequently multi-species surveys which derive relative abundance indices from absolute number of photo captures per species are likely to be biased. For more information please see our publications.

Species-specific strategies are needed to accurately estimate and monitor abundance of prey species in Belize. In collaboration with the Environmental Research Institute at the University of Belize, we will test and validate a variety of techniques to accurately count neotropical mammals. Techniques will include sign surveys, burrow counts and live sightings, as well as camera-trap technology.

We would like to encourage students who are interested in participating in this much-needed research in Belize to contact us about developing relevant projects. Please go to our Opportunities page.

A healthy predator population depends on a healthy prey base.

Changes in the relative availability of wild prey species may alter the patterns of coexistence between sympatric cats such as jaguars and pumas, shifting the balance of competition in favour of one over the other.

Declines in the wild prey base, due to over-hunting by man or habitat loss, may force these predators to take livestock (see Human-jaguar conflict).

Is game hunting sustainable?

Wild game meat is popular in Belize and is an important part of the Belizean culture. There is good economic incentive for hunting: pacas can sell for ~US$25 each, whilst white-lipped peccaries and white-tailed deer can each fetch up to ~US$150 .

Wild game hunting is not permitted without a valid hunting license however monitoring and regulation of illegal off-take is difficult. Fire-arms are legal and landowners are permitted to kill any wildlife that threatens crops or domestic animals on their property. In some cases this may be used as a pretext to hunt game outside of one’s property.

Estimating and monitoring abundance of wild prey must go hand in hand with monitoring levels of off-take by hunters. In combination with life history data (e.g. fecundity, natural mortality) we can use this information to model the impact of hunting on the population, and predict whether current levels of off-take are sustainable.

Remains of a fire and BBQ in an illegal hunting camp

Monitoring, and where necessary regulation, of game hunting is not only important for Belizean wildlife, but also for the Belizean culture and economy: Overexploitation of wild prey species will reduce the availability of game for consumption by both humans and jaguars. Future generations of Belizeans may not get the opportunity to eat traditional dishes; while jaguars, in search of food, may start preying on livestock.

Game meat is an important part of Belizean culture

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