Lions stop attacking cattle

[Zambezi]

The following is from a talk radio station here in South Africa. I'm sure there is also a podcast of the interview.

Botswana Predator Conservation director Dr J Weldon McNutt says
The predation of livestock by carnivores, and the retaliatory killing of carnivores as a result, is a major global conservation challenge. Such human-wildlife conflicts are a key driver of large carnivore declines and the costs of coexistence are often disproportionately borne by rural communities in the global south.

While current approaches tend to focus on separating livestock from wild carnivores, for instance through fencing or lethal control, this is not always possible or desirable. Alternative and effective non-lethal tools that protect both large carnivores and livelihoods are urgently needed.

A new study describes how painting eyes on the backsides of livestock can protect them from attack.

John Perlman on Afternoon Drive speaks to Botswana Predator Conservation director Dr J Weldon McNutt for more on this.

Fewer cows with paintings were attacked.
Dr J Weldon McNutt, Director - Botswana Predator Conservation

This will not resolve all the risks with wild animals and livestock.
Dr J Weldon McNutt, Director - Botswana Predator Conservation

We can demonstrate following this project that this decreases the risk associated with predators.
Dr J Weldon McNutt, Director - Botswana Predator Conservation

SOURCE: https://www.702.co.za/articles/3956...le-with-eyes-painted-on-their-backsides-study

Seems as if this is a great and inexpensive way to reduce stock loss due to predation. But does it take one of the strings out of the "reason to hunt' bow? Supposing this was successful worldwide, would the antis now have another reason to say "see, we don't need hunters to cull numbers there is no more conflict anymore".... I suppose our answer will still be that there are less predators being shot by local farmers therefore their numbers will still need to be controlled.

Glad it works as predation causes untold financial damage to peasant and commercial farmers.

 

[AnakKampuang]

@Zambezi
Interesting, thanks for sharing.

 

[John Telford]

Bunkum! Lions hunting at night won’t see the painted eyes Especially more so if the herd is bunches up in a stockade ....

 

[Zambezi]

Bunkum! Lions hunting at night won’t see the painted eyes Especially more so if the herd is bunches up in a stockade ....

Listen to the pod cast...

I couldn't listen to the live show properly while driving but the studies seems to show a very significant reduction in losses.

I think the herds were painted with angry eyes on the rumps, crosses on others and control animals with no markings at all. Something like ZERO "eyed" animals taken, only a few "crossed" animals and many non-marked were taken.

I think it was a fairly large scale study, large enough to be statistically significant.

I think there were also whole herds of "eyed" animals that weren't touched or showed marked decline in attacks...

I'll have to listen to the podcast sometime.

 

[Zambezi]

The theory was partly based on the "eyes" on certain insect wings, such as butterflies, that discourage attack by predators. This defensive marking is not seen in mammals yet the theory seems to hold that it is somewhat effective.

 

[AnakKampuang]

The theory was partly based on the "eyes" on certain insect wings, such as butterflies, that discourage attack by predators. This defensive marking is not seen in mammals yet the theory seems to hold that it is somewhat effective.

The theory must be working in some ways, since people in northern parts of india also used to paint their cattle backside.

 

[Randy F]

Now I know how Grandma always caught me stealing cookies when she had her back turned.

 

[Philip Glass]

There are always stories like this that have little real value to help with predation. As a sheep rancher I know plenty about predation as it’s near the top of my struggles.
The wolf advocates in the Western states said ranchers only need to string a line with rags on it that will blow in the breeze and the wolves will stay away. I mean this crap was written about in magazines and all over media at one time! First of all it didn’t work for more than maybe one night and plus how would you put rags on a line around tens of thousands of acres?
You can either fence predators out or kill them, there are no other options.
Painting eyes on a cows ass? Really?
What will they think of next?
Regards,
Philip

 

[Randy F]

There are always stories like this that have little real value to help with predation. As a sheep rancher I know plenty about predation as it’s near the top of my struggles.
The wolf advocates in the Western states said ranchers only need to string a line with rags on it that will blow in the breeze and the wolves will stay away. I mean this crap was written about in magazines and all over media at one time! First of all it didn’t work for more than maybe one night and plus how would you put rags on a line around tens of thousands of acres?
You can either fence predators out or kill them, there are no other options.
Painting eyes on a cows ass? Really?
What will they think of next?
Regards,
Philip

I will be convinced when I see someone paint eyes on his ass and run naked past a pride of lions...and survive.

 

[Zambezi]

Everyone criticising... have any of you actually READ or LISTENED to the article?
Not saying it holds water but very hard to criticise when one hasn't even listened to the interview or looked at the research.

I would suggest maybe not equating crack pot ideas with research.

How do you think they came up with things like wearing thick stockings to prevent irukandji stings? One could probably come up with a few other inventions that work. It's called research.

I actually don't care one way or another if this actually works or if it turns out to be a short term solution or even the best invention ever. The least one can do is check it out before dismissing it out of hand.

Or even simply move on if it isn't worth your time.

 

[Randy F]

Everyone criticising... have any of you actually READ or LISTENED to the article?
Not saying it holds water but very hard to criticise when one hasn't even listened to the interview or looked at the research.

I would suggest maybe not equating crack pot ideas with research.

How do you think they came up with things like wearing thick stockings to prevent irukandji stings? One could probably come up with a few other inventions that work. It's called research.

I actually don't care one way or another if this actually works or if it turns out to be a short term solution or even the best invention ever. The least one can do is check it out before dismissing it out of hand.

Or even simply move on if it isn't worth your time.

You are right. Sorry to stomp on it.

 

[spike.t]

Everyone criticising... have any of you actually READ or LISTENED to the article?
Not saying it holds water but very hard to criticise when one hasn't even listened to the interview or looked at the research.

I would suggest maybe not equating crack pot ideas with research.

How do you think they came up with things like wearing thick stockings to prevent irukandji stings? One could probably come up with a few other inventions that work. It's called research.

I actually don't care one way or another if this actually works or if it turns out to be a short term solution or even the best invention ever. The least one can do is check it out before dismissing it out of hand.

Or even simply move on if it isn't worth your time.

Read about it a while ago....suppose it might work to start with, but cats ain't stupid....so am sure they will learn....

 

[Zambezi]

I'm sure they will catch on eventually. Like I said I couldn't hear the whole interview but I'm sure it'll help until the hunters can get back into the bush. Seems like both the cattle and predators are being hit hard at the moment.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I thought it was the night vision goggles?????????

 

[Philip Glass]

Everyone criticising... have any of you actually READ or LISTENED to the article?
Not saying it holds water but very hard to criticise when one hasn't even listened to the interview or looked at the research.

I would suggest maybe not equating crack pot ideas with research.

How do you think they came up with things like wearing thick stockings to prevent irukandji stings? One could probably come up with a few other inventions that work. It's called research.

I actually don't care one way or another if this actually works or if it turns out to be a short term solution or even the best invention ever. The least one can do is check it out before dismissing it out of hand.

Or even simply move on if it isn't worth your time.

I’ve read it. I’ve read the one where the little boy came up with an idea for Led lights at night In Kenya to stop lions. I’ve read the flags on the fence for wolves. They don’t work. None of them are scaleable for large ranches. These are only ideas for small farms anyway.
I am not saying it’s a bad article or that it’s not an interesting idea. But I am an expert on predators as a sheep rancher. It’s what I do. So I am just commenting.
Thanks for posting this.
Philip

 

[tigris115]

Isn't this basically the cow equivalent of those tiger masks people wear in India? Same principle it seems

 

[jeff]

Isn't this basically the cow equivalent of those tiger masks people wear in India? Same principle it seems

Yes and the tiger masks worked good at first and then less and less once the cats started to catch on.