Large Carnivores Less Likely to Attack Cattle With Painted Eyes on Their Rumps

A study showed that large carnivores are less inclined to attack cattle when they have painted eyes on their rumps.

A significant challenge for conservation involves wild carnivores preying livestock, including the human retaliatory killing of these carnivores. Rural people in the southern hemisphere mostly bear these conflicts between humans and wildlife drive declines of large carnivores' populations and the costs from such coexistence.

Current Approaches

Current approaches include fences and poisoning and killing wild carnivores. These are not always desirable or possible, and the need for effective alternative non-lethal methods to protect wild carnivores and human livelihoods is urgent.

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The Alternative Approach

New research published in Communications Biology revealed that painting eyes on livestock's backs might protect from attack.

Many big cats such as tigers, leopards, and lions are known to be ambush predators. They stalk prey using the element of surprise. If they are seen by prey, they sometimes abandon their effort.

The study tested if livestock losses from lion and leopard predation may be reduced with this method. The research was conducted in the Okavango Delta region in Botswana and included both ambush predators and lions, preyed on livestock. In the study period, lions accounted for predation of 18 cattle, a leopard of one, and spotted hyaenas of three.

The Methodology of the Study

The researchers worked with local herders and the Botswana Predator Conservation. They painted 14 herds of cattle which recently experienced attacks from lions. The study duration was four years, involving 2,061 cattle.

About a third of the herds were painted with an eye-spot on their rumps, and a third was painted with a simple cross mark. The rest of the herd was not marked. A total of 49 painting sessions were conducted; each session lasted for 24 days.

The herds were then collared, foraged consistently in the same areas, and were similarly moved to provide uniform exposure to the risks.

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Results of the Study

The research showed that lions' attack on cattle was lesser when the cattle had an eye-shaped painting on their rump area. Those with artificial eye paintings had a higher survival rate compared to cross-painted control animals and unpainted cattle.

Out of the 683 cattle painted with eyes on the rumps, none were preyed upon by the ambush predators for the entire four years. Meanwhile, 15 out of the 835 unpainted, and four out of the 543 cross-painted individuals were attacked and killed.

The eye paints appeared to let the predators assume that they were being seen by their prey, which led them to abandon their hunt. Cross-marked animals also significantly had a higher survival rate compared to the unmarked ones. Cross-marks seem to improve survivability.

This research showed that eye paints might deter large predators.

Implications and Analysis

The researchers think that painting may not necessarily be useful if "sacrificial," unmarked individuals are in the herd. More research is needed to reveal this. Meanwhile, this study may benefit herders by painting such marks on their more expensive and valuable animals.

Habituation may also occur, so that the predators may eventually be used to and consequently ignore the paints, rendering them ineffectual. It remains to be seen if the technique will still be useful in the long run.

Regardless of their effectiveness, various tools may be needed for an overall effective management system. No single technique is a magical solution. However, this new and inexpensive method can help reduce coexistence costs for cattle farmers.