The impact of herd composition and foraging area on livestock predation by big cats in the P antanal of B razil

A study in the Pantanal Conservation Area revealed that cattle predation by jaguars and pumas is significantly influenced by herd composition and environmental factors. Predation rates increased with higher water levels of the Paraguay River, which forced herds to concentrate on higher ground near forested areas, making them more vulnerable to attacks. Conversely, a greater proportion of adult cattle in the herd reduced predation frequency, likely due to defensive behaviors that protected younger animals. Juveniles were disproportionately targeted by predators. Over 50% of recorded livestock mortality events were attributed to big cat predation, resulting in an annual loss of up to 2.83% of the average herd size and financial losses of approximately $22,400. These findings highlight critical factors that predispose cattle to predation, offering potential management strategies to mitigate losses and reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Tortato, F. R., Layme, V. M. G., Crawshaw, P. G., & Izzo, T. J. (2015). The impact of herd composition and foraging area on livestock predation by big cats in the Pantanal of Brazil. Animal Conservation, 18(6), 539–547. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12207