Behavioural and physiological consequences of capture for shearing of vicuñas in Argentina

ARZAMENDIA, YANINA; BONACIC, CRISTIAN; VILÁ, BIBIANA L.

APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2010 vol. 125 p. 163 - 170

0168-1591

Behavioural, physical and physiological responses of Argentinean vicuñas to capture, handling and shearing were studied for the first time. The research was undertaken in a study area of 2414 ha with a mean density of 12-40 vicuñas/km2. Captures were conducted on groups of wild vicuñas that had not received any prior management. Groups were herded into a funnel system that ended in a corral with several internal subdivisions. Three distinct capture methods were compared, according to the method by which the animals were herded into the corral (Vehicles system: vehicles only; Mixed system: people on foot and vehicles; and Chaku system: people on foot only). Attempts to escape, alarm calls, increased vigilance, vocalizations, and kicking were measured to quantify the stress response. A total of 478 vicuñas were captured between May 2003 and November 2005. Vicuñas captures by mixed system showed alert and active behaviours and vocalized more in the handling corral. The most active animals inside the corrals showed higher respiratory and heart frequency during handling (r=0.44, P< 0.05 and r=0.58 P