Sustainable livestock husbandry to conserve wildlife in the guanaco corridor of northern patagonia

MARULL, C.; MEDINA, J.; JUAN, E.; PERASSI, R.; BOLGERI, MJ.; HEIDEL, L.; RAGO, V.; RADOVANI, N.; GONZALEZ, A.; RIVAS, L.; COLOMBO, V.; FUNES, M.; UHART, M.; WALKER, S.; NOVARO, A.

Puerto Iguazu

Conferencia; 59th Annual International Conference of Wildlife Diseases Association; 2010

Wildlife Diseases Association

Conflicts between wildlife and livestock production threaten human livelihoods and conservation of biodiversity. As part of a long-term initiative to conserve the widllife of the Patagonian steppe, we are working to improve livestock husbandry practices and reduce livestock-wildlife conflicts in the Payunia-Auca Mahuida Guanaco Corridor in north western Patagonia. Our work involves 20 familiesof goat herders throughout the corridor, implementing pilot projects on: 1) improvements of goat husbandry through herd health screenings encouraging goat herders to keep healthy animals by means of implementing preventive medicine protocols 2) management of range carrying capacity through adjustment of stocking rates by production of alternative livestock products, such as cashmere fiberfrom goats and culling of unproductive stock and 3) reduction of predation losses by means of locally bred guard dogs aiming to minimize conflicts between goats and native carnivores (puma and foxes). Ten herders are improving the sanitary condition of their herds, 15 herders have shown strong interest in producing cashmere fiber, of which 7 were able to sell the fiber. So far, three herders have sold their unproductive animals. The eight families using guard dogs reported a drastic reduction in attacks by predators. In summary, we are working on pilot projects to demonstrate the benefits ofhaving smaller, healthier, and more productive stocks, which will simultaneously benefit people, wildlife, and habitats. Finally, we expect to expand these programs to larger areas of Patagonia thatshare the same problems, wildlife, and human activities.