INVESTIGADORES
NOVARO andres Jose
artículos
Título:
Capture and radio ear-tagging neonatal vicuñas
Autor/es:
DONADIO, E.; M.R.BLANCO; R.D.CREGO; S.W. BUSKIRK; A. J. NOVARO
Revista:
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
Editorial:
The Wildlife Society
Referencias:
Año: 2012 vol. 36 p. 119 - 123
ISSN:
0091-7648
Resumen:
We used and evaluated the effectiveness of a hand-capture technique to capture and mark neonatal vicun˜as (Vicugna vicugna) at San Guillermo National Park, west-central Argentina. We captured and marked 98 neonates during 5–31 January, 2008–2010. Capture success was 92% (106 attempts), with stationary marking teams being 2.5 times as successful in detecting and capturing neonates as mobile ones. Of neonates captured, 99% were 20 minutes old typically were too mobile to capture. Sex ratio at capture was biased toward males (1.5:1), while mean body weight and neck circumference were similar between sexes. Generally, mothers remained in sight during, and immediately reunited with their neonates after, capture. Four percent of the mothers ran out of sight but then returned, while 2% failed to return. Capture-related mortality was 5%, with maternal abandonment in response to capture activities (n ¼ 3) the leading cause. Ear-tag transmitter had minimal effects on subsequent ear position. The success of our technique likely was based on terrain (flat) and vegetative conditions (short grass), high densities of animals for monitoring (particularly in a meadow), and a predictable, pulsed birth season. This hand-capturing method was efficient for handling and marking neonatal vicun˜ as. Combined with the use of ear-tag transmitters, it allows the study of important perinatal processes, including movement and mortality.