Non-lethal strategies to mitigate human-felid conflict in a biodiversity hotspot (Magdalena Valley, Colombia)

The jaguar and the puma are the largest felids of the Neotropical region, having the important ecological role of top predators. Unfortunately, this same role has resulted in the emergence of conflict between these cats and humans when the former attack and eat rancher’s livestock. Human-felid conflict is widespread through the Magdalena River Valley of Colombia.

This region is not only part of the global biodiversity hotspot of Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena, but also a key component of the jaguar corridor initiative which strives to maintain healthy and connected populations of the species through its entire range.

In this project, we will partner with local ranchers of the municipality of Yondó in the Magdalena Medio Valley to assess non-lethal alternatives to the human-felid conflict. We will focus on Fox lights, solar-powered devices that emit different colored light in alternating patterns through the night, and which for certain areas and species, such as snow leopards and local communities in the Himalayas, have been proven to effectively reduce conflict.

We will obtain information on the effectiveness of these lights through an experiment in which Fox lights are installed in cattle pastures of five ranches and predation intensity, as well as felid activity (through camera trapping) compared with that of control ranches without the lights. The approach of light installation that best fit local context will be collaboratively decided with the community.

This project will provide data on the effectiveness of the method and can be a starting point in the region to replicate and further test non-lethal alternatives. Ultimately, we expect this to be a first step in establishing a long-term collaboration with local ranchers to evaluate and promote human-felid coexistence strategies.