Abstract

MOYA, M. Isabel; PACHECO, Luis F  and  AGUIRRE, Luis F. Relación de los ataques de Desmodus rotundus con el manejo del ganado caprino y algunas características del hábitat en la prepuna de Bolivia. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2015, vol.22, n.1, pp.73-84. ISSN 0327-9383.

The conflict between human activities and vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) has been evident in the Bolivian Prepuna for decades. Vampire attacks on domestic goats have been frequently reported, and led to the application of inadequate control strategies of vampire populations. In order to contribute to the management and mitigation of this conflict, we assessed whether the incidence of attacks is associated with factors like the distribution and abundance of livestock, the distance from the stockyards to vampire roosts, the habitat type, and the relative abundance of the vampire. The results suggest that the incidence of attacks decreases with the density of goats and the distance from stockyards to vampire roosts, while it increases with the relative abundance of vampires in the area. Besides, the abundance of vampires is positively correlated to the availability of roosts near their foraging areas and is not correlated to livestock abundance. We propose that the main factor limiting the abundance of vampires, and indirectly determining the incidence of attacks, is the availability of roosts near foraging areas. Coincidently, the localities situated near roosts presented higher abundance of vampires and recorded the highest incidence of attacks on livestock. Based on our results, we propose the regulation of mining operations involving potential vampire refuges. We also suggest the implementation of monitoring programs of the incidence of attacks as an indicator of the vampire abundance.

Keywords : Bolivia; Incidence of attacks; Human activitiy-vampire conflict; Mining tunnels; Roosts; Vampire bat.

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