IDENTIFICATION OF THE PREDATOR CAUSING DAMAGE

When damage occurred the first, crucial step is to identify the cause of the damage. Was the animal killed by a predator or not? Even when it is clear that a predator fed on the carcass - was it only scavenging? We need to know the actual cause of the death of the prey animal. Only when we are certain that the killing was done by a predator, do we get to the next step of identifying the predator reponsible. From that answer we progress to decide how further damage could be prevented. When predators are blamed, unrealistically for ALL damage and predtors are killed without any questions, the damage will continue and money is wasted needlessly on the control, therefore causing double lossess.

The way in which medium to large prey animals are killed by wild predators is through by a bite to the throat. The windpipe is closed and the prey suffocates. This is the manner in which 90%+ of livestock gets killed by wild predators. When live animals are bitten or injured in other ways, a bruise is formed, even when the attack is fatal and the prey dies within a minute or three. A bruise is formed when tissue is damaged and the circulating blood flows into the damaged area.  When the damage is sufficient it may result in hemorrhaging, in other words free flowing blood, that will form a blood clot. Mostly the skin is not broken during such an attack and the blood clots form under the skin. Once the heart has stopped no amount of damage to the tissue will cause bruising or hemorrhaging. It is impossible for a predator to kill its prey without causing some bruising. Even severe bruising and hemorrhaging are often not visible form the outside. The canines often does not pentrate the skin. To properly examine such a carcass a necropsy is needed.

The feeding pattern allow us to identify the responsible predator. This is true because the killing and feeding patterns are instinct. This has been tested on numerous occations by predtors that grew up in captivity displaying the exact patterns as the wild living members of their species. There may be slight individual variation but not enough to totally confuse the issue. It gets difficult when a carcass is consumed to such an extent that

NECROPSY

1. Do a survey of the circumstances of the kill: Was the animal alone or in a herd, any signs of injuries in the herd. Was it pounced on or was it chased for some time, any signs of a severe struggle, was the carcass moved after the kill. Any tracks and/or scats of predators. Number of predators, was different species of predators or scavengers involved. Any other relevant information to be gleaned out of the surroundings.

2. The external appearance of the carcass: Size and approximate age of the animal. General condition of the prey animal. Any external parasite load, any signs of older injuries. Any blood or other fluids in any of the body openings (mouth, nose ears, eyes, anus). All fresh injuries - turn the carcass over. Approximate time since death. Any predator hair on the carcass. All the fresh injuries and feeding sites by the predator. Nose, ear eyes eaten.

3. Skin the carcass: Start at the back of the neck. Work towards the throat and take care not to strech the skin. The distance between canine marks are important. Note all bruising/hemorrhaging under the skin. Measure the distance between canine teeth marks. If possible do this on the carcass, rather than on the skin.  Skin out the whole carcass. Look for bruising & claw marks all over the body - on the rump, stomach and back leggs. Amount of flesh eaten, what is eaten - intestines, kidneys, rectum, heart lungs etc. Note bones eaten - ribs, vertebrae, larger bone. Assess the fat content the animal - what was its condition. Check the internal parasite load.

4. Use the above information to determine the identity of the predator from the table below:

In order to clarify this issue a little more, some photographs are displayed. However, this is only an attempt to create awreness on the issue under discussion. Much more comprehensive and detailed infomation and photographs are used during courses.

IDENTIFICATION OF PREDATOR KILLING ITS PREY

ANIMAL SHOULD BE SKINNED OUT TOTALLY - DO NOT STRECH SKIN WHERE TEETH MARKS MUST BE MEASURED

1. BRUISES ON THROAT AND/OR NECK

2. No bruises on neck/throat but bruises on body