Camera Trapping for Jaguar at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize
By Paul Higginbottom P.Higginbottom@mmu.ac.uk

Paul Higginbottom is a 41 year old student studying at Manchester Metropolitan University in England. Inspired by the problems faced by felid species around the world he gave up work as an engineer and returned to university in 2003.

First studying Ecology, he now specialises in jaguar conservation commencing a PhD in 2005. Focussing on camera trapping methods, the studies are based at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize, Central America. Two major camera trap studies have been performed, the first in 2007 and the second in 2008. The 2007 East Basin study deals with questions regarding varying the area, time and camera spacing of a broadleaf forest survey whilst expanding the overall area of the annual long term study.

In 2008, the grid was moved to the Cockscomb West Basin. This unstudied and remote area has no existing trail system and opening such trails could encourage the movement of hunters that already operate within the protected area. A survey was therefore performed with cameras placed along existing water courses only, ensuring minimum disturbance. Results from these two studies will be published in due course and initial findings are encouraging.

It is hoped that these studies will contribute towards the long term conservation of jaguars in the wild. The work is kindly funded by Manchester Metropolitan University, The North of England Zoological Society and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Further details can be found at:
http://www.egs.mmu.ac.uk/users/smarsden/Research/PaulHigginbottom.html

Epidemiologic relation between jaguars (Panthera onca) and domestic animals in three brazilian biomes: Cerrado, Pantanal and Amazon
By Mariana M. Furtado – Jaguar Conservation Fundmarianafurtado@jaguar.org.br;

Habitat fragmentation, hunting and the increasing proximity between human populations, domestic and wild animals can be responsible for emerging and re-emerging diseases, for dissemination of pathogens and for alterations in disease cycles. However, little is known about the potential role of diseases in wild animal populations. Considering that interactions between populations of jaguars and domestic animals in the surroundings of protected areas tend to increase, it is possible that transmission of pathogens between both populations exists. This project proposes to implement a survey of the sanitary status of jaguar populations in three Brazilian biomes through capture, collection of biological material and radio-collaring of jaguars, and collection of biological material from domestic animals (cattle and carnivores) from rural properties. Thereby, we intend to identify possible associations between results from the studied populations, and mapping the occurrence of pathogens in the study areas, considering different models of human occupation and impact.

Biological samples have already been collected from 45 jaguars captured in the Cerrado, Pantanal and Amazon study areas, and more than 900 domestic animals from rural properties in the Cerrado and Pantanal areas. The biological samples are being screened for important zoonotic diseases (Toxoplasmosis, Leptospirosis, Brucelosis, Rabies e Tuberculosis) and diseases important for carnivores in general (Cinomosis) and the Felidae family in particular (Feline Immunodeficiency – FIV and Feline Leukemia - FeLV). Preliminary results show that jaguars from the Cerrado and Pantanal study areas were exposed to Leptospira spp and Toxoplasma gondii, but not to Brucella abortus.

Results of this project will help to elaborate management and conservation strategies for the jaguar populations in the study areas. The project can serve as a model epidemiologic program that could be implemented in other region of interest.

The project is part of the Long-term Jaguar Population Monitoring Program of the Jaguar Conservation Fund and a Ph.D. thesis at the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Preventive Animal Health of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny of the University of São Paulo, financed by FAPESP (The State of São Paulo Research Foundation), that is being carried out in collaboration com different research laboratories.