Determining Buffalo Behaviour, Movement, Disease and Energy Costs to Assist their Management and Conservation

人与野生动物共存是现代生物多样性保护中最重要的问题之一。保护区为野生动物提供了避难所，但随着人口的增长，对空间的需求增加，人与动物之间的接触也随之增加。由于大型哺乳动物也有很大的空间需求，这往往会导致冲突。为了确保保护区内动物和人类的福祉，了解目标物种的基本生态学是至关重要的，例如种群估计、分布和迁徙。同样，为了鼓励当地参与保护区，重要的是让人们了解为野生动物指定区域的好处。该项目将重点关注南非东开普省大鱼河自然保护区的开普水牛(Syncerus Caffer)。该项目旨在解决大型哺乳动物生态的不同方面，以回答以下几个问题：-保护区内目前有多少水牛，水牛的数量是增加还是减少？-水牛大部分时间在哪里度过，它们是否有更好的旅行路线和栖息地？-水牛是否面临与捕食者相互作用和人与野生动物冲突有关的压力或行动障碍，从而导致不必要的能源限制？-当地人民是否有因食用水牛和靠近水牛而感染寄生虫和病原体的风险？-当地人对水牛和保护区的总体看法是什么？这项研究将通过对以前的研究、保护区和开普敦水牛生态的初步案头研究来回答这些问题，随后将与黑尔堡大学合作在南非进行实地工作。相机陷阱阵列和直接观测将被用来创建种群估计和评估整个保护区的栖息地使用和移动。同样，GPS跟踪器和三轴加速计等生物记录传感器将被放置在多个个体上，以调查分布、运动和能量消耗。将从这些个体身上采集样本，以评估水牛种群的病原体和寄生虫。此外，当局亦会在当地人中进行一项调查，以探讨推行对社会有利的管理措施的最佳方法，例如售卖游戏。该项目将为GFRNR中的开普水牛种群提供重要的新信息，包括对开普水牛的能量消耗及其种群数量、分布和在整个GFRNR中的流动的新见解。

Coexistence between humans and wildlife is one of the most important issues in modern biodiversity conservation. Protected areas provide a haven for wildlife but as human population grows, there is an increased demand for space and thus increased contact between humans and animals. As large mammals also have large space requirements, this can often lead to conflict. To ensure the welfare of both animals and people in protected areas, it is crucial to understand the basic ecology of target species, such as population estimates, distribution and movement. Similarly, to encourage local participation in protected areas, it is important that people understand the benefit of having designated areas for wildlife. This project will be focused on the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in Great Fish River Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The project aims to address different aspects of large mammal ecology in order to answer several questions: - How many buffalo are currently in the reserve and is the population increasing or decreasing? - Where are the buffalo spending most of their time and do they have preferred travel routes and habitats? - Are the buffalo facing stressors or barriers to movement related to predator interactions and human-wildlife conflict that is resulting in unnecessary energy constraints? - Is there a risk of parasite and pathogen infection of local people and livestock due to consumption of and proximity to the buffalo? - What is the opinion of the local people on the buffalo and the protected area in general? This study will answer these questions through initial desk-based research about previous studies, the reserve and Cape buffalo ecology which will be followed by field work in South Africa in collaboration with the University of Fort Hare. Camera trap arrays and direct observation will be used to create population estimates and assess habitat use and movement throughout the reserve. Similarly, biologging sensors such as GPS trackers and triaxial accelerometers will be placed on multiple individuals to investigate distribution, movement and energy expenditure. Samples will be taken from these individuals to assess the pathogens and parasites of the buffalo population. There will also be a survey conducted among local people to investigate the best way to implement management practices which will benefit the community, such as the sale of game. This project will provide important new information into the Cape buffalo population in GFRNR, including novel insight into the energy expenditure of Cape buffalo as well as their population size, distribution and movement throughout GFRNR.