Carrion in Bomas: Multiple Observations of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Scavenging Events and Potential Causes in Managed Populations
ABSTRACT Facultative scavenging can be observed across a large range of carnivorous mammals but is an uncommon behavioural trait in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Very few incidents of cheetahs scavenging have been reported, with no explanation given as to why it may occur. In this paper, we provide t...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70776 |
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| author | Elizabeth Kennedy Overton Robert S. Davis Franck Prugnolle Virginie Rougeron Terry‐Lee Honiball Olivia Sievert Jan A. Venter |
| author_facet | Elizabeth Kennedy Overton Robert S. Davis Franck Prugnolle Virginie Rougeron Terry‐Lee Honiball Olivia Sievert Jan A. Venter |
| author_sort | Elizabeth Kennedy Overton |
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| description | ABSTRACT Facultative scavenging can be observed across a large range of carnivorous mammals but is an uncommon behavioural trait in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Very few incidents of cheetahs scavenging have been reported, with no explanation given as to why it may occur. In this paper, we provide three more observations of cheetahs scavenging between 2019 and 2023 in three different protected areas in South Africa and Malawi. We suggest a common factor between these observations, namely that all adult individuals involved were temporarily housed in holding enclosures (bomas) during relocation processes and were provisioned with carrion as supplemental feed. The observed scavenging events could also have been influenced by the easy access to food in a situation where food acquisition was potentially difficult (i.e. old age, loss of hunting partner, mother with cubs). We hypothesise that these contributing factors, combined with the prior exposure of the adult individuals to eating carrion, could be a potential explanation for our observations of cheetahs scavenging. These observations provide a basis for further research into cheetah scavenging behaviour and the potential impacts of translocations that require prolonged holding periods on wildlife behaviour post‐release. Understanding these behavioural shifts is crucial for cheetah conservation, as successful reintroduction efforts depend on the ability of cheetahs to adapt to new environments and food acquisition strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c06cf03f813748108df1db083865fb6e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-c06cf03f813748108df1db083865fb6e2025-01-29T05:08:41ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-01-01151n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70776Carrion in Bomas: Multiple Observations of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Scavenging Events and Potential Causes in Managed PopulationsElizabeth Kennedy Overton0Robert S. Davis1Franck Prugnolle2Virginie Rougeron3Terry‐Lee Honiball4Olivia Sievert5Jan A. Venter6Department of Conservation Management Nelson Mandela University, George Campus George Western Cape South AfricaDepartment of Conservation Management Nelson Mandela University, George Campus George Western Cape South AfricaInternational Research Laboratory REHABS, CNRS‐Université Lyon 1‐NMU, George Campus George South AfricaInternational Research Laboratory REHABS, CNRS‐Université Lyon 1‐NMU, George Campus George South AfricaDepartment of Conservation Management Nelson Mandela University, George Campus George Western Cape South AfricaEndangered Wildlife Trust Midrand South AfricaDepartment of Conservation Management Nelson Mandela University, George Campus George Western Cape South AfricaABSTRACT Facultative scavenging can be observed across a large range of carnivorous mammals but is an uncommon behavioural trait in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Very few incidents of cheetahs scavenging have been reported, with no explanation given as to why it may occur. In this paper, we provide three more observations of cheetahs scavenging between 2019 and 2023 in three different protected areas in South Africa and Malawi. We suggest a common factor between these observations, namely that all adult individuals involved were temporarily housed in holding enclosures (bomas) during relocation processes and were provisioned with carrion as supplemental feed. The observed scavenging events could also have been influenced by the easy access to food in a situation where food acquisition was potentially difficult (i.e. old age, loss of hunting partner, mother with cubs). We hypothesise that these contributing factors, combined with the prior exposure of the adult individuals to eating carrion, could be a potential explanation for our observations of cheetahs scavenging. These observations provide a basis for further research into cheetah scavenging behaviour and the potential impacts of translocations that require prolonged holding periods on wildlife behaviour post‐release. Understanding these behavioural shifts is crucial for cheetah conservation, as successful reintroduction efforts depend on the ability of cheetahs to adapt to new environments and food acquisition strategies.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70776fenced reservesMalawimetapopulationSouth Africatranslocations |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth Kennedy Overton Robert S. Davis Franck Prugnolle Virginie Rougeron Terry‐Lee Honiball Olivia Sievert Jan A. Venter Carrion in Bomas: Multiple Observations of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Scavenging Events and Potential Causes in Managed Populations Ecology and Evolution fenced reserves Malawi metapopulation South Africa translocations |
| title | Carrion in Bomas: Multiple Observations of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Scavenging Events and Potential Causes in Managed Populations |
| title_full | Carrion in Bomas: Multiple Observations of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Scavenging Events and Potential Causes in Managed Populations |
| title_fullStr | Carrion in Bomas: Multiple Observations of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Scavenging Events and Potential Causes in Managed Populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carrion in Bomas: Multiple Observations of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Scavenging Events and Potential Causes in Managed Populations |
| title_short | Carrion in Bomas: Multiple Observations of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Scavenging Events and Potential Causes in Managed Populations |
| title_sort | carrion in bomas multiple observations of cheetah acinonyx jubatus scavenging events and potential causes in managed populations |
| topic | fenced reserves Malawi metapopulation South Africa translocations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70776 |
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