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Davie, Hannah S.

Natural Resources

2013

MS

Rural livelihoods in northern Asia rely almost, entirely on livestock. The gray wolf(Canis lupus) represents a top predator in Asian ecosystems and is often perceived as a threat to livestock. As a result, wolves are heavily persecuted and populations have declined throughout much of the region. I examined patterns of wolf-livestock conflict in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia in 2012. My objectives were to determine the importance of livestock to wolf diet, map livestock predation risk at a landscape level, and assess the influence of wolf-human relationships on herding methods and herder perceptions of wolves. Analysis of wolf diet using stable isotope analysis indicated a variable diet including wild prey and livestock.
The importance of livestock varied among individuals, suggesting consumption is probably related to the relative availability of wild prey and livestock in the region. A Mahalanobis D²(k) model of predation risk indicated that areas of rugged terrain had the highest predation probability. Average predicted predation risk around winter/spring campsites was significantly higher than around summer campsites. Lastly, I collected qualitative information on the perceptions and cultural value of wolves in Mongolia. Although wolves pose an economic threat to herders with smaller herds, herder stories identified the wolf as an important part of Mongolian heritage.
Results suggest that conflict may be reduced by recognizing the importance of wild prey to wolves and prioritizing conservation efforts in high risk areas. Overall, my results provide decision-making tools to reduce livestock predation and ultimately improve the success of wolf conservation efforts.