Ungulates’ Behavioral Responses to Humans as an Apex Predator in a Hunting-Prohibited Area of China

ABSTRACT:

Simple Summary

Large mammals’ behavioral responses to humans as predators may be impacted by hunting intensity. Using a playback experiment, we found that two wild ungulates exhibited reactive (flee) rather than proactive responses (decrease habitat use) to human vocalizations at a hunting-prohibited site in North China. The wild ungulates had equal or even higher flight probabilities upon hearing vocalizations of humans than the native extant large carnivore (leopard). We also found habituation-type responses featured as progressively decreased responses to the vocalizations in both ungulates.

Abstract

Large mammals can perceive humans as predators and therefore adjust their behavior to achieve coexistence with humans. However, lack of research at sites with low hunting

SUBMITTER: Liu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10000205 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature