Posted: 14/08/2010 by Norberto A. Nigro
last August 11 the Ministry of Production of Black River on a questionable promise-as-pay 500 dollars for each copy of cougar killed in the province, arguing that the cat is considered a "plague" for damage caused in sheep and beef cattle. Funding for this "reward" is derived from the motion guide fees of finance, paid by producers. Oscos Martin, director general of Livestock went further: "The amount paid officially increases, moreover, with a plus on behalf of farmers themselves, who are primarily interested in ending this scourge, "adding that" throughout the province there appearance of puma, but the greatest damage on cattle are being produced in the Adolfo Alsina Department (whose head is Viedma) Valcheta area and to the Ramos Mexia area. " "For an effective fight against puma requires systematic organization, covering areas of about 50 000 hectares," he concluded. The official
Cougar proliferation can be explained in the situation of depopulation in some areas, the effect of drought that affected the region until last fall, as "the animal tends to walk away if you see movement of people and now there are many positions that are empty." Persecution is done with two methods: by placing metal traps (supplied by same Ministry of Production) or running with packs of dogs to hunt them down and remove dead. It is worth remembering that both the legislation as the Black River Neuquén, Chubut and Santa Cruz for the hunting for the control of the Cougars.
What nobody seems to remember is that the cougar conflicts with livestock since their habitat is invaded by that activity. And not all wild cougars attack the flocks and actually cause losses to ranchers, being that the attacks are basically little or no livestock management is performed in most livestock farms in the area. However, it is known that economic losses from pumas often draw more attention of the producer due to inadequate health management, reproductive and nutritional
Paying for puma is hunted not only morally objectionable, but really inefficient in preventing predation of livestock and in this regard were made in the past and now made this huge animal killings senseless, with the familiar result: the attacks continue.
The only solution the cougar-livestock conflicts come from the proper handling of finances by the producers must find other alternatives to mitigate its impact. The night confinement in pens most vulnerable animals, the use of herding dogs (for sheep and goats), getting parking services to shorten the calving season and have more control of the lambs, billy goats and calves (the most vulnerable attacks), changing systems of winter breeding or fattening in areas of intense conflict, poaching control that causes the loss of natural prey of the puma and therefore increases the chance of attacking pets, etc. are some solutions specialists have repeatedly proposed to mitigate the attacks of the cat.
Producers who are lucky enough to get their hands on a piece of natural environments in the country must necessarily accept certain costs of working, people and produce in wilderness areas and make coexistence with other wildlife as something natural. Obviously the balance is the economic factor but the affection for the land and its natural assets also lighter, so it definitely should be responsible for some costs for managing natural environments.
The State, represented here by the province should also intervene in the matter, encouraging, supporting and supervising the proper livestock management by producers, rather than choosing a simplistic option will not change anything.
Of course, it is always easier to find a "scapegoat" to wear long pants and look seriously a proposal to reduce the conflict between livestock and the puma.
And so, today as yesterday, the Cougars are the ones who end up paying the piper ...
Source: Bulletin Those who leave
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