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Globally, large mammals are in decline. Biological traits including low population densities and longer generation times make them particularly susceptible. Their losses can have wide-ranging ecological consequences, including dramatic reductions in total heterotrophic energy use. To determine the key drivers of variation in energy use, we calculated daily rates of energy flow across the globe for 241 ecological communities, encompassing 441 large mammal species, using camera trap inventories. These were scaled up from individual metabolic rates and compared with various climate, anthropogenic, geographic, and species richness variables using three analytical methods: model selection, spatial autoregression, and a multiple regression method that completely removes multicollinearity known as least-squares orthogonalization. Community energy use is significantly lower in the Neotropics and Australasia than in the Afrotropics and Eurasia. This pattern mirrors the spatial distribution of megafaunal extinction intensity during the Late Pleistocene. Rates not being greatly reduced in the Nearctic is a notable exception to this pattern, and is likely due to the high abundances of certain species not present in the other highly-impacted realms. There are also strong negative correlations between community per-gram rates of energy flow and species richness, indicating that megafauna persist mainly in more speciose communities. The strong geographic differences that dominate energy use patterns indicate that past mammal extinctions are the ultimate cause of modern energetic variation in large mammal communities. If so, then ongoing losses of large mammals will greatly impact community and ecosystem functioning.

Sus arvernensis is a Pliocene species that occupies a key position in the evolution of suids (Suidae, Artiodactyla, Mammalia) in Eurasia, and besides, it is considered important for biochronological correlations and paleoecological inferences. However, our knowledge on S. arvernensis is largely based on fossil remains from southwestern Europe. Here, we present a revision of the Hungarian fossil record of S. arvernensis. Up to now, the species was known from only two localities of Hungary, Gödöllő (central Hungary) and Süttő (northwest Hungary), and the latter occurrence has even been questioned. After the comparison with other relevant samples of S. arvernensis, of the Early Pleistocene S. strozzii, and of the extant wild boar S. scrofa (motivated by previous attributions and the chronology of the localities), the presence of S. arvernensis from Gödöllő and Süttő is confirmed, and more material of the species is described from Beremend (southern Hungary) and Kisláng (western Hungary). Collectively, the results of the revision carried out herein reveal a relatively widespread distribution of S. arvernensis in Hungary, hence providing an important link from the eastern to western European fossil record of the species. The specimens from Gödöllő and Süttő are slightly larger than the other material of S. arvernensis from France and Italy included in the biometric comparison, although the paucity of the material precludes to evaluate whether these differences are significant and to relate them to a chronological and/or geographical context. The occurrence of S. arvernensis in the Hungarian localities considered in this work is a biochronological indication of an age older than at least 2.6 Ma, since the species is not recorded after the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition. This in agreement with the age estimates available so far for some of the localities or provides new insights. At Süttő, in particular, the identification of S. arvernensis reinforces the view that travertine deposition started already in the Pliocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Location Methods Results Main Conclusions People have strongly influenced the biosphere for millennia, but how their increasing activities have shaped wildlife distribution is incompletely understood. We examined how the distribution of European large (>8 kg), wild mammals has changed in association with changing anthropogenic pressures and climate change through the Holocene.Europe.We used over 17,000 zooarchaeological records of 20 species spanning 12,000 years to develop time‐calibrated species distribution models, incorporating dynamic data on cropland extent, natural vegetation fragmentation, human population density and climate. We assessed habitat availability and potential species richness across time and within seven biogeographical regions. We also compared anthropogenic pressures at zooarchaeological record sites with present‐day habitats of remaining large mammals to evaluate recent increases in their potential for coexistence with human activities.We found a continuous decline in potential large mammal species richness, particularly linked to changes in human population density. Most habitat loss became evident continentally after 1500 AD, but in the Atlantic and Mediterranean bioregions, habitat loss reached 20% during the Iron/Roman Ages (1000 BC–500 AD) due to increasing human population density. Climate change initially boosted species richness (+0.67 species/km2 on average) until the end of the Mesolithic but had negligible effects afterward. Today, large mammals appear to have a higher potential for coexisting with people compared to the past (e.g., herbivores today inhabit areas with a mean human population density of 95 people/km2, compared to an average of 17 people/km2 in the period 1500–2000 AD).Our study emphasizes the crucial role of anthropogenic pressures over natural climate change in determining the distribution and diversity of large mammal communities throughout history. Additionally, our results indicate that contemporary anthropogenic trends like land‐use de‐intensification and stronger conservation policies can counteract the impact of past, higher anthropogenic pressures and reverse defaunation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human fatalities and injury from wildlife attacks often result in a negative attitude toward conservation. This research was undertaken to investigate the patterns and conflict‐causing factors of human killing and injury by large mammals, especially by Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), common leopard (Panthera pardus), and Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in the Bardia—Banke Complex of western Nepal. We collected human death and injury records caused by wildlife in the Bardia—Banke Complex between 2019 and 2023, based on relief applications submitted by the victim's family. Additionally, camera trap monitoring was conducted following incidents of human–tiger and human–leopard conflicts. A total of 76 incidents involving human casualties and injuries were considered for analysis. Incidents of livestock depredation, crop raiding, and property damage were excluded from the analysis. Most of the attacks on humans were caused by tigers (75%), followed by elephants (16%) and leopards (9%). Almost all incidents occurred in daytime (97%). The highest number of conflicts were recorded in 2021, with 20 incidents. Most of the cases (84%) occurred within 1 km of forest edge. Khata corridor and the western side of the Bardia National Park, i.e., Karnali River corridor, were identified as high‐conflict areas. The primary causes of the conflict manifested in cattle grazing (28%), grass cutting (28%), firewood collection (11%), fishing (8%), vegetable collection (5%), sand collection (4%), during rescuing friends (3%), grazing captive elephants (3%), highway rides (3%), sleeping in Chaupadi Goth (3%), walking nearby forest areas (3%), playing nearby forest areas (1%), while feeding pig (1%), and working in agricultural lands (1%). To promote human–wildlife coexistence, community‐based patrols (33%), habitat restoration (26%), electric fencing (26%), and insurance (7%) were identified as the preferred strategies. Therefore, we recommend that stakeholders and concerned bodies increase awareness among local community about the use of forest resources, wildlife behavior, and human–wildlife conflict mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapidly expanding human activities have profoundly changed the habitat use of both large carnivores and their prey, but whether and how human activities affect the interactions between them has received relatively less attention. In this study, we conducted a systematically designed camera-trapping survey on an endangered large carnivore (North Chinese leopard Panthera pardus japonensis) and its wild ungulate prey (Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus and wild boar Sus scrofa) in the Taihang Mountains of central North China. Using conditional two-species occupancy model based on data derived from the extensive sampling effort (15,654 camera-days at 102 camera sites), we examined the relationship of spatial use between leopards and each prey species under the effects of human presence, free-ranging cattle, roads and settlements. Results: Humans and cattle had contrasting effects on the relationship of spatial use between leopard and roe deer, with higher and lower spatial segregation between them at human and cattle-frequented sites, respectively. Roads might create a shelter for wild boar from leopard predation, with less spatial segregation between them at sites close to the roads. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that human activities are reshaping the spatial overlap between large carnivores and their prey, and have non-equivalent effects among different types of human activity. Such effects may further alter the strength of interspecific interactions between predator and prey, with far-reaching influences on the community and ecosystem that require more research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Pleistocene sites of Orce in southeastern Spain, including Fuente Nueva-3 (FN3), Barranco León (BL) and Venta Micena (VM), provide important insights into the earliest hominin populations and Late Villafranchian large mammal communities. Dated to approximately 1.4 million years ago, FN3 and BL preserve abundant Oldowan tools, cut marks and a human primary tooth, indicating hominin activity. VM, approximately 1.6 million years old, is an outstanding site because it preserves an exceptionally rich assemblage of large mammals and predates the presence of hominins, providing a context for pre-human conditions in the region. Research suggests that both hominins and giant hyenas were essential to the accumulation of skeletal remains at FN3 and BL, with secondary access to meat resources exploited by saber-toothed felids. This aim of this study aims to correlate the relative abundance of large herbivores at these sites with their estimates of Carrying Capacity (CC) and Total Available Biomass (TAB) using the PSEco model, which incorporates survival and mortality profiles to estimate these parameters in paleoecosystems. Our results show: (i) similarities between quarries VM3 and VM4 and (ii) similarities of these quarries with BL-D (level D), suggesting a similar formation process; (iii) that the role of humans would be secondary in BL-D and FN3-LAL (Lower Archaeological Level), although with a greater human influence in FN3-LAL due to the greater presence of horses and small species; and (iv) that FN3-UAL (Upper Archaeological Level) shows similarities with the expected CC values for FN3/BL, consistent with a natural trap of quicksand scenario, where the large mammal species were trapped according to their abundance and body mass, as there is a greater presence of rhinos and mammoths due to the greater weight per unit area exerted by their legs. Given the usefulness of this approach, we propose to apply it first to sites that have been proposed to function as natural traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sus arvernensis is a Pliocene species that occupies a key position in the evolution of suids (Suidae, Artiodactyla, Mammalia) in Eurasia, and besides, it is considered important for biochronological correlations and paleoecological inferences. However, our knowledge on S. arvernensis is largely based on fossil remains from southwestern Europe. Here, we present a revision of the Hungarian fossil record of S. arvernensis. Up to now, the species was known from only two localities of Hungary, Gödöllő (central Hungary) and Süttő (northwest Hungary), and the latter occurrence has even been questioned. After the comparison with other relevant samples of S. arvernensis, of the Early Pleistocene S. strozzii, and of the extant wild boar S. scrofa (motivated by previous attributions and the chronology of the localities), the presence of S. arvernensis from Gödöllő and Süttő is confirmed, and more material of the species is described from Beremend (southern Hungary) and Kisláng (western Hungary). Collectively, the results of the revision carried out herein reveal a relatively widespread distribution of S. arvernensis in Hungary, hence providing an important link from the eastern to western European fossil record of the species. The specimens from Gödöllő and Süttő are slightly larger than the other material of S. arvernensis from France and Italy included in the biometric comparison, although the paucity of the material precludes to evaluate whether these differences are significant and to relate them to a chronological and/or geographical context. The occurrence of S. arvernensis in the Hungarian localities considered in this work is a biochronological indication of an age older than at least 2.6 Ma, since the species is not recorded after the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition. This in agreement with the age estimates available so far for some of the localities or provides new insights. At Süttő, in particular, the identification of S. arvernensis reinforces the view that travertine deposition started already in the Pliocene.

Persian Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa) is one of the most important herbivores of the steppes of Iran, which is found in different plains and desert areas. Today, the distribution of this species is limited to special areas, which has caused it to be placed in the Vulnerable Class (VU) of the IUCN Red List. In this condition, the phenomenon of climate change as one of the biggest challenges of the current century has affected the habitat conditions and the range of distribution of large mammals such as Persian Gazelle and caused it to change. This research aimed to assess climate change impacts on the efficiency of protected areas and to model the distribution of Persian Gazella. In order to predict the distribution of this species in current and future conditions, the weighted Mahalanobis modeling approach was used. Based on the model used, about 31% of the studied area was identified as a suitable habitat at the present. The overlap between protected areas and suitable habitats was 16%. The research findings showed that by 2070, under the pessimistic scenario of the MRI-ESM2-0 model, 2% of the suitable habitat of the Gazella species will be lost.

Abstract Background Rapidly expanding human activities have profoundly changed the habitat use of both large carnivores and their prey, but whether and how human activities affect the interactions between them has received relatively less attention. In this study, we conducted a systematically designed camera-trapping survey on an endangered large carnivore (North Chinese leopard Panthera pardus japonensis) and its wild ungulate prey (Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus and wild boar Sus scrofa) in the Taihang Mountains of central North China. Using conditional two-species occupancy model based on data derived from the extensive sampling effort (15,654 camera-days at 102 camera sites), we examined the relationship of spatial use between leopards and each prey species under the effects of human presence, free-ranging cattle, roads and settlements. Results Humans and cattle had contrasting effects on the relationship of spatial use between leopard and roe deer, with higher and lower spatial segregation between them at human and cattle-frequented sites, respectively. Roads might create a shelter for wild boar from leopard predation, with less spatial segregation between them at sites close to the roads. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that human activities are reshaping the spatial overlap between large carnivores and their prey, and have non-equivalent effects among different types of human activity. Such effects may further alter the strength of interspecific interactions between predator and prey, with far-reaching influences on the community and ecosystem that require more research.

Innovative conservation approaches are urgently needed to balance biodiversity conservation with human development. Safeguarding elephant populations often involves active management, leading to direct intentional, direct unintentional, and indirect consequences for animals, people, and ecosystems. Drawing from One Health and One Welfare principles, our study introduces a multicriteria framework for developing conservation strategies that enhance well-being across dimensions. This approach establishes priorities, acceptability zones, and One Well-being scores that guide decision making toward optimal outcomes. We applied our One Well-being framework to evaluate 12 elephant management interventions currently or historically used in South Africa. Examining data from 3306 instances of these interventions, including on-the-ground data, we assessed their relative impact on environmental, human, and animal well-being. Our analysis identified 250 consequences of these interventions, categorized as 58 direct intentional, 127 direct unintentional, and 65 indirect. Although most direct intentional consequences were beneficial (93.4%), the direct unintentional and indirect consequences were predominantly harmful (96.9% and 75.4%, respectively). Although most interventions improved environmental well-being, their consequences for animal and human well-being were less positive. This highlights a conflict among the three well-being dimensions, underscoring the importance of incorporating human and animal well-being into elephant management strategies. Recognizing the interconnected nature of these dimensions and aiming for multiple, mutually reinforcing gains is imperative. This iterative process helps address social-ecological vulnerabilities and risks while advocating for ethical conservation practices, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, and garnering broader support for conservation efforts. Our approach aligns with global goals for sustainable and equitable wildlife management outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of medium- and large-sized mammals’ species diversity, abundance, distribution, and habitat association is necessary to promote their conservation measures. The study was conducted in the former Dhidhessa wildlife sanctuary (FDWS), to assess the medium- and large-sized mammals’ composition, distribution, and diversity. Transect lines were used to collect the data. A total of 1,146 ± 91 individuals belonging to 25 species, seven orders, and 14 families were recorded. Among these, 607 ± 186.5 (52.97%) were recorded during the wet season, whereas 539 ± 144.5 (47.03%) during the dry season. The order Carnivora was the most diverse one, followed by Artiodactyla and Primates, respectively, while Rodentia, Hyracoidea, Tubulidentata, and Lagomorpha were the least diverse orders. Olive baboon (Papio anubis) was the most abundant species (19.2%), followed by Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) (17.63%) and Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) (13.18%). Species diversity was higher in the savanna-wooded than in the riverine forest during both the wet (H’ = 2.72, Fisher’s alpha = 6.33) and dry (H’= 2.79, Fisher’s alpha = 6.26) seasons. Species evenness was higher in the savanna-wooded habitat than in the riverine forest habitat during both the wet (J’ = 0.87 and J’ = 0.77, respectively) and dry (J’ = 0.9 and J’ = 0.80, respectively) seasons. The highest similarity in species composition was between the wet and dry seasons in the riverine forest habitat (SI = 85.58%). The lowest similarity was recorded between the dry and wet seasons of the riverine forest and the wet season of the savanna wooded habitat (SI = 45.46% and SI = 46.49%, respectively). The study suggests that mammals are at risk of anthropogenic factors in the area. So, an urgent conservation measure that involves the participation of the local community has paramount significance for the sustainable conservation of mammals in the former Dhidhessa wildlife sanctuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads can have diverse impacts on wildlife species, and while some species may adapt effectively, others may not. Studying multiple species' responses to the same infrastructure in a given area can help understand this variation and reveal the effects of disturbance on the ecology of wildlife communities. This study investigates the behavioural responses of four species with distinctive ecological and behavioural traits to roads in the protected Bohemian Forest Ecosystem in central Europe: European roe deer Capreolus capreolus, a solitary herbivore; red deer Cervus elaphus a gregarious herbivore; wild boar Sus scrofa, a gregarious omnivore and Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx, a solitary large carnivore. We used GPS data gathered from each species to study movement behaviour and habitat selection in relation to roads using an integrated step selection analysis. For all species and sexes, we predicted increased movement rates in response to roads, selection of vegetation cover near roads and open areas after road crossings, and increased road avoidance during the day. We found remarkably similar behavioural responses towards roads across species. The behavioural adaptations to road exposure, such as increased movement rates and selection for vegetation cover, were analogous to responses to natural predation risk. Roads were more strongly avoided during daytime, when traffic volume was high. Road crossings were more frequent at twilight and at night within open areas offering food resources. Gregarious animals exposed to roads favoured stronger road avoidance over faster movements. Ungulates crossed roads more at twilight, coinciding with commuter traffic during winter. Despite differences in the ecology and behaviour of the four species, our results showed similar adaptations towards a common threat. The continuous expansion of the global transportation network should be accompanied by efforts to understand and minimise the impact of roads on wildlife to assist wildlife management and ensure conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our work presents an updated overview of the Italian Middle Pleistocene records of hippopotamuses, including the two species Hippopotamus antiquus and Hippopotamus amphibius. In addition to reviewing several well-known fossils in the literature, a large number of samples are described herein for the first time. Following the recent results published in the literature, where the skull from the Middle Pleistocene of Cava Montanari (ca. MIS 13) was confirmed to belong to H. amphibius, one of the aims of this work was to investigate the H. antiquus–H. amphibius transition. A morphological analysis applied to a large sample confirmed the validity of the arrangement of the enamel ridges of the external surfaces of the lower canines as a diagnostic character for specific identifications. Finally, biometric analyses allowed us to test the size variability during the Middle Pleistocene, which confirmed that H. antiquus was generally larger than H. amphibius. Nevertheless, the remains of H. antiquus dated to ca. 600 ka show a reduced size when compared to older fossils of the same taxon, probably as a response to severe glacial conditions that occurred during MIS 16. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Human fatalities and injury from wildlife attacks often result in a negative attitude toward conservation. This research was undertaken to investigate the patterns and conflict‐causing factors of human killing and injury by large mammals, especially by Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), common leopard (Panthera pardus), and Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in the Bardia—Banke Complex of western Nepal. We collected human death and injury records caused by wildlife in the Bardia—Banke Complex between 2019 and 2023, based on relief applications submitted by the victim's family. Additionally, camera trap monitoring was conducted following incidents of human–tiger and human–leopard conflicts. A total of 76 incidents involving human casualties and injuries were considered for analysis. Incidents of livestock depredation, crop raiding, and property damage were excluded from the analysis. Most of the attacks on humans were caused by tigers (75%), followed by elephants (16%) and leopards (9%). Almost all incidents occurred in daytime (97%). The highest number of conflicts were recorded in 2021, with 20 incidents. Most of the cases (84%) occurred within 1 km of forest edge. Khata corridor and the western side of the Bardia National Park, i.e., Karnali River corridor, were identified as high‐conflict areas. The primary causes of the conflict manifested in cattle grazing (28%), grass cutting (28%), firewood collection (11%), fishing (8%), vegetable collection (5%), sand collection (4%), during rescuing friends (3%), grazing captive elephants (3%), highway rides (3%), sleeping in Chaupadi Goth (3%), walking nearby forest areas (3%), playing nearby forest areas (1%), while feeding pig (1%), and working in agricultural lands (1%). To promote human–wildlife coexistence, community‐based patrols (33%), habitat restoration (26%), electric fencing (26%), and insurance (7%) were identified as the preferred strategies. Therefore, we recommend that stakeholders and concerned bodies increase awareness among local community about the use of forest resources, wildlife behavior, and human–wildlife conflict mitigation strategies.

We assessed the richness, diversity, composition of the large mammal community in Ghamot National Park (GNP), Neelum valley Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, and how these characteristics differed between four habitat types: forest, riparian zone, scrubland, and wetland, as well as between seasons. Across all locales with 66 line transect surveys (53km), indirect observation had the highest sampling (n=131; 76.60%) while direct observation had the lowest (n=40; 23.39). Fecal dropping was the most common type of indirect evidence (n=73; 55.72%), followed by foot prints (n=29; 9.94%) and dens/latrine (n=19; 14.50%). The Scrubland zone had the most indirect evidences (n=37) of any zone (elevation ranges between 2600-3600m).The forest zone (elevation ranges between 2700-3450m) had the second highest sampling (n=28), followed by the Alpine Zone (n=28), Riparian Zone (n=21), and Alpine Pasture Zone (n=16) (elevation 4000-4400m; habitat type high alpine pastures). By using direct and indirect field evidence, 14 species from 6 families were identified. Unfortunately, the number of species encountered directly was low in this study; four species (28.57%) were directly observed, including Canis aureus, Vulpes vulpes, Macaca mulatta, and Semnopithecus ajax, while the remaining ten (71.42%) were observed indirectly. Summer had the most direct and indirect observations (n=86; 50.29%), followed by winter (n=85; 49.70%). (4.28). Season had little effect on species richness, diversity, and composition across or within habitat types. However, the richness of species varied greatly across seasons among the four habitat types. The forest and riparian zone had the greatest similarity in species composition, both between and among seasons. Finally, our findings show that GNP has an essential influence in Pakistan mammal conservation. Our findings will provide as a baseline for park management to make effective conservation decisions, as well as a baseline for researchers conducting similar ecological studies.

Wild bovids provide important ecosystem functions as seed dispersers and vegetation modifiers. Five wild bovids remain in Thailand: gaur (Bos gaurus), banteng (Bos javanicus), wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis) and Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus). Their populations and habitats have declined substantially and become fragmented by land-use change. We use ecological niche models to quantify how much potential suitable habitat for these species remains within protected areas in Asia and then specifically Thailand. We combined species occurrence data from several sources (e.g. mainly camera traps and direct observation) with environmental variables and species-specific and single, large accessible areas in ensemble models to generate suitability maps, using out-of-sample predictions to validate model performance against new independent data. Gaur, banteng and buffalo models showed reasonable model accuracy throughout the entire distribution (greater than or equal to 62%) and in Thailand (greater than or equal to 80%), whereas serow and goral models performed poorly for the entire distribution and in Thailand, though 5 km movement buffers markedly improved the performance for serow. Large suitable areas were identified in Thailand and India for gaur, Cambodia and Thailand for banteng and India for buffalo. Over 50% of suitable habitat is located outside protected areas, highlighting the need for habitat management and conflict mitigation outside protected areas.

Preserving landscape connectivity in the Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Forest Reserves is crucial due to human-induced fragmentation, shrinking habitats, and disrupted migration routes for wildlife. From 2014 to 2016, we conducted surveys to gather large mammal presence data, mapping their distribution using the MaxEnt algorithm. Employing Circuitscape software and circuit theory concepts, we predicted connectivity patterns for six large mammal species. Our results consistently showed robust predictive performance, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values exceeding 0.75 for species distribution models. Notably, we identified suitable habitat patches for seven key species, spanning 1760 km2 for C. civetta, 1515 km2 for T. Scriptus, 729 km2 for L. cyclotis, 1693 km2 for P. porcus, 1350 km2 for C. mona, 1406 km2 for P. maxwellii, and 1379 km2 for C. torquatus. Our analysis highlighted distance to human settlements as the most significant predictor for habitat models concerning T. Scriptus, C. civetta, P. maxwellii, C. torquatus, P. porcus, and C. mona, whereas land use type emerged as a critical factor for L. cyclotis. Furthermore, examination of maximum current flow patterns revealed varying degrees of connectivity among habitat patches, indicating potential bottlenecks to species movement, particularly across major rivers and in areas affected by human activities. These findings offer crucial insights for conservation efforts, guiding strategies to preserve wildlife metapopulation dynamics in the Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Forest Reserves landscape

Trophic rewilding is gaining rapid momentum as a means of restoration across the world. Advances in research are elucidating the wide‐ranging effects of trophic rewilding and megafauna re‐establishment on ecosystem properties and processes including resilience, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, productivity and plant richness.A substantial gap remains in trophic rewilding research on how rewilding affects the frequency and expression of plant functional traits, a key hypothesised avenue by which megafauna can affect biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Yet, there is extensive literature examining the effects of mammal herbivory and exclusion on plant traits from which we may infer potential effects of megafauna reintroductions.Here, we synthesise the literature to show the multifaceted ways that plant functional composition responds to mammalian herbivory and explore how these responses are modulated by the density and identity of herbivores as well as resource availability, ecosystem productivity and historical contingency. We further explore these interactions in a quantitative analysis on European plant species. In addition, we link these broad patterns between mammal herbivory and traits to literature on plant invasions to predict how trophic rewilding may be able to reduce invasive plant dominance, as ecosystems around the world are transitioning towards novel states, occupied by a mix of native and introduced species.Expanding current research on herbivore effects (and their implications for trophic rewilding) beyond plant species richness and towards measurable functional traits can help assess and quantify processes that were not previously possible. Trait approaches can help to test mechanistic hypotheses on the top‐down impacts of large herbivores on plant communities to reveal links between trophic rewilding and ecosystem processes and properties.Synthesis. Given the rapid, much‐needed expansion of restoration and rewilding activities across the world, trait‐based ecology offers a pathway to generalisable predictions of the ecosystem impacts of rewilding, particularly in the context of both the unique landscape processes associated with rewilding (e.g. landscape scale spatiotemporal variability, dispersal) and of widely emerging novel ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yala National Park is the premier protected area in Sri Lanka. Overcrowding has been an issue in Yala for over a decade. Information sharing by mobile communication was thought to result in safari jeeps flocking to favoured sightings, causing overcrowding and reckless driving. We assessed visitor satisfaction and the impact of switching off mobile communication towers providing park coverage, by conducting a questionnaire survey, checking signal strength and assessing vehicle speed. We found that visitor satisfaction was related to sightings of the 'big three', elephants, leopards and sloth bears, but not to overcrowding at sightings. Reckless driving impacted visitor satisfaction both negatively and positively. High speed driving was mostly due to trying to exit the park before the park-closure time. Switching off mobile communication towers reduced signal strength and accessibility but did not eliminate it. Reduced mobile coverage lessened overcrowding at sightings but also decreased sightings, resulting in an overall reduction of visitor satisfaction. We conclude that reducing or eliminating mobile communication is not a viable solution to overcrowding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proposed that suids were absent from Europe during the post-Olduvai to pre-Jaramillo Early Pleistocene (from less than 1.8 to more than 1.2 Ma) and that their "re-appearance" in the late Early Pleistocene would mark the end of the late Villafranchian and the beginning of the Epivillafranchian. Arguments enumerated in favor of this "suid gap" are the lack of suid remains from extensively sampled fossil localities of this age and the high reproductive potential (r-strategy) of suids, which would translate in a high commonness of their remains in the fossil record. However, here it shown that while suids' reproductive potential is certainly exceptional within artiodactyls, there is no direct relationship between the reproductive strategy and preservation rate of a taxon in the fossil record. In Early Pleistocene localities of Europe and adjoining areas, where suids are present in a fossil assemblage, they are always rare. In terms of number of occurrences (frequency), suids range from being moderately common (~2.0–1.8 Ma) to moderately rare (~1.1–1.0 Ma). Suid material is also described herein from Peyrolles (Issoire, France; reference locality for MNQ 19), a site dated at 1.47 Ma, providing direct evidence for the presence of suids within the purported "suid gap". The case of suids underlines an important source of caveat in inferring faunal dynamics of the late Early Pleistocene of western Europe—including the dispersal of hominins—i.e., the unequal geographical distribution of the paleontological sites of post-Olduvai to pre-Jaramillo age. Indeed, Peyrolles is the only large mammal site in western Europe located outside the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas reliably dated around 1.5 Ma. In the post-Olduvai to pre-Jaramillo period, there is a paucity of radiometric estimates (or they have too coarse a resolution) and of paleomagnetic excursions detectable in continental deposits. Basically, for this time span, there is a high dependence on biochronological correlations, although, at the same time, these correlations are less reliable—because these are based on a few sites not covering the entire spectrum of environments present in Europe and the sites are not independently dated with methods that outperform biochronology—than those for other periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative conservation approaches are urgently needed to balance biodiversity conservation with human development. Safeguarding elephant populations often involves active management, leading to direct intentional, direct unintentional, and indirect consequences for animals, people, and ecosystems. Drawing from One Health and One Welfare principles, our study introduces a multicriteria framework for developing conservation strategies that enhance well-being across dimensions. This approach establishes priorities, acceptability zones, and One Well-being scores that guide decision making toward optimal outcomes. We applied our One Well-being framework to evaluate 12 elephant management interventions currently or historically used in South Africa. Examining data from 3306 instances of these interventions, including on-the-ground data, we assessed their relative impact on environmental, human, and animal well-being. Our analysis identified 250 consequences of these interventions, categorized as 58 direct intentional, 127 direct unintentional, and 65 indirect. Although most direct intentional consequences were beneficial (93.4%), the direct unintentional and indirect consequences were predominantly harmful (96.9% and 75.4%, respectively). Although most interventions improved environmental well-being, their consequences for animal and human well-being were less positive. This highlights a conflict among the three well-being dimensions, underscoring the importance of incorporating human and animal well-being into elephant management strategies. Recognizing the interconnected nature of these dimensions and aiming for multiple, mutually reinforcing gains is imperative. This iterative process helps address social-ecological vulnerabilities and risks while advocating for ethical conservation practices, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, and garnering broader support for conservation efforts. Our approach aligns with global goals for sustainable and equitable wildlife management outcomes.

Large mammals in temperate climates typically display seasonal patterns of habitat use. However, these patterns are often overlooked because large mammals are usually surveyed at annual intervals. In addition, most studies focus on a single species and ignore other species with which the focal species could interact. Knowing seasonal patterns of habitat use in multiple species and understanding factors that cause these patterns can provide further detail on population dynamics and guide effective conservation planning. Here, using dynamic occupancy modeling, we analyze 11 years of camera-trap data collected in northwestern Anatolia, Turkey, to investigate seasonal habitat use of 8 large-mammal species: Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx), Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus), European Hare (Lepus europaeus), and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus). For each species, we study the strength of seasonality in habitat use and its dependence on human population density and elevation, which have been shown to affect distributions of species in the region. Although all species exhibited seasonality in habitat use, the strength of this seasonality varied among species; it was strongest in Wild Boar, Roe Deer, and Brown Bear. Moreover, except for Brown Bear, all species tended to avoid sites close to humans. The species responded differently to changing elevation; increasing elevation had both positive and negative effects on species-specific colonization and desertion probabilities, and these effects were likely related to either feeding habits or tendency to avoid humans. These results indicate that seasonality should be taken into consideration in population studies. However, because species differ, seasonality patterns should be identified separately for each species of interest, as differences in these patterns can explain the underlying dynamics of habitat-use patterns more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the response of large mammal populations to human‐induced modifications in the Omo‐Shasha‐Oluwa Forest Reserves landscape. The impact of habitat alterations on species diversity and distribution remains poorly understood in this region. Over four seasons from May 2017 to April 2019, 52 sites were surveyed, revealing the presence of 12 large mammal species across six families. Maxwell's duiker exhibited the highest overall occupancy (0.897 ± 0.062), while the Forest elephant had the lowest (0.115 ± 0.043). Forest buffalo experienced the greatest increase in site occupancy (0.290 ± 0.076 to 0.358 ± 0.098), whereas the Mona monkey saw the most significant decrease (0.713 to 0.651). The study employed single‐species, multi‐season occupancy modelling, predicting colonisation and extinction events solely for the civet (ϒ = 0.347 ± 0.154; ε = 0.041 ± 0.031) and Red river hog (ϒ = 0.158 ± 0.098; ε = 0.098 ± 0.059). The likelihood of Civet cat and Red river hog colonisation increased with distance from the nearest settlement. These findings enhance our understanding of habitat characteristics influencing large mammal distribution, offering valuable insights for the conservation of these species in forest landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Trophic rewilding is proposed as an approach to tackle biodiversity loss by restoring ecosystem dynamics through the reintroduction of keystone species. Currently, evidence on the ecological consequences of reintroduction programmes is sparse and difficult to generalize. To better understand the ecological consequences of trophic rewilding, we simulated the extinction and reintroduction of large‐bodied mammals under different environmental conditions. Location: Europe. Methods: We selected four locations varying in productivity and seasonality in Europe and used a general ecosystem model called Madingley to run simulations. We initialized the model using body mass limits of a European Holocene baseline; we then removed large mammals and let the model converge to a new equilibrium. Next, we reintroduced the previously removed groups to assess whether the equilibrium would shift back to the initial condition. We tested three different reintroduction scenarios, in order to disentangle the importance of the different large mammal groups. Results: The removal of large‐bodied mammals led to cascading effects, mainly resulting in increases in smaller‐bodied herbivores and the release of mesopredators. Post‐reintroduction, the system's new equilibrium state was closer to the initial equilibrium for stable and productive locations compared to highly seasonal and low‐productive locations. The maximum trait space volume of the initial state and the post‐reintroduction state varied by 9.1% on average over all locations, with an average decrease in trait combinations of 6.6%. The body mass distribution differed by 28%, comparing the initial state to the post‐reintroduction state. Main Conclusions: Our simulation results suggest that reintroducing locally extinct large‐bodied mammals can broadly restore shifts in ecosystem structure, roughly resembling the baseline ecosystem conditions. However, the extent to which the ecosystem's state resembles the original ecosystem is largely dependent on the reintroduction strategy (only herbivores and omnivores vs. also carnivores) and timing, as well as local environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the conservation of large terrestrial mammals and the challenges they face. The threats to these animals include habitat loss, climate change, illegal killing, disease, and inbreeding. The article explores various factors that contribute to the success or failure of conservation efforts, such as pernicious diseases, adaptations of translocated animals, climate change effects on competition, nutritional condition, predation risk, and predator control. The importance of habitat connectivity for biodiversity and conservation is also highlighted. The article provides insights and recommendations for the conservation of specific species, including mule deer and bighorn sheep. Overall, the research presented in this article contributes to the understanding and implementation of effective conservation measures for large terrestrial mammals. [Extracted from the article]

The Early Pleistocene sites of Orce in southeastern Spain, including Fuente Nueva-3 (FN3), Barranco León (BL) and Venta Micena (VM), provide important insights into the earliest hominin populations and Late Villafranchian large mammal communities. Dated to approximately 1.4 million years ago, FN3 and BL preserve abundant Oldowan tools, cut marks and a human primary tooth, indicating hominin activity. VM, approximately 1.6 million years old, is an outstanding site because it preserves an exceptionally rich assemblage of large mammals and predates the presence of hominins, providing a context for pre-human conditions in the region. Research suggests that both hominins and giant hyenas were essential to the accumulation of skeletal remains at FN3 and BL, with secondary access to meat resources exploited by saber-toothed felids. This aim of this study aims to correlate the relative abundance of large herbivores at these sites with their estimates of Carrying Capacity (CC) and Total Available Biomass (TAB) using the PSEco model, which incorporates survival and mortality profiles to estimate these parameters in paleoecosystems. Our results show: (i) similarities between quarries VM3 and VM4 and (ii) similarities of these quarries with BL-D (level D), suggesting a similar formation process; (iii) that the role of humans would be secondary in BL-D and FN3-LAL (Lower Archaeological Level), although with a greater human influence in FN3-LAL due to the greater presence of horses and small species; and (iv) that FN3-UAL (Upper Archaeological Level) shows similarities with the expected CC values for FN3/BL, consistent with a natural trap of quicksand scenario, where the large mammal species were trapped according to their abundance and body mass, as there is a greater presence of rhinos and mammoths due to the greater weight per unit area exerted by their legs. Given the usefulness of this approach, we propose to apply it first to sites that have been proposed to function as natural traps.

Our work presents an updated overview of the Italian Middle Pleistocene records of hippopotamuses, including the two species Hippopotamus antiquus and Hippopotamus amphibius. In addition to reviewing several well-known fossils in the literature, a large number of samples are described herein for the first time. Following the recent results published in the literature, where the skull from the Middle Pleistocene of Cava Montanari (ca. MIS 13) was confirmed to belong to H. amphibius, one of the aims of this work was to investigate the H. antiquus–H. amphibius transition. A morphological analysis applied to a large sample confirmed the validity of the arrangement of the enamel ridges of the external surfaces of the lower canines as a diagnostic character for specific identifications. Finally, biometric analyses allowed us to test the size variability during the Middle Pleistocene, which confirmed that H. antiquus was generally larger than H. amphibius. Nevertheless, the remains of H. antiquus dated to ca. 600 ka show a reduced size when compared to older fossils of the same taxon, probably as a response to severe glacial conditions that occurred during MIS 16.

Wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs) are a critical threat to biodiversity and human safety. To implement WVC mitigation measures where most needed, we need to link models predicting the probability of the presence of species, at large spatial scales, with the likelihood of occurring collisions along roads. Here, we propose a framework for the prioritization of road sections for implementing mitigation measures using ecologically based information. Within this framework, we first model the likelihood of WVC occurrence for focal species in road vicinity areas. We then use spatial prioritization tools to select road sections that entail a higher probability of WVC across the focal species using user‐defined criteria for weighting species records. We applied this framework to Mato Grosso do Sul state (Brazil), using systematic information on WVC collected over 3 years along ca. 2000 km of roads. We focused on the WVC involving three large mammals commonly road‐killed therein, which represent a threat to humans when involved in WVC: the lowland tapir Tapirus terrestris, giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla and capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. We were able to identify road sections (<10% of the road network) that should be prioritized for implementing mitigation actions, which could significantly reduce the number of WVCs. However, the large extent of the road network classified as a priority for mitigation suggests the need to engage the public and private sectors in the early stages of the decision‐making process, in order to reach a consensus on the prioritization. Our framework may improve the environmental licensing process, namely by guiding where mitigation measures should be implemented first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife tourism is an important type of ecotourism including in South Africa. We considered how the aesthetic value theory can be applied to wildlife tourism by assessing the relative popularity of species with tourists in South Africa and which traits predicted popularity. When data from six published visitor surveys across seven protected areas were combined, we found that only 26 species out of 299 mammals and 850 + birds were selected by 2245 tourists. Elephant (48%), black and white rhinos (36%), lion (36%), cheetah (35%) and giraffe (34%) were the most popular in these visitor surveys with similar results reported in data from destination marketing and social media, but not wildlife auctions. When 13 species traits were assessed using ordinations and Generalised Linear Models, traits associated with specific aesthetics were important as large mammals that use open vegetation, with highly contrasting coat colours and/or are fluffy were most popular. Given the diversity of animals in South Africa, those responsible for wildlife tourism opportunities could diversify the types of species used in marketing to better match animals likely to be encountered in the wild, enhancing repeat visitor experiences while promoting the conservation of more species in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human modifications of the landscapes have led to species with wide home ranges being trapped within protected areas, disrupting their relationship with species in other protected areas. In this regard, identifying potential corridors that species use to migrate and access other resources can help preserve the species' survival. Iran, with 246 protected areas, is home to a variety of vertebrates, including large mammals. This study aims to identify the least-cost corridors between core habitat areas of two large mammals of brown bear (Ursus arctos) and Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) in Iran, as well as the barriers along these corridors. We also identify areas known as pinch-points or bottlenecks to determine mammalian conservation priorities. For this purpose, after creating a resistance map using species distribution models (SDMs), the Linkage Mapper toolkit was used to model the landscape connectivity. For brown bears, our results showed that the average length of the least-cost corridors in 84 core habitat areas was 74 km. Brown bears have to cross 179 barriers on average to migrate to another region, mostly due to linear infrastructure such as roads. For the Persian leopard, we identified 5 core areas with an average corridor length of 397 km and 36 barriers between them. This study suggests that in addition to determining the least-cost corridors between core habitats, it is necessary to identify the barriers and pinch-points along these corridors. The results of this study offer new insights for protected area managers to better manage these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some remains of suids were recovered during the second half of the 1800s from Quercia (Tuscany, Italy), at a close distance to, but from a lower stratigraphic position than the better-known mammal fauna of Olivola. Although they were collected a long time ago, Quercia suids are described for the first time in this work. This sample represents one of the earliest occurrences (middle Villafranchian) of Sus strozzii , a large-sized suid present in Europe during the Early Pleistocene, but only abundant ∼2.0–1.8 Ma. A biometric comparison with selected samples of Pliocene to early Middle Pleistocene European suids is carried out, showing some dimensional changes in S. strozzii as well as differences between S. strozzii and other species. Quercia has been somehow eclipsed by other historical samples from Tuscany, namely the extensive collection of the Upper Valdarno and the diverse fauna of Olivola, but it is a different and important palaeontological locality. Apart from S. strozzii , the local fauna of Quercia-Vaccareccia includes Anancus arvernensis , Canis sp., Stephanorhinus etruscus , Leptobos etruscus , ' Pseudodama ' sp., and Castor sp., representing one of the few mammal assemblages referable to the Faunal Unit of Coste San Giacomo (late middle Villafranchian, MNQ 17b), corresponding to ∼2.2–2.1 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersal of primitive elephantines and monodactyl equids in Eurasia has long been regarded as representative of a substantial turnover in mammal faunas, denoting the spread of open environments linked to the onset of cold and dry conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. During the 1980s, this event was named the "Elephant-Equus event" and it was correlated with the Gauss-Matuyama reversal, today corresponding to the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition and the beginning of the Quaternary, dated at ~2.6 Ma. Therefore, the Elephant-Equus event became a concept of prominent biochronological and paleoecological significance, especially in western Europe. Yet, uncertainties surrounding the taxonomy and chronology of early "elephant" and "Equus", as well as conceptual differences in adopting (or understanding) the Elephant-Equus event as an intercontinental dispersal event or as a stratigraphic datum, engendered ambiguity and debate. Here, we provide a succinct review of the Elephant-Equus event, considering separately the available evidence on the "elephant" and the "Equus". Elephantines dispersed out of Africa during the Pliocene (Piacenzian). Their earliest calibrated occurrences from eastern Europe date at ~3.2 Ma and they are usually referred to Mammuthus rumanus, although the allocation of several samples to this species is tentative. Available dating constraints for other localities do not resolve whether the dispersal of Mammuthus was synchronous across Eurasia, but this possibility cannot be ruled out. The spread of Mammuthus was part of an intercontinental faunal exchange between Africa and Eurasia that occurred during the Piacenzian, but in this scenario, Mammuthus is quite unique in being the only genus of African origin dispersing to western Eurasia. The arrival of monodactyl equids from North America coincides with the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition, with several occurrences dated or calibrated at ~2.6 Ma and no compelling evidence prior to this age. In Europe, early monodactyl equids are often aligned to Equus livenzovensis, but the material from the type locality of this species is chronologically time-averaged and taxonomically heterogeneous, and western European samples are seldom abundant or informative. Regardless, this does not diminish the biochronological significance of the "Equus event". Indeed, while the term "Elephant-Equus event" should no longer be used, as the appearance of elephantines in the European fossil record markedly precedes that of monodactyl equids, we endorse the use of the "Equus event" as a valid alternative to refer to the intercontinental dispersal event that characterizes the middle Villafranchian faunal turnover, epitomized by but not limited to monodactyl equids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proposed that suids were absent from Europe during the post-Olduvai to pre-Jaramillo Early Pleistocene (from less than 1.8 to more than 1.2 Ma) and that their “re-appearance” in the late Early Pleistocene would mark the end of the late Villafranchian and the beginning of the Epivillafranchian. Arguments enumerated in favor of this “suid gap” are the lack of suid remains from extensively sampled fossil localities of this age and the high reproductive potential (r-strategy) of suids, which would translate in a high commonness of their remains in the fossil record. However, here it shown that while suids’ reproductive potential is certainly exceptional within artiodactyls, there is no direct relationship between the reproductive strategy and preservation rate of a taxon in the fossil record. In Early Pleistocene localities of Europe and adjoining areas, where suids are present in a fossil assemblage, they are always rare. In terms of number of occurrences (frequency), suids range from being moderately common (~2.0–1.8 Ma) to moderately rare (~1.1–1.0 Ma). Suid material is also described herein from Peyrolles (Issoire, France; reference locality for MNQ 19), a site dated at 1.47 Ma, providing direct evidence for the presence of suids within the purported “suid gap”. The case of suids underlines an important source of caveat in inferring faunal dynamics of the late Early Pleistocene of western Europe—including the dispersal of hominins—i.e., the unequal geographical distribution of the paleontological sites of post-Olduvai to pre-Jaramillo age. Indeed, Peyrolles is the only large mammal site in western Europe located outside the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas reliably dated around 1.5 Ma. In the post-Olduvai to pre-Jaramillo period, there is a paucity of radiometric estimates (or they have too coarse a resolution) and of paleomagnetic excursions detectable in continental deposits. Basically, for this time span, there is a high dependence on biochronological correlations, although, at the same time, these correlations are less reliable—because these are based on a few sites not covering the entire spectrum of environments present in Europe and the sites are not independently dated with methods that outperform biochronology—than those for other periods.

Camera-traps are a versatile and widely adopted tool for collecting biological data for wildlife conservation and management. While estimating population abundance from camera-trap data is the primarily goal of many projects, the question of which population estimator is suitable for analysing these data needs to be investigated. We took advantage of a 21 day camera-trap monitoring period of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) on the Ongava Game Reserve (Namibia) to compare capture-recapture (CR), rarefaction curves and N-mixture estimators of population abundance. A marked variation in detection probability of giraffes was observed both in time and between individuals, with a skewed occurrence of animals at some waterholes. The mean daily visit frequency of waterholes by giraffes was f = 0.25 although they were less likely to be detected after they were seen at a waterhole. We estimated the population size to be 104 giraffes (Cv = 0.02) using the most robust reference estimator (CR). All other estimators deviated from the CR population size by ca. -16 to > +106%. This was due the fact that these models did not account for the temporal and individual variations in detection probability. We found that modelling choice was much less forgiving for N-mixture models than CR estimators because the former leads to very variable and inconsistent estimations of abundance. Double counts were problematic for N-mixture models, challenging the use of raw counts (i.e. when individuals are not identified), to monitor the abundance of giraffes or of other species without idiosyncratic coat patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes fossils recovered from Ganxian Cave in 2008 and 2018 by the Natural History Museum and Anthropology Museum of Guangxi. The cave sedimentary fill yielded rich mammalian fossils consisting mainly of isolated teeth of medium- to large-sized mammals (Primates, Proboscidea, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, Rodentia, Artiodactyla) of typical ‘Ailuropoda-Stegodon’ fauna, (e.g. Stegodon orientalis, Ailuropoda baconi, Pongo weidenreichi, Tapirus sinensis, Megatapirus augustus, Crocuta ultima), and more numerous extant species belonging to 28 taxa in total. The biochronological age of the fauna agreed with the age estimates obtained using Uranium–series and coupled ESR/U-series dating. Collectively, these results indicate a Ganxian fossil age range of 168.9 ± 2.4 ka to 362 ± 78 ka and establish Ganxian Cave as one of the most precisely dated Middle Pleistocene fossil sites in southern China. Comparison of Ganxian fauna with Pleistocene fossil records of the well-documented faunas of southern China and southeast Asia indicates that the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) probably first appeared in Ganxian Cave. Paleoenvironmental reconstruction-based analysis of the large mammalian fossil assemblage from Ganxian Cave indicates that during the late Middle Pleistocene, the habitat consisted mainly of forests with some open areas and the climate was warm and humid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild bovids provide important ecosystem functions as seed dispersers and vegetation modifiers. Five wild bovids remain in Thailand: gaur ( Bos gaurus ), banteng ( Bos javanicus ), wild water buffalo ( Bubalus arnee ), mainland serow ( Capricornis sumatraensis ) and Chinese goral ( Naemorhedus griseus ). Their populations and habitats have declined substantially and become fragmented by land-use change. We use ecological niche models to quantify how much potential suitable habitat for these species remains within protected areas in Asia and then specifically Thailand. We combined species occurrence data from several sources (e.g. mainly camera traps and direct observation) with environmental variables and species-specific and single, large accessible areas in ensemble models to generate suitability maps, using out-of-sample predictions to validate model performance against new independent data. Gaur, banteng and buffalo models showed reasonable model accuracy throughout the entire distribution (greater than or equal to 62%) and in Thailand (greater than or equal to 80%), whereas serow and goral models performed poorly for the entire distribution and in Thailand, though 5 km movement buffers markedly improved the performance for serow. Large suitable areas were identified in Thailand and India for gaur, Cambodia and Thailand for banteng and India for buffalo. Over 50% of suitable habitat is located outside protected areas, highlighting the need for habitat management and conflict mitigation outside protected areas., Competing Interests: We declare we have no competing interests., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Large mammals respond to human hunting via proactive and reactive responses, which can induce subsequent nonconsumptive effects (NCEs). Thus, there is evidence that large mammals exhibit considerable behavioral plasticity in response to human hunting risk. Currently, however, it is unclear which cues of human hunting large mammals may be responding to. We conducted a literature review to quantify the large mammal behavioral responses induced by the cues of human hunting. We detected 106 studies published between 1978 and 2022 of which 34 (32%) included at least one measure of cue, typically visual ( n = 26 of 106, 25%) or auditory ( n = 11 of 106, 10%). Space use ( n = 37 of 106, 35%) and flight ( n = 31 of 106, 29%) were the most common behavioral responses studied. Among the 34 studies that assessed at least one cue, six (18%) measured large mammal behavioral responses in relation to proxies of human hunting (e.g. hunting site or season). Only 14% ( n = 15 of 106) of the studies quantified an NCE associated with an animal's response to human hunting. Moreover, the association between cues measured and antipredator behaviors is unclear due to a consistent lack of controls. Thus, while human hunting can shape animal populations via consumptive effects, the cues triggering these responses are poorly understood. There hence remains a need to link cues, responses, NCEs, and the dynamics of large mammal populations. Human activities can then be adjusted accordingly to prevent both overexploitation and unintended NCEs in animal populations., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of National Academy of Sciences.)

Granada Geopark, covering almost all of the Guadix-Baza basin, contains an exceptional and near-continuous fossil record of the evolution of Pliocene to middle Pleistocene land mammals (5–0.5 Ma). This period covers the endorheic (closed drainage basin) stage of this geological basin and, in this chronological framework, its record of the Quaternary period, mainly the Early Pleistocene, is outstanding.

On account of the abundant plant, invertebrate and vertebrate fossils that they contain, the cascade tufa occurrences of the Kunene Region, Namibia, comprise an important source of information about past climates and palaeoenvironments of the late Tertiary and Quaternary. Most of the vertebrate fossils thus far encountered in the tufas consist of microfauna, the remains of medium and large mammals being sporadic and rare. The discovery of a rich concentration of large mammal skeletal remains at Ozombindi, northern Kaokoland, is unusual, in that there are few if any small mammals associated with the bone-bearing lenses, which consist of vast quantities of fossil limb bones and jaws of zebras, large bovids, hyaenids and possibly rhinocerotids. The Ozombindi occurrence is interpreted to represent a natural trap that formed in cascade tufas during the early Pleistocene, into which animals fell but were unable to get out. Skeletal remains of many hundreds of individuals are preserved in a jumble of bones piled one upon the other in three dimensions. The aim of this article is to put on record the presence of the Ozombindi bone breccia, and to provide preliminary estimates as to its age and palaeoclimatic significance. Taphonomic studies will throw much light on the formation of this unique (for Namibia) concentration of fossil bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal as one of renewable resources, provide alternative to address the ever-increasing energy demand. Most of the sources are located in forest ecosystem, on which ecological impact took place. PT Supreme Energi Rantau Dedap (SERD) is geothermal power plant project located in protected forest of Bukit Jambul Gunung Patah, South Sumatera. To investigate the large mammal’s species richness and its occupancy, the research observe data from SERD camera trap data installed during exploration and construction phases. Data are then analyzed with single season occupancy modelling with habitat changes (distance), light and elevation as the impact parameters. There are 13, out of 14, large mammals that captured by the camera trap and one was identified on direct encounter. Mostly, the best occupancy model is with constants covariate. Hog badger and muntjac constantly apparent as high occupancy both in naïve occupancy and model result. Four species occupancies are affected by geothermal power plant activity, they are: surili, forest pig, tapir and hog badger. The result showed that during the development phase, large mammals still inhabited the powerplant area despite the fact that some species responded negatively against the impact. Meanwhile, during the construction phase the species richness is tend to be higher but the detection level is lower with varied occupancy level for each large mammals’ species.

Abstract In this exploratory study, we employ an interdisciplinary approach to explore potential synergies and trade‐offs between the needs of people and nature in the context of agroecological farming and nature conservation. Ecological field studies and management surveys from six sites were combined with a participatory‐deliberative appraisal exercise using the Multi‐Criteria Mapping (MCM) method. All six study sites and all four land use options in the appraisal were characterised by the use of large herbivores for agricultural and/or conservation purposes, to varying degrees, and were located in South‐East England. MCM participants identified habitat and species diversity, soil health, food production, provision of education and recreational access, as the principal benefits associated with successful management of such sites. Taken overall, their appraisals indicated that a combination of land uses may be best suited to delivering these diverse benefits, but with agroecological (While organic and biodynamic agriculture are subject to legal definition, agroecology offers a more flexible approach and can be viewed as ‘a development pathway from input‐intensive industrial systems through to highly sustainable, ecological systems’—see Laughton, R. (2017) ‘A Matter of Scale’, Land Workers Alliance and Centre for Agroecology, Coventry University) farming being perceived as a particularly effective multi‐purpose option. Five of the six sites were used for recreational purposes, and in total we recorded five times more humans than wild mammals. Ecological data from the sites indicated that the most conservation‐oriented sites performed best in terms of species richness and activity (birds, mammals, bats and invertebrates) and number of species of conservation concern. However, beta diversity metrics indicated important variation in the species assemblages recorded within and between sites. Whereas both agroecological farms in our study produced the greatest weight of saleable meat per unit area, the site that produced the most meat also demonstrated consistently strong performance across many biodiversity metrics. Overall, expert perspectives and the performance of our study sites suggests that combinations of diverse approaches to the management of large herbivores, within a ‘wildlife‐friendly’ envelope, are consistent with providing for the diverse needs of people and nature within shared landscapes. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

The Suidae from the late Miocene of Alsótelekes (northeastern Hungary, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county) are described and assigned to Propotamochoerus palaeochoerus (Suinae) and cf. Parachleuastochoerus (Tetraconodontinae). The co-occurrence of these two taxa agrees with a reference to the early Vallesian (MN 9), as previously indicated from biochronological correlation of the small mammal fauna, and suggests the presence of woodland environments, with abundance of below-ground resources and direct access to water. This fits well with the diverse wetlands and riparian forests that characterized Lake Pannon ∼10 Ma, as documented in the geographically close site of Rudabánya. The convoluted taxonomy of European Tetraconodontinae is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assemblages of large mammal species play a disproportionate role in the structure and composition of natural habitats. Loss of these assemblages destabilizes natural systems, while their recovery can restore ecological integrity. Here we take an ecoregion‐based approach to identify landscapes that retain their historically present large mammal assemblages, and map ecoregions where reintroduction of 1–3 species could restore intact assemblages. Intact mammal assemblages occur across more than one‐third of the 730 terrestrial ecoregions where large mammals were historically present, and 22% of these ecoregions retain complete assemblages across > 20% of the ecoregion area. Twenty species, if reintroduced or allowed to recolonize through improved connectivity, can increase the area of the world containing intact large mammal assemblages by 54% (11 116 000 km2). Each of these species have at least two large, intact habitat areas (> 10 000 km2) in a given ecoregion. Timely integration of recovery efforts for large mammals strengthens area‐based targets being considered under the Convention on Biological Diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for megafauna restoration is unevenly distributed across the world, along with the socio‐political capacity of countries to support these restoration initiatives. We show that choosing a recent baseline to identify species' indigenous range puts a higher burden for megafauna restoration on countries in the Global South, which also have less capacity to support these restoration initiatives. We introduce the Megafauna Index, which considers large mammal's potential species richness and range area at the country level, to explore how the responsibility for megafauna restoration is distributed across the world according to four scenarios using various temporal benchmarks to define species' indigenous range – current, historical (1500 AD), mid‐Holocene and Pleistocene. We test how the distribution of restoration burden across the world correlates with indicators of conservation funding, human development and governance. Using a recent or historical baseline as a benchmark for restoration puts a higher pressure on African and south‐east Asian countries while lifting the responsibility from the Global North, where extinctions happened a long time ago. When using a mid‐Holocene or Pleistocene baseline, new opportunities arise for megafauna restoration in Europe and North America, respectively, where countries have a higher financial and societal capacity to support megafauna restoration. These results contribute to the debate around benchmarks in rewilding initiatives and the ethical implications of using recent baselines to guide restoration efforts. We suggest that countries from the Global North should reflect on their responsibility in supporting global restoration efforts, by both increasing their support for capacity building in the Global South and taking responsibility for restoring lost megafauna at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habituation of wildlife, deliberate or accidental, can be a useful tool in research, a profitable tourist attraction, a serious nuisance, and even a mortal danger. It is the first stage of an animal gaining familiarity with humans and is always a state of unconsummated interest by the animal in us. The next stage following habituation, taming, is always initiated by a habituated animal, which thereby continues gaining information about us. In some carnivores this may be an attack to test for edibility. Even tame animals may continue to explore humans by addressing us in their species-specific sign language as if we were social companions of their own species. In my work with free-living but tame bighorn sheep, females began to treat me as a super-female, while males addressed me with dominance displays and attacked me. Since the sign language of different species of mammals may be unintelligible to us, it has led to “unpredictable” fatal attacks in zoological gardens and national parks. In reality, species that are testing us for dominance will signal the intention to attack redundantly and long before it happens. Inability to read the body language, coupled with ignorance of a species’ biology can have fatal consequences. Exemplary is a large and rather safe tourist industry that has developed around habituated and tame bears in North America, while some persons have lived with tamed black and grizzly bears for decades. Negative conditioning to habitat can lead to deliberate or inadvertent population crashes. The survival of large predators may depend on systematic conditioning to avoid humans. Cannibalism among predators involves larger stalking smaller, with predators made wary of being stalked. It is proposed that by targeting stimuli to which large carnivores cannot habituate, such as the sounds of stalking or the bold behavior of armed humans, they can be systematically conditioned to avoid humans. Inefficient and enduring hunting does that, generating a “Freedom of the Woods” – that is, safety for all outdoor users.