Conflict between ranchers and wildlife intensifies as climate change worsens in Chile
6-FEB-2020
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
Scientists from the University of La Serena, Newcastle University, UK, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile surveyed ranchers to find out what they thought were the drivers of conflict between people and guanacos (a wild camelid species closely related to the Llama).
Ranchers blamed the increased aridity for reducing the availability of pasture, which meant there was more competition for grazing between livestock and guanacos.
As the area became drier, guanacos were thought to come down from the mountains in search for better grazing, coming into conflict with the herds of cattle.
To reduce this problem, some ranchers wanted to cull the guanacos to protect their livestock.
Traditional ranchers in central Chile use summer pastures in the Andes Mountain, where livestock graze in areas shared with wildlife.
It is here that, in the last few years, conflicts have intensified between people grazing their livestock and the State Services that protect wildlife due to differences in how these groups want wildlife to be managed.
More:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/nu-cbr020420.php
