Context. Funding for habitat-management programs to maintain population viability is critical for conservation of migratory species; however, such financial resources are limited and can vary greatly over time. The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America is an excellent system for examining spatiotemporal patterns of funding for waterfowl conservation, because this transboundary region is crucial for reproduction and migration of many duck species.

Aims. We examine large-scale spatiotemporal variation in funding for waterfowl habitat conservation in the PPR during 2007–2016. Specifically, we quantify major sources of funding and how funds were directed towards particular geographies within Canada and the USA. We further examine how sources and magnitude of funding changed over time and in relation to numbers of hunters.

Methods. We assembled data from multiple sources to quantify funding (in US$, 2016 values) from (1) USA states and non-government organisations (NGOs), (2) Canadian government and NGOs, and (3) major USA-based federal funding sources to the Canadian and US portions of the PPR between 2007 and 2016. We fit linear regressions to examine spatiotemporal variation in funding and in numbers of active waterfowl hunters in the USA.

Key results. Whereas annual funding for the Canadian portion was comparatively stable throughout the 10 years (range: US$25–41 million), funding for the US portion was dynamic and increased between the first (range: US$36–48 million) and second (range: US$43–117 million) 5-year intervals, despite concurrent declines in the number of active waterfowl hunters in the USA.

Conclusions. We discovered contrasting trends and dynamics in multiple streams of funding for habitat conservation on each side of the border bisecting the PPR. These findings and approaches warrant closer attention by wildlife professionals. Work is needed to analyse past and future funding for habitat conservation, which can then be used to refine plans for maintaining or recovering populations of migratory species.

Implications. Although funding for waterfowl habitat conservation in the PPR increased over the past decade, trends were inconsistent among subregions and uncertain for some major funding sources. Better understanding of the complexities in funding will help inform more efficient long-term planning efforts for conservation of waterfowl and other migratory species.

Context. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) and European badgers (Meles meles) have been increasingly implicated in crop damage in Greece. The species’ increasing presence on agricultural land has also raised concern about disease transmission to livestock and humans. Greece does not have any plans for the management of these situations, because they have only recently emerged. Understanding public preferences for management strategies is necessary for the successful implementation of management plans.

Aims. To survey residents of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, north-eastern Greece, to understand variation between stakeholder groups in preferences for the management of wild boars and European badgers in different scenarios.

Methods. Data were collected from on-site face-to-face surveys (n = 585), between September and November 2017. Respondents, assigned to one of general public, farmers, hunters and farmer-hunter groups, were asked to rate their acceptability of wild boar and European badger management strategies under four conflict scenarios: wild boars and European badgers raid crops and transfer disease.

Key results. Stakeholders preferred less invasive strategies for the management of crop raiders, although they accepted lethal control in the more severe disease-transmission scenarios. Potential for conflict was higher for non-lethal control in the crop-raiding scenarios and for lethal control in the disease-transmission scenarios. Farmers and farmer-hunters were the groups more strongly supporting management strategies in all scenarios. Hunters were more reluctant to accept the reduction in numbers of a game species (i.e. the wild boar) than of a non-game species (i.e. the European badger).

Conclusions. Variation in the acceptability of and consensus for wild boar and European badger management strategies was considerable, both among and within groups.

Implications. Findings are a critical guide for the design of a conflict-management process aimed at reaching consensus for proper management strategies. This would allow for the successful management of human conflicts over wildlife.

Context. An effective management of human–wildlife conflict is key to successful conservation, especially in areas where large carnivores occur. This is particularly important when new conservation regimes such as biological corridors are to be operationalised, as is the case in Bhutan.

Aims. The aim of the study was to determine livestock depredation by tigers in a biological corridor (BC) in Bhutan and to assess the people’s perception towards tiger conservation and BC management.

Methods. A semi-structured questionnaire survey with both open- and closed-ended questions was administered to 91 households from 10 villages. Chi-square tests were used to determine the association between predictor and response variables and multivariate logistic regressions to determine factors affecting the attitude of people towards conservation.

Key results. Livestock losses were common, with 69% of respondents losing one or more livestock to predators between 2016 and 2018. Tigers were responsible for 58.9% of all kills. The people’s awareness of the BC was low (16%), but still they had a positive attitude towards tiger conservation (68%) and BC management (65%). Knowledge on the BC was higher in males than in females, in people with than without a formal education, and in inner- than buffer-zone villages. The respondents’ attitude towards conservation was significantly more positive in people being aware of the BC, with a formal education, and that had not suffered livestock depredation.

Conclusions. Overall, the results suggest that tigers are active in the BC and that livestock depredation is high. People’s knowledge on the BC was low, and a positive attitude towards conservation was driven by cultural values and education level. Implementation of preventive measures, addressing depredation issues and conducting awareness education programs, will further enhance positive attitudes.

Implications. The present study highlighted the need for wildlife damage prevention and mitigating the prevailing conflicts in the BCs. Additionally, communities in and around the BCs need to be informed of conservation programs so that they become conservation partners.

Context. Estimating population abundance can be plagued by the violation of methodological assumptions, which can be overcome with standardised protocols. The black caiman (BC) is considered a conservation-dependent species, and previous abundance estimates are surrounded by uncertainty and flaws in the survey (e.g. different survey design and efforts) and analytical approach used (e.g. relative abundance index, which ignores imperfect detection). Its conservation status assessment demands the implementation of a standardised monitoring protocol.

Aims. The protocol provides guidelines to collect and analyse data in a consistent manner to survey BC. Besides accounting for imperfect detection to produce reliable abundance estimates, the protocol aimed to be easily implemented by park rangers, and to fit field observations into a hierarchical modelling approach to assess how environmental variables affects detectability and abundance.

Methods. The protocol subdivides a 20-km transect into 10 2-km segments; each transect is surveyed four consecutive nights, starting at 1900 hours and finishing when the 20 km are completed. For each caiman detected, the observers estimated head size to classify the individual by age. We tested the protocol in Ecuador during January and December 2017, and field data were analysed using N-mixture models. We compared abundance estimates derived with this protocol with commonly used relative abundance indexes.

Key results. We surveyed 460 km that resulted in 177 detections. Percentage of moonlight and distance from human settlement best explained detectability and abundance respectively. Mean detection probability was 0.14 (95% BCI: 0.1–0.18), whereas absolute abundance was 196 (95% BCI: 147–370). The overall adult to immature ratio was 1 : 1.3.

Conclusions. This is the first estimate of detectability and absolute abundance for BC by using a standardised survey with a clearly defined and repeatable survey and analysis methods. Relative abundance indexes did not reflect absolute abundance estimates. We recommend the use of this protocol in future surveys across the Amazon region to effectively evaluate BC conservation status.

Implications. Population size cannot be estimated from relative abundance indexes; they lead to bias estimates for ignoring imperfect detection. We discourage the use of relative abundance indexes to evaluate the conservation status of this species.

Context. Estimating animal abundance often relies on being able to identify individuals; however, this can be challenging, especially when applied to large animals that are difficult to trap and handle. Camera traps have provided a non-invasive alternative by using natural markings to individually identify animals within image data. Although camera traps have been used to individually identify mammals, they are yet to be widely applied to other taxa, such as reptiles.

Aims. We assessed the capacity of camera traps to provide images that allow for individual identification of the world’s fourth-largest lizard species, the perentie (Varanus giganteus), and demonstrate other basic morphological and behavioural data that can be gleaned from camera-trap images.

Methods. Vertically orientated cameras were deployed at 115 sites across a 10 000 km² area in north-western Australia for an average of 216 days. We used spot patterning located on the dorsal surface of perenties to identify individuals from camera-trap imagery, with the assistance of freely available spot ID software. We also measured snout-to-vent length (SVL) by using image-analysis software, and collected image time-stamp data to analyse temporal activity patterns.

Results. Ninety-two individuals were identified, and individuals were recorded moving distances of up to 1975 m. Confidence in identification accuracy was generally high (91%), and estimated SVL measurements varied by an average of 6.7% (min = 1.8%, max = 21.3%) of individual SVL averages. Larger perenties (SVL of >45 cm) were detected mostly between dawn and noon, and in the late afternoon and early evening, whereas small perenties (SVL of <30 cm) were rarely recorded in the evening.

Conclusions. Camera traps can be used to individually identify large reptiles with unique markings, and can also provide data on movement, morphology and temporal activity. Accounting for uneven substrates under cameras could improve the accuracy of morphological estimates. Given that camera traps struggle to detect small, nocturnal reptiles, further research is required to examine whether cameras miss smaller individuals in the late afternoon and evening.

Implications. Camera traps are increasingly being used to monitor reptile species. The ability to individually identify animals provides another tool for herpetological research worldwide.

Context. Camera traps paired with baits and scented lures can be used to monitor mesocarnivore populations, but not all attractants are equally effective. Several studies have investigated the efficacy of different attractants on the success of luring mesocarnivores to camera traps; fewer studies have examined the effect of human scent at camera traps.

Aims. We sought to determine the effects of human scent, four attractants and the interaction between attractants and human scent in luring mesocarnivores to camera traps.

Methods. We compared the success of synthetic fermented egg (SFE), fatty acid scent (FAS) tablets, castor oil, and sardines against a control of no attractant in luring mesocarnivores to camera traps. We deployed each attractant and the control with either no regard to masking human scent or attempting to restrict human scent for a total of 10 treatments, and replicated treatments eight to nine times in two different phases. We investigated whether: (1) any attractants increased the probability of capturing a mesocarnivore at a camera trap; (2) not masking human scent affected the probability of capturing a mesocarnivore at a camera trap; and (3) any attractants increased the probability of repeat detections at a given camera trap. We also analysed the behaviour (i.e. speed and distance to attractant) of each mesocarnivore in relation to the attractants.

Key results. Sardines improved capture success compared with the control treatments, whereas SFE, castor oil, and FAS tablets had no effect when all mesocarnivores were included in the analyses. Masking human scent did not affect detection rates in the multispecies analyses. Individually, the detection of some species depended on the interactions between masking (or not masking) human scent and some attractants.

Conclusions. Sardines were the most effective as a broad-based attractant for mesocarnivores. Mesocarnivores approached traps baited with sardines at slower rates, which allows for a higher success of capturing an image of the animal.

Implications. Human scent may not need to be masked when deploying camera traps for multispecies mesocarnivore studies, but researchers should be aware that individual species respond differently to attractants and may have higher capture success with species-specific attractants.

Context. Tourism operations that provide the opportunity for wildlife viewing can support conservation management through public education, habitat protection, population management, research activities and revenue generation. However, alongside these potential benefits there can be negative effects on the species that include the possibility of reduced breeding success, survival and, subsequently, population growth.

Aim. We sought to establish whether a tourism operation affected little penguins Eudyptula minor by comparing reproductive and survival parameters of two managed populations in Oamaru, New Zealand. One population was the focus of a tourism operation, whereas the other (located nearby) did not provide any public access. The tourism operation implemented strategies to reduce human disturbance, including the reduction of noise, light and movement from visitors during viewing, and by ensuring that visitors were restricted to designated viewing areas.

Methods. Nesting boxes were installed at both colonies that facilitated weekly monitoring of the populations. The monitoring program (1993–2017) included weekly checks of every nesting box in the colony for the presence of eggs, chicks and adults. Chicks were weighed before fledging, and both fledglings and breeding adults were individually marked.

Key results. Lay dates, breeding success, chick fledge mass and survival rates were not measurably different between the two populations, indicating that there was little evidence of negative effects on the penguins at the tourist site.

Conclusions. The slight differences observed between the colonies during the time series were attributed to environmental damage sustained at the non-tourist site and a difference in the proportion of un-monitored nest sites available to the penguins when the study was initiated.

Implications. Notwithstanding the present findings, long-term and consistent monitoring of wildlife populations facing increasing pressure from tourism is essential to ensure effects are detected and that management procedures implemented to reduce potential effects.