Survey on the importance of hunting in the conservation of vultures

    The survey is part of the CARROCAZA Project, financed by the JCCM, with which researchers from IREC and the University of Lleida intend to determine the ecological and social implications of hunting activity in the conservation of vultures.


    The management of by-products of animal origin provided by hunting activity is key to guaranteeing the long-term conservation of scavenging vertebrates in general and vultures in particular.. This fact is especially relevant in territories such as Castilla-La Mancha, where hunting is a highly relevant socioeconomic activity and where various species of vultures have abundant populations.

    Researchers from the Institute of Research in Hunting Resources (IREC – CSIC, UCLM, JCCM) and the University of Lleida are developing a project entitled "CARROCAZA: Ecological and social implications of hunting activity in a population of necrophagous birds: integrating hunting, sustainability and conservation”, financed by the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla la Mancha (JCCM) and by FEDER funds. Its objective is to determine the role of carrion provided by hunting activity in the movement ecology and conservation of carrion birds.

    The project includes evaluating the availability of carrion from hunting activity and analyzing the spatial and temporal distribution of the availability of carrion provided by hunting activity and which species consume them. The results will make it possible to study the carrying capacity of the environment based on trophic availability and the guild of strict carrion consumers (vultures) and facultative ones (such as foxes and corvids), with the aim of assess the importance of hunting for scavenger species and formulate management strategies for the trophic resource generated by hunting activity focused on the conservation of threatened species that consume it (such as the black vulture)..

     

    The by-products of animal origin provided by hunting activities are key to guaranteeing the long-term conservation of scavenging vertebrates in general and vultures in particular. Knowing how many are produced and which species may depend on them is essential to formulate appropriate management strategies.

    On the other hand, the project includes the study of the relationship between hunting activity and carrion birds from a socio-ecological perspective. What is intended is to know the perception that hunters have about the ecological role of scavengers and to gather fundamental information on the management of carcasses and by-products from hunting activity.

    To address this aspect of the project, a a survey aimed at people over the age of 18 who practice or have practiced hunting. The survey can be accessed through the following link:

    CARROCAZA Project: Survey on the importance of hunting in the conservation of necrophagous birds

    The survey is completely anonymous and confidential and takes about 10 minutes to complete.. From the IREC and the University of Lleida we encourage the hunting sector to leave their contributions, thanking them in advance for their collaboration.