Philippe Chardonnet

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus causes a major disease in domestic and wild small ruminants. Understanding the role of wildlife in PPR virus ecology is important for PPR control and its eradication targeted worldwide in 2030. Developing diagnostic tools that provide reliable data for PPR detection in wildlife will help monitor wild populations for PPR and support the eradication program. We analyze a continental-scale dataset from African free-ranging wild ungulates (n = 2570) collected between 1994 and 2007. A Bayesian model estimated the performance of ELISA tests against PPR and rinderpest and their prevalence in African buffalo. The H- and N-ELISA tests used, not initially developed for wildlife, showed poor sensitivities for the detection of PPR antibodies in African buffalo. The estimations of PPR antibody prevalence derived from the results of these tests for animals presumably not exposed or potentially exposed to PPR were uncertain. Thus, poor performances of these P...

The African lion (Panthera leo), listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Appendix II of CITES), is mainly impacted by indiscriminate killing and prey base depletion. Additionally, habitat loss by land degradation and conversion has led to the isolation of some subpopulations, potentially decreasing gene flow and increasing inbreeding depression risks. Genetic drift resulting from weakened connectivity between strongholds can affect the genetic health of the species. In the present study, we investigated the evolutionary history of the species at different spatiotemporal scales. Therefore, the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (N = 128), 11 microsatellites (N = 103) and 9,103 SNPs (N = 66) were investigated in the present study, including a large sampling from Tanzania, which hosts the largest lion population among all African lion range countries. Our results add support that the species is structured into two lineages at the continental scale (West-Central vs East-Southern), underlining the importance of reviewing the taxonomic status of the African lion. Moreover, SNPs led to the identification of three lion clusters in Tanzania, whose geographical distributions are in the northern, southern and western regions. Furthermore, Tanzanian lion populations were shown to display good levels of genetic diversity with limited signs of inbreeding. However, their population sizes seem to have gradually decreased in recent decades. The highlighted Tanzanian African lion population genetic differentiation appears to have resulted from the combined effects of anthropogenic pressure and environmental/climatic factors, as further discussed

Lion densities in Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania William-Georges Crosmary* ( ), Dennis Ikanda, Fredrick Ambwene Ligate, Pietro Sandini, Imani Mkasanga, Lameck Mkuburo, Richard Lyamuya, Kelvin Ngongolo & Philippe Chardonnet Fondation Internationale pour la Gestion de la Faune under the auspices of the Fondation François Sommer, 56 rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris, France. Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, P.O. Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania Wildlife Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mpingo House, 40 Julius Nyerere Road, 15472 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Southern Tanzania Elephant Program, P.O. Box 2494, Iringa, Tanzania University of Dodoma, Department of Conservation Biology, P.O. Box 259, Dodoma, Tanzania

The publication of Antelope Survey Update No. 9, covering Central and West Africa, is an important milestone in African antelope conservation. The current issue particularly focuses on two regions of the African continent, West and Central Africa, too rarely covered by publications. It also focuses on the savannah wildlife of these regions, since forest wildlife is a rather different topic as such, even though both savannah and forest wildlife communities are indeed sympatric in some forested facies of the savannah landscape

Le vaste Parc Regional du W, a cheval sur 3 pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest (Benin, Burkina Faso et Niger), abrite une population d'elephants, Loxodonta africana, qui est a la fois importante et en augmentation. Confronte a une double emprise agricole et pastorale, le parc doit repondre aux problemes poses par la coexistence difficile de l'elephant avec les activites humaines. C'est ce qui a incite le programme W/ECOPAS a etudier le comportement spatio-temporel de l'elephant dans la region. En raison des contraintes climatiques et logistiques, la methode retenue a ete la telemetrie satellitaire. Cinq femelles adultes d'elephant ont ete capturees au sol avec succes au cours de huit journees de capture, quatre ont ete equipees de colliers VHF/ARGOS puis relâchees in situ en bonne condition physique. L'operation a necessite la collaboration de trois equipes terrestres et d'une equipe aerienne. Les equipes au sol ont immobilise les elephants selon le protoc...

Les clotures en grillage sont les plus utilisees dans l'elevage du cerf et sont largement repandues dans la zone pacifique. Les qualites recherchees sont le caractere infranchissable, l'inocuite, la longevite et le cout raisonnable. Les principes de pose sont detailles etape par etape avec pour objectif majeur une tension optimale du grillage. Comparaison est faite avec des clotures electriques (Resume d'auteur)

The value of wildlife has been widely ignored or under-rated in the past by the international community. At most, wildlife was considered from the limited aesthetic and touristic aspects. This situation has changed somewhat. In the majority of the veterinary profession, which is largely livestock-oriented, wildlife is increasingly considered in terms of wild animal production and occupies just as relevant a position as domestic animal production. Some economists are now trying to quantify the informal nature of a large portion of the wildlife sector. The importance of wildlife to local communities is now globally recognised in community-based or participatory natural resources management programmes. The authors highlight not only the economic importance of wildlife (which amounts to billions of United States dollars world-wide), through consumptive and non-consumptive uses, but also the present and potential nutritional value, the ecological role as well as the socio-cultural significance of wildlife for human societies of both the developed and the developing worlds. Also addressed in this chapter is a discussion on one of the main threats to wildlife conservation which consists of the reduction or even retrieval of the different values wildlife can offer.

As the world's governments congregate for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), we call on them to address one of the greatest oversights in conservation in recent years: the neglect of desert ecosystems. Deserts cover 17% of the world's land mass and harbor surprisingly

Objective To measure the impact of undernourishment during the rutting period on the breeding rate of Javan rusa deer and performance of fawns from birth to weaning. Design A random controlled trial. Animals Two groups of 37 hinds. Procedure Group P grazed improved pasture and group M native grassland through the rutting period. Hinds were weighed at the beginning and the end of rutting, at ultrasound scan and prior to fawning. Fawning was monitored. Results At the end of the rutting period, the mean difference in weight between the two groups was 8.5 kg and the pregnancy rate was 95% for group P and 57% for group M. Fifty births were recorded which equates to a fertility rate at 24 hours of 60% for group P and 30% for group M. Fawn mortality occurring in the first 24 hours affected 26% of all fawns. In 54% of the cases, newborn deaths were subsequent to abandonment by the hind. Average rusa fawn weight at birth was 3.6 + 0.1 kg, regardless of sex or group. Among fawns that weighed ...

Covering all 13 species of wild cattle, Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour of Wild Cattle brings together the contributions of international leading experts on the biology, evolution, conservation status and management of the tribe Bovini, providing: A comprehensive review of current knowledge on systematic, anatomy and ecology of all wild cattle species (chapters 1 to 8); A clear understanding of the conservation status of each species and the gaps in our current knowledge (chapters 9 to 20); A number of case studies on conservation activities and an investigation of some of the most threatened and poorly understood species (chapters 21 to 27). An invaluable resource for students, researchers, and professionals in behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation biology, this beautifully illustrated reference work reveals the extraordinary link between wild cattle and humans, the benefits some of these species have brought us, and their key roles in their natural ecosystems. The first comprehensive guide of its kind, this volume is essential for any study of wild cattle Gathers the results from a three-year study involving 70 world leading experts from 21 countries Features numerous illustrations, including 32 colour plates

The African buffalo microsatellite database is presented as an excel file with two sheets. The first sheet displays the allelic composition of the 14 autosomal microsatellites used within the present study, which is concentrated on southern African sampling localities. The first four lines of this first sheet refer to the title attributed to the present database sheet, the number of clusters identified with the STRUCTURE software, the number of loci studied, as well as the total number of individuals studied, respectively. The table below covers the following information for each specimen involved in the present study: species name, country of origin, sampling locality (protected area), gender, sample ID, cluster affiliation (result from the STRUCTURE analysis), followed by the allele composition for each 14 loci (diploid species). The second sheet displays the allelic composition of the 3 Y-chromosomal microsatellites used within the present study. The first three lines refer to the title attributed to the present database sheet, the number of loci studied, as well as the number of male individuals studied within the present study, respectively. The table below cover the following information for each male specimen genotyped in the present study: sample ID, alleles composition for each three Y-chromosomal microsatellites, haplotype designation for each three Y-chromosomal microsatellites, and final haplogroup determination. The haplotype designation is a number attributed to designate the combination of alleles for each of the three loci because they can appear as multicopies on the Y-chromosome. The haplogroup is thus defined as the combination of the haplotypes, written as {n UMN1113 haplotype, n UMN0304 haplotype, n INRA189 haplotype}, where n UMN1113 haplotype = 1,...,15, n UMN0304 haplotype = 1,...,9, and n INRA189 haplotype = 1,...,12. For further information, please see the main manuscript

Chez le jeune mâle rusa (Cervus timorensis russa) destine a etre abattu, le rut est considere par l'eleveur comme une contrainte. Le but de l'experimentation est d'apprecier l'impact zootechnique de la castration. Dix-sept cerfs rusa de Java castres et dix-neuf entiers, âges de 12 mois ont ete embouches a l'herbe et abattus a 24 ou 30 mois. La castration induit une diminution du poids vif a 24 mois et 30 mois. De 12 a 24 mois, la croissance est de 82 + ou - 3 g/j et 91 + ou - 1 g/j. De 24 a 30 mois, elle ralentit pour n'atteindre plus que 45 + ou - 6 g/j et 63 + ou - 12 g/j. La castration et le vieillissement augmentent le rendement carcasse de 1 p. 100 mais ne modifie pas le rendement de decoupe. La castration induit une diminution de la quantite de viande totale produite par carcasse, cet effet ne touchant pas les morceaux de l'arriere-main . La composition de la viande n'est pas modifiee par la castration ou l'âge d'abattage. A 24 mois, la ...

Un appui a ete apporte aux projets menes par le CIRAD au Zimbabwe en matiere de faune sauvage. 1°) Le projet Hwange consiste en la mise a disposition d'un expert scientifique aupres des autorites du Parc National de Hwange (HNP). Le demarrage officiel du projet est retarde pour des raisons de lenteur administrative, mais la procedure suit son cours et l'assistant technique est en place. Avec l'accord des autorites de HNP, l'analyse retrospective des donnees scientifiques existantes doit commencer des a present, en profitant du retard pris par les operations de terrain. De meme pour la revue bibliographique necessaire a la these de l'AT. Cette these fait partie integrante du projet et sa mise en oeuvre doit s'inserer harmonieusement dans le programme general du projet. 2°) Le projet Nyaminyami est la suite du projet « Faune et Villages » ou « Nyama Project » initie par le CIRAD des 1993 sur fonds MAE. Le projet, autonome depuis 3 ans, rencontre actuellement de...

La Commission de Survie des Especes de l'UICN a organise deux ateliers regionaux, l'un pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre (2005) et l'autre pour l'Afrique de l'Est et Australe (2006), dans le but d'etablir avec les principaux acteurs concernes deux strategies regionales pour la conservation du lion. Le Ministere des Eaux, Forets, Chasse et Peche de la Republique Centrafricaine a participe au processus d'etablissement de la strategie regionale. A cette occasion, il a exprime sa volonte de mettre en place un plan d'action national pour la conservation du lion en Republique Centrafricaine. Il a alors realise le defaut de connaissance sur le statut de conservation du lion dans de nombreuses regions du pays. L'objectif de cette etude etait d'evaluer la situation du lion en Republique Centrafricaine pour servir de point de depart au futur atelier national d'identification du plan d'action national pour la conservation de l'es...

Il s'agissait d'enqueter sur une epizootie chez les buffles dans le Parc National de la Pendjari et zones limitrophes. L'enquete a porte sur la faune sauvage des aires protegees et sur les animaux domestiques des villages environnants. Un accent particulier a ete porte sur les buffles pour lesquels des observations directes et indirectes ont ete faites et des prelevements ont ete effectues. Les prelevements d'animaux domestiques et sauvages ont ete traites et conditionnes sur place puis transportes jusqu'au laboratoire de Pathotrop/CIRAD-EMVT (Montpellier) et expedies au laboratoire de Pirbright (GB). Un compte-rendu oral a ete effectue a Cotonou en fin de mission aupres des autorites du Benin et de la FAO. (Resume d'auteur)

The following subjects will provide a comprehensive framework for covering the more important aspects of wildlife conservation as a tool for sustainable development. 1. Wildlife management as a tool for conservation of biodiversity, Consumptive use of wildlife, Non-consumptive use of wildlife. 2. Wildlife management as a tool for rural development Wildlife ranching under temperate conditions, Wildlife ranching under tropical conditions. 3. Wildlife technologies, New technologies to manage wildlife, New approaches for involving local communities, Wildlife as food, Wildlife products, Wildlife ranching and legal issues. 4. The future of wildlife ranching

Afin d'assurer un suivi soutenu et coherent des actions du CIRAD en matiere de biodiversite, une mission est realisee annuellement par le Dr Ph. Chardonnet pour mesurer les progres realises, recadrer les activites et apporter des elements nouveaux relatifs aux avancees de la communaute internationale dans le domaine. Le projet Guruve (MAE/FFEM) est en passe de demarrer sa 2e phase apres une longue annee de transition due a des contraintes administratives. La nouvelle equipe s'attache a mettre en place sur le terrain les microprojets, en particulier le ranch communal de gibier de Gonono qui se concretise enfin et le centre de formation de Shange qui a ete approuve par les parties. Le challenge consiste a realiser des operations qui soient a la fois innovantes tout en restant a la portee des communautes locales. Le projet Hwange a fait son chemin dans le labyrinthe administratif de la Direction des Parcs Nationaux et de la Gestion de la Faune grâce a la bonne insertion d'u...

Deforestation is a major cause or wildlife decline in tropical ecosystems. The conversion of mature forest to fields by shifting cultivation leaves behind follow lands with secondary vegetation. Paradoxically, secondary forest regrowth that provides abundant forage in comparison with mature forests can benefit some species as the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) but they are also attracted towards human communities and cultivations raising conservation issues. The study was conducted in Gile National Reserve, Mozambique, an unfenced protected area composed of Miombo woodland. Among 60 elephants remaining in the Reserve, 5 individuals were equipped with GPS collars in 2014 in 2016. Deforestation was monitored by remote sensing from 1990 to 2016 and a map of forest productivity was built To test our hypothesis, we modelled resource selection functions using the GPS data. Elephants spend about half of their time in the core area and half in the buffer zone where most of the defore...

Le projet "d'actions pilotes de valorisation de la biodiversite dans le Pantanal du Rio Negro" doit contribuer a conserver la biodiversite au Pantanal du Rio Negro, dans l'Etat du Mato Grosso do Sul, au Bresil. Il vient en appui au projet de creation du Parc Naturel Regional du Pantanal. Le Pantanal, plus grande zone humide du monde, abrite une faune et une flore considerables en variete et en abondance. Peu peuple, le Pantanal a conserve ses ressources naturelles grâce notamment a son elevage bovin tres extensif. Mais la monoproduction de betail rencontre des difficultes economiques qui induisent une transformation des modes d'exploitation, perturbent les equilibres entre les activites humaines et le milieu, et menacent la biodiversite. Le projet vise a maintenir cet elevage extensif en aidant les exploitations rurales a conserver leur equilibre economique a travers une diversification des activites productives, basees sur la valorisation de la biodiversite: l...

New Caledonia, a French territory in the south-west Pacific has a very high number of endemic taxa. The endemic fauna include a monotypic genus of parakeets – Eunymphicus. One subspecies, Eunymphicus cornutus uvaeensis, which is endemic to the island of Ouvéa in the Loyalty Islands, is seriously threatened by degradation of its natural habitat, natural predators and capture for sale to collectors. There are now only 200–500 individuals left in the wild. The parakeet is the emblem of Ouv–a and local people, together with research scientists, have formed a society with the aims of studying the parakeet in its natural environment, making the general public aware of its conservation requirements, combating smuggling, increasing its population by breeding it in captivity and, if possible, introducing it on to a neighbouring island.

Background: African wildlife experienced a reduction in population size and geographical distribution over the last millennium, particularly since the 19th century as a result of human demographic expansion, wildlife overexploitation, habitat degradation and cattle-borne diseases. In many areas, ungulate populations are now largely confined within a network of loosely connected protected areas. These metapopulations face gene flow restriction and run the risk of genetic diversity erosion. In this context, we assessed the “genetic health” of free ranging southern African Cape buffalo populations (S.c. caffer) and investigated the origins of their current genetic structure. The analyses were based on 264 samples from 6 southern African countries that were genotyped for 14 autosomal and 3 Y-chromosomal microsatellites. Results: The analyses differentiated three significant genetic clusters, hereafter referred to as Northern (N), Central (C) and Southern (S) clusters. The results suggest that splitting of the N and C clusters occurred around 6000 to 8400 years ago. Both N and C clusters displayed high genetic diversity (mean allelic richness (Ar) of 7.217, average genetic diversity over loci of 0.594, mean private alleles (Pa) of 11), low differentiation, and an absence of an inbreeding depression signal (mean FIS = 0.037). The third (S) cluster, a tiny population enclosed within a small isolated protected area, likely originated from a more recent isolation and experienced genetic drift (FIS = 0.062, mean Ar = 6.160, Pa = 2). This study also highlighted the impact of translocations between clusters on the genetic structure of several African buffalo populations. Lower differentiation estimates were observed between C and N sampling localities that experienced translocation over the last century. Conclusions: We showed that the current genetic structure of southern African Cape buffalo populations results from both ancient and recent processes. The splitting time of N and C clusters suggests that the current pattern results from human-induced factors and/or from the aridification process that occurred during the Holocene period. The more recent S cluster genetic drift probably results of processes that occurred over the last centuries (habitat fragmentation, diseases). Management practices of African buffalo populations should consider the micro-evolutionary changes highlighted in the present study

Neuf especes de cervides exotiques font l'objet de captures dans les pays du Pacifique Sud. Ne sont etudiees que certaines techniques utilisees en Nouvelle Zelande et en Nouvelle Caledonie. En Nouvelle Zelande, les captures en helicoptere ont ete pratiquees sur une echelle commerciale par des entreprises privees jusqu'en 1988. Elles sont tres efficaces dans les milieux difficiles mais se revelent dangereuses. Elles utilisent plusieurs methodes pour immobiliser les animaux. La technique du filet erectile est de plus en plus pratiquee. En Nouvelle Caledonie, la technique du panneautage s'est revelee peu efficace alors que la capture passive par construction de cloture fixe autour de lieux de gagnage s'est averee d'une grande efficacite. Dans cette region du monde jusqu'a maintenant l'anesthesie a distance emploie preferentiellement le Fentaz N.D., association Fentanyl + Azaperone