Reprinted from the JAMAICA NATURALIST

CITATION:

Wilkins, Laurie. Notes on the Jamaican Hutia, Geocapromys brownii and a reintroduction of a captive bred population. Jamaica Naturalist, Vol. 1, 11-14. 1991.

Published by the NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF JAMAICA http://naturalhistorysocietyjamaica.org/ NHSJ

Geocapromysbrownii - The Jamaican Hutia or Indian Coney (Photo Peter Vogel)

o ...... NOTES ON THE JAMAICAN HUTIA, GEOCAPROMYS BROWNII AND A REINTRODUCTION OF A CAPTIVE BRED POPULATION by Laurie Wilkins Florida State Museum University of Florida Gainesville, 32611 Florida, U.s.A.

INTRODUCTION tats as the xeric scrub forests of Hell­ gored and populations were re­ The Jamaican Hutia, Geo­shire Hills, wet montane forests of the stricted to three major areas ­ capromys broumii, also known as John Crow Mountains and the karsti­ Hcllshire Hills, Worthy Park and the Indian Coney, is the only fied, mid-elevation dolines character­ the John Crow Mountains. surviving endemic terrestrial ized by the Red Hills of St. Catherine The first island-wide mammal found in Jamaica. This and the Cockpit Country of Trelawny. survey was conducted for three large rodent, weighing up to 2.5 kg, The species has been success­ months in 1981. At that time is a member of the the Capro­ fully bred in captivity at Icrsey Wild­ Oliver (1982) described sixteen myidae, a family whose distribu­ life Preservation Trust, Channel surviving populations. He re­ tion is restricted to the islands in Islands, Great Britain and The Hope ported that although the coney was the Caribbean, including the Zoo, Kingston, Jamaica. Observations in no immediate danger of extinc­ Bahamas. in captivity suggest that conies are tion, factors such as continued The genus Geocapromys monogamous and give birth twice per deforestation, hunting and preda­ was once more widely distributed year to one, two or occasionally three tion by feral animals such as than it is today with three species offspring (Oliver 1975; Oliver et al mongooses, cats and dogs could in Cuba, one each from Jamaica, the 1986). Animals may live twelve years lead to their further decline. Cayman Islands, Little Swan Island in captivity, during ten of which they More recently a five week and one species with three SUbspe­ arc reproductively active. reconnaissance survey conducted cies from the Bahamas. All bu t two during 1987 by this author, re­ of these are extinct. The most STATUS vealed that three populations had recent extinction reported by The status of the Jamaican disappeared since 1981; namely G. Clough (1975), that of Little coney had remained uncertain for from Milcstown, the Santa Cruz Swan Island Hutia, occurred many years. It is known, from fossil Mountains and the Dry Harbour sometime in the late 1950's or early and archaeological remains to have Mountains. Further, there have 1960's. The extinction was believed been widely distributed throughout been no reports of conies in the to be the result of the introduction the island (Fig. 1 from Oli ver 1982; Cockpit Country for many years, to the island of a box of cats. The Anderson et al 1983). That they were even though many people were Bahamian Hutia Geocapromys also once abundant is suggested by penetrating deep into it for farming ingrohami, is apparently thriving the heavy dependence on conies for or for timber removal. The popula­ on three islands. It was introduced food by the Arawaks, as revealed by tion at Hcllshire Hills appears to to two islands from a third, East the archaeological sites, located ap­ have declined, as many suitable Clara Cay, where it was redis­ proximately 6 km and 5 km respec­ coney holes were abandoned and covered in the 1960·s. tively, from Kingston, which dis­ showed no signs of recent occu­ Little is known of the closed that conics constituted 81% pancy. ecology or behaviour of free-living (Bellevue) and 50% (White Marl) Deforestation could ac­ Jamaican conies, except that they MNI (minimum number of individual count for these losses, including are nocturnal herbivores that live vertebrae present in each sample large scale charcoal burning activi­ in social family groups of 2-6 [Jamaica Archaeological Society; ties in Hellshire. However, there is individuals, although as many as Wing, pers. comrn). Conies have un­ no apparent cause for the absence 10 have been reported (Anderson et doubtedly been hunted since those of animals in the Cockpit Country. al 1983). They are belived to be times, and remain' a favoured food It is hoped that the animals may sedentary, inhabiting semi-perma­ item in some areas today (Oliver 1982; still be surviving in the interior. nent warrens in limestone fissures, Wilkins,obs.). These preliminary findings, solution holes and caves that are and concerns voiced by Jamaican common landscape features in Brief status surveys by Mitter­ researchers about rapidly changing Jamaica. Natural populations have meir (1972) and Clough (1975) con­ land-use patterns and accelerated been found in such diverse habi­ cluded that the coney was endan­ habitat destruction, prompted the 11 more thorough investigation REINTRODUCTION groups took approximately six underway which at the present As a result of a successful weeks. Nocturnal observations time is being conducted in coopera­ captive-breeding programme, and began as soon as animals were tion with William Oliver-at the given the uncertain future of wild released. jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. coney populations, a reintroduction After the early groups had programme was initiated and devel­ been independent for a period of 2­ The objectives of the study are : oped by jersey Wildlife Preservation 6 weeks, as many animals as 1) to define the current limits of Trust (Oliver, 1987). This author was possible were recaptured, weighed, distribution of natural brought in to do the post- release inspected for external parasites and populations, monitoring (Wilkins, 1987). their general health assessed. 2) to evalute the impact of pres­ In March and April 1986, 41 Faecal pellets were collected for ent-day hunting activities on captive-bred conies were reintroduced urolysis for internal parasites remaining populutaions, and to a privately owned 74 hablock of before and after release. The wet limestone secondary forest in the animals were dusted with fluores­ 3) to assess the future survival parish of Westmoreland. That conies cent powder, released and tracked prospects of remaining popu­ once occupied this region is known in order to determine their exact lations with regards to local from a fossil recovered from movements and the plants that conditions and trends. Knockova Cave, situated approxi­ were being eaten . mately 10 km NW of the release site The early results of the The early results of the (Anderson, et al 1983). reintroduction were encouraging. present survey are mildly encour­ Extensive pre-release prepara­ All animals gained weight from 30 aging. Early fears concerning the tions were made (Oliver et al 1986) to 300g for adults and remained in Hellshire population have been and every precaution was taken to good heal tho Faecal analysis borne out, as transects throughout insure the animals' survival. indicated internal parasite load to Hellshire show that the population Ten artificial stone burrows be negligible. Site fidelity was high is severely fragmented and de­ were built incorporating and enhanc­ as most groups remained in their pleted. Two other populations, ing natural rock features to provide burrows or in close proximity. By however, have apparently re­ additional protection to the released the end of the first phase of the mained stable. There is one popu­ groups. These were enclosed by a reintroduction, ten weeks after the lation around Worthy Park in chicken wire fence to confine animals first group was released, animals northwestern St. Catherine and one so that they could become habituated were behaving in a manner coexis­ along the southwestern face of the to their new surroundings. tent with what was known of wild john Crow Mountains. At Worthy While in captivity, the ani­ coney behaviour. They had estab­ Park, numerous occupied warrens mals had been weighed, measured, lished and marked trails, utilized a were found at a number of loca­ ear-tagged and marked for later field home range, foraged long distances tions, with fresh signs of occupancy indentification. A patch that was and fed on a variety of plants. by family groups including juve­ shaved from each animal provided an Two additional monitoring niles. Conditions in the John Crow ideal way to recognize ind ividuals at sessions were conducted: Novem­ Mountains are such that warrens close proximity after release. ber 1986 and May 1987,eight and are more difficult to enumerate, as Ten pairs of small family thirteen months after the initial signs do not persist and the assess­ groups up to seven individuals were release. Table 1 summarizes the ment is more subjective. Neverthe­ moved to their respective release recapture/resighting information less the forest is relatively intact; burrows in the familiar nest boxes for all three monitoring periods. At hunting pressure and population they had used since leaving jersey, the end of three months, 38 of 41 pressure is low. The presence of including their acclimatization period animals were accounted for. Eight animals was confirmed by hearing at Hope Zoo. months after the release only 8 animals calling at night, the capture While confined on site, they animals could be found, including (and release) of an individual, and were fed a combination of cultivated a pair with newborn twins. Most fresh signs. and perferred natural vegetation. animals had stayed in the vicinity Many other populations After one week the enclosures were of their release burrows. reported in 1982in St. Catherine, removed and the animals were After thirteen months, only Clarendon, St. Thomas and Port­ allowed free access to the surround­ 2 solitary males were found, one of land still persist (Oliver, Pers . ing forest. Supplementary feeding which was wild born. A return Comm), but some of these are at was continued for several weeks, visit two and a half years after the great risk as hunting pressure gradually diminishing amounts and release, in October 1988, disclosed continues and / or habitats have increasing the intervals between no survivors. become more disturbed and frag­ feedings until the animals appeared to Although the animals had mented. be self-sufficient. The release of ten become more secretive as time 12

1­ lapsed, their sedentary and predict­ The period during which the other Jamaican wildlife, needs a able habits made it possible to animals disappeared was one of sanctuary. Another, and in some relocate them. While it is possible heavy rains, so illness perhaps pneu­ ways more important area, is one that some individuals may·have monia, could be a contributory factor. located to the north and west of survived undetected, it is unlikely It is unfortunate that at the Worthy Park, namely Ty Dixon and that there is a breeding population end of an intensive effort such as the Coco Ree. present. one undertaken, we do not know the Geologically, numerous Unfortunately, most ani­ end of the story. It is nevertheless an steep limestone hills, each riddled mals disappeared between the important test case. The reintroduced with labrynth solution holes - "bad second and third monitoring animals reverted to instinctive behav­ holes" according to hunters, com­ period. Although all burrows were iour and appeared to have adapted to bined with lush, deep, narrow inspected, no remains could be the local conditions quickly, yet most valleys provide the two most found, and it is not possible to of the animals apparently did not important elements necessary to determine the cause of disappear­ survive. enhance survival - protection and ance. Dispersal has been ruled out, forage. Its proximity to the pri­ as the forested mountain is an CONCLUSIONS vately owned and protected lands island in the middle of cleared There remain many unan­ of Worthy Park would be an added pastureland. swered questions concerning the benefit. Predation by humans is not nature of the threats to the Jamaican Finally, the coney is a pro­ considered a possibility. There is no coney. They are adaptable animals tected species. Hunters and rang­ hunting tradition, the burrows that persist in some areas on the edge ers alike are ignorant of the wildlife were camouflaged and the uniniti­ of extensive human disturbance, yet protection laws or they blatantly ated would have had difficulty in populations decline or disappear in ignore them. Enforcement of these finding or capturing the animals. other vast unoccupied areas. Future laws could make a difference as Predation by owls,,!llongooses, research may address some of these many hundreds of animals are still feral cats and dogs is more likely, questions as well as revealing more killed each year by hunters, even since some of these predators may about the biology of these interesting though hunting in most areas has have an impact on the wild popula­ rodents. declined. tions; dogs certainly are the most Protection and education are serious predator of wild conies: the highest priorities: The coney, like

Coneys feeding on peanuts 13

. . ' - - .. -- ' - -' --- --.-- . ------1' TABLE I. RESIGHTING OF RELEASED GROUPS

Group NO . 1 Date of No.lSEX No. Animals Resighted During Monitoring Periods Name Release Date of April-May Nov.'86 May-June Release '86 Jan.'87 '87

1. Beggars's Roost 21/4/86 4M 3F 7 2 0 2. Sinkhole 18/4/86 1 pair 2 0 0 3. Fig Tree 10/4/86 2M 2F 4 0 0 4. Mosquito Hollow 03 /4/86 2M2F 3* 0 0 5. Yankee Land 25/3/86 5M 1F 6 0 0 6. Beyond Petition 10/4/86 3M 2F 4* 4** 1+ 7. One-Day-One 02/5/86 1 pair 2 1 0 8. Another One Day 25/4/86 tpair 2 0 0 9. Tree Root 25/4/86 1 pair 2 0 0 10. Outpost 02/5/86 5M 2F 6* 1 1 TOTAL 41 38 8 2

• Early Losses •• Includes 2 infants born in wild + Wildborn

REFERENCES Anderson,S., C.A: Wood s, C.5. Morgan, and W.L.R. Oliver, (1983). Geocapromys brownii. Mammalian Species, No. 201; 1 - 5 Amer. Soc. Mamm.

Gough, C . (1975). Current Sta tus of Two Endangered Caribbean Rod ents. Biological Conservation, 10: 43 - 47. We can Mitlermeir, R. A. (1972). Jamai ca' s En­ dangered Species . Oryxilli: 258 - 262. help you increase Oliver, W. L. R. (1975) The Jamaican Hu tia, Geocapromys brownii. Jersey Wildlife Preseroation Trust; Ann. Rep.. 12: 10 -27. the value of

Oliver, W. L. R. (1982). The Coney and The Yellow Snake. Dod o Journal of Jersey your home. Wildlife Preservation Trust, 19: 6- 33. Your home is the most important asset you wil l ever own. Oliver, W. L. R., L. Wilkin s, R.H. Kerr For this reason it is wise to maintain both t he structure and L.D. Kelly (1986; Prin ted in 1987). and its appearance. The Jamai can Hutia, Geocapromys brownii ; Cap tive Breeding and Rep roductive You can also increase the value of your home by Prog ram me - History an d Progress, modernising and adding to it Dodo, 23. Journal of Jersey Wildlife We can help by offering you a HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN Preservation Trust. at most competitive rates. Wilkins, L. ; W.L.R. Oliver an d c.A. It'S just another example of how we can help you find a way. Wood s (1987). Status of the Jamaican Hu tia, Geocapromys brownii, and a reintrod uction ora captive-bred popula­ tion . Paper presented at The International Symposium on Latin American WE'LL HELP YOU FIND A WAY Mam mo logy. Jamaical\ational SUI LDING soc l ET Y

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