Final report Influence of Fencing on Przewalski's Gazelle, Qinghai Province, China Lu Zhang1), Jiazi Liu1), Yonglin Wu2), Jianxing Cheng3), Yanlin Liu1) 1) Peking University, 2) Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve, 3) Qinghai Forestry Bureau This project evaluated the impact of fencing on the survival of the highly endangered Przewalski’s gazelle. Field work period: April – November, 2009; July – August, 2010 EDITORS William J. McShea, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institution, Email: [email protected] Zhi Lu, Peking University, School of Life Sciences, Email: [email protected] Dajun Wang, Peking University, School of Life Sciences, Email: [email protected] December 2010 Correspondence: Lu Zhang, Conservation Building, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China 100871 (Email: [email protected]) Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 3 Project members ....................................................................................................................... 4 Field work and research ............................................................................................................ 5 Background ............................................................................................................................... 5 Aim ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Study area ................................................................................................................................. 6 Methods: fieldwork and follow-up ............................................................................................ 9 Fieldwork methods .................................................................................................................... 9 Data analysis ........................................................................................................................... 10 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 11 1. Gazelle occupied and non-occupied areas .......................................................................... 11 2. Gazelles’ selection of grassland ........................................................................................... 12 3. Spatial block of fences on the gazelle .................................................................................. 12 4. Fence density and birthrate / calf mortality ........................................................................ 14 5. Deaths and injuries of gazelles ............................................................................................ 15 6. Social function of fences: Attitudes of local herders towards fencing ................................ 16 Discussion and conclusions ..................................................................................................... 17 1. The impact of fencing on the gazelle ................................................................................... 17 2. Livestock competition with gazelles .................................................................................... 18 3. Potential conflict between the gazelle and local communities ........................................... 18 4. The best time for surveying birth rate ................................................................................. 18 5. Mortality information .......................................................................................................... 19 Education and Communications .............................................................................................. 19 1. Environmental education campaign for middle school students ........................................ 19 2. Two talks and volunteer recruitment .................................................................................. 20 3. Training course .................................................................................................................... 20 4. Posters made and delivered ................................................................................................ 20 5. Project presentations .......................................................................................................... 21 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 21 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. 22 Appendices .............................................................................................................................. 22 Address list and web links ....................................................................................................... 25 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 26 Distribution list ........................................................................................................................ 28 Abstract The endangered Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) has endured severe habitat loss and population decline over the last century. Since 2002, illegal hunting of gazelles has been largely stopped, making fencing of pastures and competition with livestock the main threats. We quantified fencing and livestock on gazelle’s habitat using parallel transects and analyzed spatial correlation among fence-density, livestock-density, and gazelle activity. We also compared birth rate and three-month-old calf mortality of gazelle populations on areas with different fence densities. Our study indicated that the high density of fences did impede gazelles’ access to high biomass grassland. Meanwhile, higher fence density was correlated with higher calf mortality. We observed no significant spatial correlation between livestock density and gazelle activity, but more work is needed to evaluate the impact of livestock, especially the potential competition of habitat use both spatially and temporally. Introduction Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) is a rare species endemic to China. It was first described by a Russian explorer - Nikolai Przewalski - in 1875 and later named after him. Over-hunting and conversion of rangeland to farmland decimated the species to the point where only an estimated 300 individuals were left during the 1990s (Jiang et al. 1995), distributed in small, isolated patches around Qinghai Lake (Wang & Schaller 1998; Jiang et al. 2003; Zheng 2005). Government offices successfully concluded a gun confiscation campaign in 2002 (Schaller et al., 2006), leading to success in reigning in poaching. Meanwhile, conservation programs carried out by governmental agencies and NGOs since the 1990s have succeeded in increasing conservation awareness in local communities. However, despite the discovery of previously unknown populations, there is no evidence that the total gazelle population has grown in response to these programs (Jiang et al. 1995, Ye et al. 2006). Scientists have repeatedly highlighted fencing as one of the main threats to the gazelle (Wei et al. 1998, Liu & Jiang 2002, Schaller et al. 2006), but few research projects have directly measured its impact. Our project aimed at evaluating the impact of fences in the entire area occupied by Przewalski’s gazelle and improving conservation of the gazelle. We attempted to answer three questions. First, we attempted to determine the deaths and injuries directly attributable to fences. Second, we wanted to determine whether fences prevented gazelles from acquiring food. Third, assuming fences represent an obstruction, does it also influence reproduction of the gazelle population? The answers to these questions will provide guidance to fencing policies in China. Dr. George Schaller and Wildlife Conservation Society-China Program have conducted prior surveys in this area to obtain basic information about the gazelle population and helped us to design our study. Conservation International and its Chinese partner Shanshui Conservation Center are carrying a community-based conservation program in the same area where we worked. These organizations have funded us to conduct surveys on gazelle status in 2008 and then helped us to refine the scope of our project. Project members Name Relevant experience Roles Age Lu Lu graduated from Beijing Technology and Business Team leader, 26 Zhang University with a BS in Biological engineering. She is Zoologist and now a PhD student in Wildlife Conservation at Peking community worker University. She has experience with large mammal distribution surveying and community work in Tibetan ethnic areas, and has been working on the Przewalski’s gazelle project for more than two years. Jiazi Liu Jiazi is now a PhD student in the Wildlife Conservation Field work 25 program at Peking University. She graduated Nanjing assistant and Agricultural University with a BS in Biological Science. community worker She has experience in habitat analysis using remote sensing and can communicate proficiently with Tibetan locals. Yonglin Yonglin works in Qinghai Lake Nature