A new study finds an eye-catching solution to prevent the predation of livestock.
The research was conducted in Botswana’s Okavango delta region, where its natural landscape poses many threats to their exposed cattle. Livestock in Botswana are vulnerable to attacks from lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, and African wild dogs.
Prior to the study, herds were protected by keeping them in predator-proof enclosures overnight. However, the attacks occur during the day when the cattle are left to graze unattended.
These predators rely on the element of surprise to ambush their prey. In some cases, being seen by their prey leads them to back down from attacking.
To test this response, an artificial eye-spot design was painted on cattle from 14 herds that had recently suffered lion attacks. With the study spanning over four years, a total of 2,061 cattle were involved in the experiment.
In collaboration with the Botswana Predator Conservation and local herders, the cattle were painted on before release from their overnight enclosure. One-third of each herd was painted with an artificial eye-spot design on the rump, one-third with simple cross-marks, and left the remaining third of the herd unmarked.
With the cattle being exposed to similar risk, it was surprising to find that those painted with artificial eye-spots were significantly more likely to survive than the rest of the herd.
According to the researchers, “none of the 683 painted “eye-cows” were killed by ambush predators during the four-year study, while 15 (of 835) unpainted, and 4 (of 543) cross-painted cattle were killed.”
It was also found that cross-marked cattle were significantly more likely to survive than unmarked cattle from the same herd. This suggests that cross-marks were better than no marks at all.
Although natural eye patterns are often seen on other animals such as butterflies, fish, birds, and amphibians, this predator deterring pattern is not found among mammals.
Imagine trying to keep eye contact with one of the cattle—they’d be unbeatable in a staring contest.
POP! Creator Community / Lyshiel Aranal