In human-transformed landscapes, predators may feed on domesticated animals, and thus affect human well-being, creating negative perceptions and leading to conflict with people that can result in the persecution of the predator. We studied the factors that influence the perception of the Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori) in four rural Andean communities in Colombia and compiled historical and recent evidence on the persecution and other causes of mortality of this species in the country. We applied 267 questionnaires and conducted 16 interviews with local inhabitants, via visits to homes and schools in the surroundings of S. isidori nests. The perception of S. isidori by the inhabitants was largely negative and influenced by different socio-demographic factors such as gender, chicken (Gallus gallus) ownership, and chicken management. The records we obtained indicate that 47 eagles were shot, 16 were captured (three for illegal trafficking) and two were electrocuted on high-tension wires. The persecution of S. isidori occurs as retaliation or as a preventative measure against chicken predation, and is a significant cause of mortality of this species in Colombia. Effective conservation planning for S. isidori in Colombia needs to go further than the protected areas system, and include a socioecological perspective in conservation practices applied at landscapes scales that are dominated by people. Education programs and socioecological research, along with participatory work in local communities are key to the conservation of S. isidori in breeding territories. This approach can also prevent conflict over food resources—G. gallus and other poultry—that are shared by humans and S. isidori in rural landscapes.

Vultures comprise one of the most threatened groups of birds worldwide. With a total population not exceeding 6700 mature individuals, and in rapid decline across its range, the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is listed as a Vulnerable species in the IUCN red list. Local population extinctions and decline are of particular concern in northern South America, where no more than 340 condors may exist at present. Despite this, no quantitative assessments exist in Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela regarding the threats affecting Andean Condor populations. To address this, we compiled records of Andean Condors injured, or killed, between 1979 and 2021. We obtained data of 164 condors affected by different causes of injury, of which 83.5% were reported in Ecuador, 15.2% in Colombia, and 1.2% in Venezuela. Of the total number, 84.7% of the injured individuals died. Between 1979 and 2021, in Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela, at least 103 Andean Condors were presumably poisoned, 22 were shot, and 39 individuals were affected by other causes. The total number of individuals affected by different causes represents between 48% and 72% of the total population estimated in northern South America. Of great concern is the fact that, between 2007 and 2021, poisoning and shooting together caused the loss of 19–31% of the estimated population of condors in Ecuador, and 7–21% of the estimated population in Colombia. Given the important mortality induced by humans, environmental education programs, socio-ecological research, application of environmental laws, and management strategies based on scientific evidence to prevent and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts are urgently required for effective Andean Condor conservation in northern South America.

Background and Research Aims: Native vertebrate scavenger communities may be affected by free-ranging dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris), but little information is available on this subject. We aimed to evaluate the influence of free-ranging dogs on a community of native vertebrate scavengers and to propose management and conservation actions. Methods: Between November 2014 and June 2016, we systematically monitored 37 ungulate carcasses in the buffer zone of Antisana National Park, Andes of Ecuador at an elevation range between 3000 and 4150 m asl. We monitored carcasses with camera traps operating 24 hours per day. Results: We obtained 1010 independent events and recorded seven vertebrate scavenger species. Free-ranging dogs were present at carcasses for 40.39% of the total activity time, but the most frequently recorded species were the Andean fox ( Lycalopex culpaeus) and the Carunculated Caracara ( Phalcoboenus carunculatus). The scavenging birds were diurnal, the Andean fox was mostly nocturnal, and the free-ranging dogs were active in all periods of the day. Native scavenger species changed their peak of activity to times when the free-ranging dogs were less active, probably to avoid agonistic encounters. The presence of free-ranging dogs negatively influenced the number of independent events of the native species. Conclusion: The presence of free-ranging dogs showed a negative relationship with the residence time and the number of independent events of native scavenging species. Furthermore, their presence modified the hour of the peak in the activity patterns of the scavenger community. Implications for Conservation: The presence of free-ranging dogs may have important implications for the conservation of the Vulnerable Andean Condor ( Vultur gryphus) in Ecuador. To achieve the conservation goals of native vertebrate scavengers, particularly of Andean Condors, it is necessary to develop environmental education programs, provide technical training in responsible dog ownership, and conduct campaigns to sterilize and control dogs.

Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) significantly threaten endangered vertebrates worldwide. In this study, we report 11 documented cases of dogs chasing, harassing, competing for food resources, biting, and killing six native vertebrate species in the Ecuadorian Andes: Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque), little red brocket deer (Mazama rufina), Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and Andean tapeti (Sylvilagus andinus). Dog attacks on wildlife can lead to mortality through direct injury and by transmitting diseases, potentially threatening the conservation of globally endangered species such as the Andean condor, mountain tapir, and little red brocket deer. Effective management and conservation of native vertebrates in Andean ecosystems require a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted impacts of dogs on wildlife populations. These impacts include direct attacks, disease transmission, fear-induced behavioral changes, competition for food resources, and conflicts with local farmers, which may inadvertently lead to wildlife poisoning.

This study quantitively compares the diets of the Stygian Owl (Asio stygius) and the Short-eared Owl (A. flammeus) in the south-west of the Bogotá Savanna, Colombia. We identified 130 prey items from 111 A. stygius pellets and 579 prey items from 149 A. flammeus pellets. In terms of the numbers of preys, the diet of A. stygius consisted of the following: 88.1% birds, mainly pigeons, rails and cuckoos; and a smaller proportion of beetles (11.4%). In the diet of A. flammeus, insects were the most frequent prey item (59.8%), followed by rodents (39.8%), and birds (0.5%). In terms of biomass contribution, the main preys in the diet of A. stygius were Eared Doves (Zenaida auriculata) (54%) and Purple Gallinules (Porphyrio martinica) (19.3%), while the diet of A. flammeus consisted mainly of House Mice (Mus musculus) (65.2%). Diet diversity varied between the owl species: A. flammeus was more selective in its hunting habits, while A. stygius was more of an opportunistic predator. It is important to quantify the ecosystem services these owls provide not only by controlling M. musculus, Z. auriculata, and Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) populations, which can affect human well-being and threatened species populations, but also through secondary seed dispersion and birdwatching opportunities.

Conflicts between rural people and the Endangered Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori) are a prominent conservation concern in the northern Andes, as at least 60 eagles were poached between 2000 and 2022 in response to poultry predation. Here, we conducted direct observations to analyze the Black-and-chestnut Eagle diet and evaluated how forest cover affects the feeding habits of the species during nestling-rearing periods in 16 nests located in different human-transformed Andean landscapes of Ecuador and Colombia. We analyzed 853 prey items (46 species) delivered to nestlings. We used Generalized Linear Models to test whether the percent forest cover calculated within varying buffer distances around each nest and linear distances from the nest to the nearest settlement and pasture areas were predictors of diet diversity and biomass contribution of prey. Forest cover was not a factor that affected the consumption of poultry; however, the eagle regularly preyed on chickens (Gallus gallus) (i.e., domestic Galliformes) which were consumed by 15 of the 16 eagle pairs, with biomass contributions (14.57% ± 10.55) representing 0.6–37% of the total prey consumed. The Black-and-chestnut Eagle is an adaptable generalist able to switch from mammalian carnivores to guans (i.e., wild Galliformes) in human-dominated landscapes, and eagles nesting in sites with low forest cover had a less diverse diet than those in areas with more intact forests. Management actions for the conservation of this avian top predator require studies on the eagle’s diet in areas where human persecution is suspected or documented, but also maintaining forest cover for the wild prey of the species, development of socio-economic and psychological assessments on the drivers behind human-eagle conflicts, and the strengthening of technical capacities of rural communities, such as appropriate poultry management.