Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events

1 Amidst the sixth mass extinction, some animal groups, such as vultures, the only obligate scavengers among vertebrates, are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Vulture populations worldwide are declining, primarily due to poisoning. As many vulture species are social foragers, they can congrega...

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Autores: Curk, Teja, Santangeli, Andrea, Rast, Wanja, Portas, Ruben, Shatumbu, Gabriel, Cloete, Claudine, Beytell, Piet;, Aschenborn, Ortwin, Melzheimer, Joerg
Tipo de recurso: conjunto de datos
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/418701
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418701
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Agent-based model
Gyps vultures
Human-wildlife conflict
Local enhancement sentinel
Animals sentinel poisoning
Social foraging
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network_name_str España
repository_id_str
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events
title Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events
spellingShingle Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events
Curk, Teja
Agent-based model
Gyps vultures
Human-wildlife conflict
Local enhancement sentinel
Animals sentinel poisoning
Social foraging
title_short Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events
title_full Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events
title_fullStr Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events
title_full_unstemmed Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events
title_sort Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Curk, Teja
Santangeli, Andrea
Rast, Wanja
Portas, Ruben
Shatumbu, Gabriel
Cloete, Claudine
Beytell, Piet;
Aschenborn, Ortwin
Melzheimer, Joerg
author Curk, Teja
author_facet Curk, Teja
Santangeli, Andrea
Rast, Wanja
Portas, Ruben
Shatumbu, Gabriel
Cloete, Claudine
Beytell, Piet;
Aschenborn, Ortwin
Melzheimer, Joerg
author_role author
author2 Santangeli, Andrea
Rast, Wanja
Portas, Ruben
Shatumbu, Gabriel
Cloete, Claudine
Beytell, Piet;
Aschenborn, Ortwin
Melzheimer, Joerg
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Germany)
German Centre for Air and Space Travel
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
European Commission
Santangeli, Andrea [0000-0003-0273-1977]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Agent-based model
Gyps vultures
Human-wildlife conflict
Local enhancement sentinel
Animals sentinel poisoning
Social foraging
topic Agent-based model
Gyps vultures
Human-wildlife conflict
Local enhancement sentinel
Animals sentinel poisoning
Social foraging
description 1 Amidst the sixth mass extinction, some animal groups, such as vultures, the only obligate scavengers among vertebrates, are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Vulture populations worldwide are declining, primarily due to poisoning. As many vulture species are social foragers, they can congregate in large numbers to scavenge at a carcass, potentially increasing their exposure to poisoning risk. Current anti-poisoning prevention and mitigation measures are insufficient to tackle this threat. There is an urgent need for new effective strategies to prevent mass vulture mortality. 2 In this study, we applied agent-based modelling using white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) data from Namibia to: (1) quantify the impact of different foraging strategies on vulture poisoning risk, and (2) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using vultures as sentinels for poisoning detection. This approach involves GPS tracking of various numbers of vultures and using the data to quickly detect poisoning incidents and decontaminate carcasses. These actions help mitigate further vulture mortality and prevent mass poisoning. 3 Our findings demonstrate that social foraging significantly increases the risk of poisoning among white-backed vultures. However, GPS tracking of individual vultures enables earlier detection of poisoning events, thereby reducing associated mortalities. Poisoning mitigation effectiveness improves with both the number of tracked individuals and the speed of decontamination response. According to our agent-based model tailored to our study system and species, tracking approximately 5% of the population (25 individuals) offers a good balance between cost and effectiveness, requiring an estimated budget of USD 60,000. Using this strategy and approach, and assuming a response time within two hours, up to 45% of poisoning-related deaths could be prevented. 4 Synthesis and applications: Our results suggest that, in order to reduce mortality incidences from poisoning in our study system and species, it is sufficient to track a small proportion of the vulture population, which would act as sentinels for the rest. By evaluating the costs and ecological benefits of alternative strategies, varying in number of birds tagged or response time, we provide evidence-based solutions that practitioners can use to design conservation plans. These findings are therefore instrumental in supporting vulture and scavenger conservation policy and practice.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2026
2026
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dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418701
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418701
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
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info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/CEX2021-001198
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101027534
Curk, Teja; Santangeli, Andrea; Rast, Wanja; Portas, Ruben; Shatumbu, Gabriel; Cloete, Claudine; Beytell, Piet; Aschenborn, Ortwin; Melzheimer, Joerg. Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.70128 . http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418696
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.27152817.v1
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Figshare
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Figshare
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
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spelling Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning eventsCurk, TejaSantangeli, AndreaRast, WanjaPortas, RubenShatumbu, GabrielCloete, ClaudineBeytell, Piet;Aschenborn, OrtwinMelzheimer, JoergAgent-based modelGyps vulturesHuman-wildlife conflictLocal enhancement sentinelAnimals sentinel poisoningSocial foraging1 Amidst the sixth mass extinction, some animal groups, such as vultures, the only obligate scavengers among vertebrates, are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Vulture populations worldwide are declining, primarily due to poisoning. As many vulture species are social foragers, they can congregate in large numbers to scavenge at a carcass, potentially increasing their exposure to poisoning risk. Current anti-poisoning prevention and mitigation measures are insufficient to tackle this threat. There is an urgent need for new effective strategies to prevent mass vulture mortality. 2 In this study, we applied agent-based modelling using white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) data from Namibia to: (1) quantify the impact of different foraging strategies on vulture poisoning risk, and (2) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using vultures as sentinels for poisoning detection. This approach involves GPS tracking of various numbers of vultures and using the data to quickly detect poisoning incidents and decontaminate carcasses. These actions help mitigate further vulture mortality and prevent mass poisoning. 3 Our findings demonstrate that social foraging significantly increases the risk of poisoning among white-backed vultures. However, GPS tracking of individual vultures enables earlier detection of poisoning events, thereby reducing associated mortalities. Poisoning mitigation effectiveness improves with both the number of tracked individuals and the speed of decontamination response. According to our agent-based model tailored to our study system and species, tracking approximately 5% of the population (25 individuals) offers a good balance between cost and effectiveness, requiring an estimated budget of USD 60,000. Using this strategy and approach, and assuming a response time within two hours, up to 45% of poisoning-related deaths could be prevented. 4 Synthesis and applications: Our results suggest that, in order to reduce mortality incidences from poisoning in our study system and species, it is sufficient to track a small proportion of the vulture population, which would act as sentinels for the rest. By evaluating the costs and ecological benefits of alternative strategies, varying in number of birds tagged or response time, we provide evidence-based solutions that practitioners can use to design conservation plans. These findings are therefore instrumental in supporting vulture and scavenger conservation policy and practice.We thank the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany and the German Aerospace Center for their support. Andrea Santangeli acknowledges funding from the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Grant no. 101027534) and IMEDEA's "Maria de Maeztu Centre of Excellence" accreditation (CEX2021-001198).With funding from the Spanish government through the "Maria de Maeztu Centre of Excellence" accreditation (CEX2021-001198).Peer reviewedFigshareFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Germany)German Centre for Air and Space TravelAgencia Estatal de Investigación (España)European CommissionSantangeli, Andrea [0000-0003-0273-1977]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202620262025info:eu-repo/semantics/datasethttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_ddb1http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418701reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Inglés#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE##PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/CEX2021-001198info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101027534Curk, Teja; Santangeli, Andrea; Rast, Wanja; Portas, Ruben; Shatumbu, Gabriel; Cloete, Claudine; Beytell, Piet; Aschenborn, Ortwin; Melzheimer, Joerg. Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.70128 . http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418696https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.27152817.v1Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/4187012026-05-22T06:33:51Z
score 15.81155

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