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Scavenger activity in a peri-urban agricultural setting in the Highveld of South Africa

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Abstract

Scavenging animals often scatter skeletal remains of forensic interest and cause scavenging damage. This study aimed to identify scavenging animals in the peri-urban agricultural Highveld of South Africa, describe their scattering patterns, and the damage they cause to bone. Ten pig carcasses (Sus scrofa domesticus) (40–80 kg) were placed at the University of Pretoria’s Mierjie Le Roux Experimental Farm (Highveld) in summer and winter. Motion-activated cameras recorded the scavenging. Scavenger species were identified and their behaviors, scattering pattern, and the damage they cause to bone were described. Scavenging was primarily by black-backed jackals; however, mongooses (slender, yellow, and water mongoose), Cape porcupine, and honey badger were also active. Remains were commonly scattered in two directions by jackals. The distance of scattering was heavily influenced by fencing. The remains were scattered within a maximum radius of 73.7 m. The remains were scavenged and skeletonized faster in summer. Jackals caused minimal damage to bone, isolated to superficial, nonspecific scores, furrows, and punctures. A few mongoose bone alterations were present as jagged gnaw marks on the angle of the mandible and gnawing of the vertebral spinous process. Cape porcupine bone damage included gnaw marks on the condyle of a femur and head of humerus, and destruction of the proximal and distal ends of a tibia. The described scattering pattern and bone modification patterns will assist in the recovery and analysis of scavenged remains found in peri-urban agricultural areas in South Africa.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. Dries Du Plessis from GHB Farms for providing the pig carcasses for this research as well as Mr. Roelf Cortze and Prof Edward Webb for providing access the Mierjie Le Roux Experimental Farm as the research site. Mr. Richard Keyes, Ms. Deniel Lessing, Mr. Artem Markov, Mr. Ivan Coertze, and Ms. Rethabile Masiu are also recognized for their assistance in the search for, and mapping of the scattering patterns. Ms. Rethabile is also thanked for her assistance with the maceration of the bones.

Funding

This study is funded by the National Institute of Justice and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence along with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa

    Craig A. Keyes

  2. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    J. Myburgh

  3. Human Variation and Identification Research Unit, School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    D. Brits

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  1. Craig A. Keyes
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Correspondence to Craig A. Keyes.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in this study involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutions at which the study was conducted.

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Accepted for oral presentation at the 48th Annual Conference of the Anatomical Society of Southern Africa in Durban, South Africa.

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Keyes, C.A., Myburgh, J. & Brits, D. Scavenger activity in a peri-urban agricultural setting in the Highveld of South Africa. Int J Legal Med 135, 979–991 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02413-x

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