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Efficiency of antipredator training in captive-bred greater rheas reintroduced into the wild

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Abstract

High post-release mortality of captive greater rheas reintroduced into the wild might be mitigated with antipredator training that helps released individuals recognize their predators. We analyzed whether captive-bred greater rheas conserve antipredator behavior, and evaluated the efficiency of antipredator training by recording survival after reintroduction into the wild. Training involved 12 individuals and consisted of a stimulus representing the natural predator (taxidermized puma) paired to an aversive stimulus (simulated capture). The control stimulus consisted of an innocuous object (chair) that was not paired to the aversive stimulus. Thirty and 60 days after the last training session, we presented the trained and control individuals (nine untrained individuals) to the predator stimulus, which was not paired to the aversive one. All of the greater rheas showed vigilant and running behaviors in the presence of the predator model. Trained individuals did not discriminate between a predator and a non-predator stimulus but they recognized the predator up to 2 months later. Survival was nil 8 months after release. However, only one individual was killed by a puma, whereas the remaining individuals died due to dog attack and poaching. Training did not increase survival of reintroduced greater rheas because of the failure to consider other potential predators, such as dogs or humans. Therefore, captive breeding might have affected greater rheas’ behavior by preventing them from recognizing man as a predator.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Cordoba Zoo (Argentina) for allowing us to use the facilities. We are very thankful to the owners of Estancia Las Dos Hermanas Wildlife Refuge and the Rachel and Pamela Schiele Foundation for allowing us to conduct the research in their property. Thanks to Colegio La Salle (Córdoba, Argentina) for lending us the taxidermized puma. This work was made possible thanks to the generous collaboration of: N. S. Della Costa, A. M. and V. Delorenzi, A. Lèche, N. V. Marinero, J. E. Minuzzi Fahn, N. S. Zamboni and L. G. Vera Cortez. Funding was provided by grants from the Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (SECyT, UNC)-N° 162/12 and 124/13, and the Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT), Argentina PICT2241, to MBM.

Integrity of research and reporting

The manuscript submitted for publication complied with the current laws of Argentina.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA-CONICET) and Centro de Zoología Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Rondeau 798, X5000AVP, Córdoba, Argentina

    Marilina Vera Cortez, Diego J. Valdez, Joaquín L. Navarro & Mónica B. Martella

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  1. Marilina Vera Cortez
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  2. Diego J. Valdez
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  3. Joaquín L. Navarro
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  4. Mónica B. Martella
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Correspondence to Marilina Vera Cortez.

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Vera Cortez, M., Valdez, D.J., Navarro, J.L. et al. Efficiency of antipredator training in captive-bred greater rheas reintroduced into the wild. acta ethol 18, 187–195 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-014-0206-4

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