Patterns of co-existence between humans and mammals in Yemen: some species thrive while others are nearly extinct
This paper describes the results of a camera-trapping study in Hawf, eastern Yemen, of the relationships between human presence and the richness, diversity and distribution of wild medium-sized and large mammals. The study comprised 3,351 trap-nights over 225.3 km2 during which 963 captures of 14 mammalian species and 985 captures of humans were obtained. Human presence was positively linked with species richness and diversity, but only when the number of human captures was ≤100 captures/site. At higher numbers of human captures, the positive trend reversed and only three species (wolf, fox and porcupine) succeeded in dominating their communities. Human presence was also strongly and positively associated with colonization and occupancy of some species, but decreased their detection probabilities. Contrary to expectations, human presence did not affect activity patterns of species. Co-existence between human presence and mammals caused by resource sharing, viz. establishment and use of same trails and water sources, attraction to livestock, garbage and food leftovers, is discussed. In contrast, the leopard, wild cat, Nubian ibex and mountain gazelle are severely depleted. Co-existence between humans and mammals has significant implications for proper management and wildlife conservation in unprotected human-dominated landscapes, protected areas and buffer zones of developing countries such as Yemen.