Livestock Protection Dogs in the 21st Century: Is an Ancient Tool Relevant to Modern Conservation Challenges?

摘要

Europe and North America share a similar history in the extirpation and subsequent recovery of large carnivore and ungulate species. Both con-ntinents face challenges and opportunities for managing human-wildlife confict at the junction of livestock production and wildlife conservation. nPredation of livestock and disease transmission between wildlife and livestock is an ongoing and escalating worldwide issue. In order to manage nthis confict, producers need effective tools, and they have used livestock protection dogs (LPDs) for reducing predation for well over 2000 years. nWe review the history of the use of LPDs, including the loss of information on their use and the paucity of scientifc research on their effectiveness. nWe discuss the potential for LPDs to be integral components in modern-day livestock husbandry and outline future directions to pursue.