The Impact of 'Selfie' Tourism on the Behaviour and Welfare of Brown-Throated Three-Toed Sloths.

The use of wild animals as photo props is prevalent across the globe and is widely recognised to represent a potential animal welfare concern. However, detailed information regarding the specific impacts of such activity on wild animal behaviour is currently lacking. Herein, we investigated how brown-throated three-toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus) were handled by tourists, and how sloths behaved during wildlife 'selfies' taken in Manaus, Brazil and Puerto Alegria and Iquitos in Peru. In total, we observed 17 sloths (during 70 focal observations) that were provided for use in wildlife selfies on 34 different tours. We found that an average number of 5 people held each sloth during each focal observation. For 48.6% of the time the sloths were handled in a way which involved physical manipulation of the sloths' head and/or limbs and/or being held by the claws. From the eight different types of sloth behaviour observed, we found that the two types performed for the longest average duration of time were surveillance (55.3%) and limb stretching (12.6%). Our findings show that when being handled sloths were frequently held in ways that may compromise their welfare. Although to date the behaviour of sloths while being handled has not been reported in any published literature, in this study we document certain behaviours which may act as indicators of compromised welfare. We suggest that our data provides a potential baseline for future study into the behaviour and welfare of sloths.

Mitogenomics phylogenetic relationships of the current sloth's genera and species (Bradypodidae and Megalonychidae).

We sequenced the complete mitogenome of 39 sloths (19 Bradypus variegatus, 4 B. tridactylus, 1 B. pygmaeus, 1 B. torquatus, 4 Choloepus didactylus, and 10 C. hoffmanni). A Bayesian tree (BI) indicated a temporal split between Bradypus and Choloepus around 31 million years ago (MYA, Oligocene) and the other major splits within each genera during the Miocene and Pliocene. A haplotype network (MJN) estimated a lower temporal split between the sloth genera (around 23.5 MYA). Both methods detected the ancestor of B. torquatus as the first to diverge within Bradypus (21 for BI and 19 MJN), followed by that of the ancestor of B. tridactylus. The split of B. pygmaeus from the common ancestor with B. variegatus was around 12 MYA (BI) or 4.3 MYA (MJN). The splits among the previous populations of B. variegatus began around 8 MYA (BI) or 3.6 MYA (MJN). The trans-Andean population was the first to diverge from the remaining cis-Andean populations of B. variegatus. The genetic differentiation of the trans-Andean B. variegatus population relative to the cis-Andean B. variegatus is similar to that found for different species of sloths. The mitogenomic analysis resolved the differentiation of C. hoffmanni from the C. didactylus individuals of the Guiana Shield. However, one C. didactylus from the Colombian Amazon specimen was inside the C. hoffmanni clade. This could be the first example of possible natural hybridization in the Amazon of both Choloepus taxa or the existence of un-differentiable phenotypes of these two species in some Amazonian areas.

Análisis de la biodiversidad de fauna vertebrada en una finca de Caldas, Antioquia / Analysis of the biodiversity of vertebrate fauna on a farm in Caldas, Antioquia / Análise da biodiversidade de fauna vertebrada em um sítio de Caldas, Antioquia

Objetivo: este estudio analizó la composición de la comunidad de fauna vertebrada en un espacio boscoso muy húmedo premontano en el centro de prácticas Santa Inés, ubicado en el municipio de Caldas (Antioquia, Colombia) con un área de 124.085 m², de conformación limoarcillosa y limoarenosa, una altitud entre 1800-2000 m s. n. m., y con una precipitación media de 2444 mm. Materiales y métodos: se utilizó la técnica no invasiva del fototrampeo, durante un periodo de muestreo de quince semanas usando siete cámaras, rotándolas cada tres semanas de lugar y utilizando cebos para facilitar la observación. Al final se realizó una rotación para la abundancia relativa que tuvo una duración de tres meses. Resultados: durante el periodo total de muestreo se registraron veintitrés especies, once de la clase Mammalia y doce de la clase aves, con un esfuerzo total de 1099 días/trampa. Las fotos obtenidas de cada estación de muestreo permitieron analizar la relación entre las especies encontradas; se registraron cinco especies de felinos silvestres. El 13,043 % del total de especies registradas se encuentran en alguna categoría de riesgo de acuerdo con las normas internacionales. Conclusiones: como fundamento de este estudio, se realizó por primera vez el avistamiento de la fauna macrovertebrada habitante de la zona boscosa del centro de prácticas Santa Inés, donde se registró la presencia de diversos mamíferos y aves, lo que evidencia la efectividad de la técnica del fototrampeo. El patrón de actividad de las especies registradas determinó hábitos diurnos y nocturnos.

Objective: The study analyzed the composition of the vertebrate fauna community in a very humid premontane forest area in the Santa Inés practice center, located in the municipality of Caldas (Antioquia, Colombia), with an area of 124,085 m², of limey-clayish and limey-sandy soil, at an altitude between 1800-2000 meters a.s.l., and with an average rainfall of 2444 mm. Materials and methods: As a non-invasive technique, camera traps were used during a sampling period of fifteen weeks, with seven cameras, rotating them every three weeks, and using baits to facilitate observation. A final rotation was performed to determine relative abundance, which lasted three months. Results: During the entire sampling period, 23 species were recorded: 11 from the Mammalia class and 12 from the bird class; with a total effort of 1099 days/trap. The photos obtained in each sampling station allowed to analyze the relationship among the species found; five species of wild cats were also recorded. The 13.043 % of all recorded species are in a risk category according to international standards. Conclusions: As the basis of this study, there was observed, for the first time, the macrovertebrate wildlife living in the forest area of the Santa Inés practice center, where various mammals and birds were recorded; this shows the effectiveness of camera traps. The pattern of activity of the recorded species determined diurnal and nocturnal habits.

Objetivo: este estudo analisou a composição da comunidade de fauna vertebrada em uma zona arborizada úmida montanhosa no centro de práticas Santa Inés, situado no município de Caldas (Antioquia, Colômbia) com uma área de 124.085 m², de conformação limo argilosa e limo arenosa, uma altitude entre 1800-2000 m s. n. m., e com uma precipitação média de 2444 mm. Materiais e métodos: se utilizou a técnica não invasiva de armadilha fotográfica, durante um período de amostragem de quinze semanas usando sete câmeras, alternando-as a cada três semanas de lugar e utilizando sebos para facilitar a observação. Ao finalizar se realizou uma rotação para a abundância relativa que teve uma duração de três meses. Resultados: durante o período total de amostragem se registraram vinte e três espécies, onze do tipo Mammalia e doze do tipo aves, com um esforço total de 1099 dias/armadilha. As fotos obtidas de cada estação de amostragem permitiram analisar a relação entre as espécies encontradas; se registraram cinco espécies de felinos silvestres. O 13,043 % do total de espécies registradas se encontram em alguma categoria de risco de acordo com as normas internacionais. Conclusões: como fundamento deste estudo, se realizou pela primeira vez o avistamento da fauna macro vertebrada habitante da zona de bosques do centro de práticas Santa Inés, aonde se registrou a presença de diversos mamíferos e aves, fator que evidencia a efetividade da técnica da foto armadilha. O padrão de atividade das espécies registradas determinou hábitos diurnos e noturnos.