当猎豹或豺狼捕杀牲畜时，农民会面临额外的经济压力；这些损失还可能导致捕食者遭到报复性杀害。为了减少牲畜损失并缓解农民与野生动物之间的冲突，猎豹保护基金会（Cheetah Conservation Fund, CCF）于1994年开始在纳米比亚的农场中投放用于保护牲畜的犬只。2021年的一项评估报告显示，在该项目实施的最初25年里，91%的受访农民表示，自从引入这些犬只后，牲畜损失显著减少。
When cheetahs or jackals kill livestock, farmers can face additional financial strain. Such losses can also put predators at risk of being killed in retaliation. To reduce livestock losses and limit conflict between farmers and wildlife, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) began placing livestock guarding dogs on Namibian farms in 1994. A 2021 review covering the program’s first 25 years found that 91% of surveyed farmers reported reduced livestock losses after receiving the dogs.
该研究由劳里·马克尔（Laurie Marker）领导，调查范围涵盖了1994年至2018年期间投放的634只犬只。研究人员通过1,567次农场调查收集了关于这些犬只的详细数据。根据评估结果，纳米比亚90%以上的猎豹生活在保护区之外，因此它们很可能会与养畜农民发生冲突。
Led by Laurie Marker, the research team examined placements made between 1994 and 2018. During that period, 634 dogs were placed with farmers. The researchers collected survey data covering 472 dogs through 1,567 farm surveys. The approach is relevant to cheetah conservation because more than 90% of Namibia’s cheetahs live outside protected areas, according to the review, where they may come into conflict with livestock farmers.
这些犬是如何帮助保护牲畜的呢？该项目使用的犬种是安纳托利亚牧羊犬（Anatolian Shepherds）和康加尔犬（Kangal Dogs）——这两种犬种原产于土耳其，长期以来一直被用于保护牲畜。幼犬大约在4周大时就开始与小牲畜建立亲密关系，并在10至12周大时被安置到农场中（前提是农场通过了相关审批）。早期的接触有助于犬只与牲畜建立联系，并使它们在成年后继续留在农场里保护牲畜。
How do the dogs help protect livestock? The program uses Anatolian shepherds and Kangal dogs, breeds originating in Turkey that have long been used to guard livestock. Puppies began bonding with small livestock at about 4 weeks old and were placed on farms between 10 and 12 weeks of age, after each farm passed an approval check. Early exposure helps the dogs develop an association with the herd and remain with the animals as they mature.
调查数据显示，犬只到位后，牲畜损失情况发生了明显变化：在犬只投放前一年，19%的受访者表示损失了10头以上的牲畜；而在犬只投放后的一年里，这一比例降至67%，仅有2%的受访者报告损失了10头以上的牲畜。此外，由于犬只的守护作用，因豺狼造成的牲畜损失减少了45%，因猎豹造成的损失减少了16%，因狞猫造成的损失减少了15%。
Survey responses showed a marked change in reported livestock losses after the dogs arrived. In the year before placement, 19% of respondents said they had lost more than 10 livestock animals, while 7% reported losses exceeding 40 animals. In the year after placement, 67% reported no livestock losses, while 2% said they had lost more than 10 animals. Reported losses attributed to jackals fell by 45% in the year after a guarding dog was placed. Losses attributed to cheetahs declined by 16%, while those attributed to caracals fell by 15%.
这些差异表明，报告的收益因捕食者种类而异，其中对胡狼的减害幅度最大。项目的优势与劣势农民普遍对这些狗持肯定态度。约93%的受访者表示这些狗符合他们的预期，99%的人表示会向其他农户推荐该项目。受访者评价71%的狗处于良好状态，22%处于优秀状态。
The differences suggest that the reported benefits varied by predator species, with the largest reduction associated with jackals. Advantages and disadvantages of the programFarmers generally viewed the dogs favorably. About 93% said the dogs met their expectations, and 99% said they would recommend the program to other farmers. Respondents rated 71% of the dogs in good condition and 22% in excellent condition.
致命捕食者控制的使用报告也在投放后下降。投放前，13%的农民表示使用致命控制；投放后，这一比例降至8%。作者将此描述为适度的下降，可能反映了对野生动物态度的转变。然而，调查无法确定是仅凭这些狗导致了下降，结果也未显示该项目消除了报复性猎杀。
Reported use of lethal predator control also declined after placement. Before receiving a dog, 13% of farmers said they used lethal control; afterward, the figure fell to 8%. The authors described this as a modest reduction that could reflect changing attitudes toward wildlife. However, the survey cannot establish that the dogs alone caused the decline, and the results do not show that the program eliminated retaliatory killings.
这些狗同样面临相当大的风险。它们的平均寿命为56个月，记录的死亡中有32%发生在2岁之前。现场事故是主要死亡原因，蛇咬占这些事故的一半以上。调查中有28%的受访者报告了行为问题，最常见的情况是狗留在家中而未随群体一起行动。
The dogs also faced considerable risks. Their average lifespan was 56 months, and 32% of recorded deaths occurred before age 2. Field accidents were the leading cause of death, with snake bites accounting for more than half of those accidents. Behavioral problems were reported in 28% of surveys, most commonly when dogs stayed at home instead of accompanying the herd.
该项目也可能对野生动物产生潜在成本。41%的调查中出现了狗杀死野生动物的报告，主要是胡狼。大多数事件涉及单只动物，但少数调查记录了被杀死的胡狼数量达到50只或以上。作者表示，这些生态影响需要进一步研究，说明看护犬可以降低部分对牲畜的风险，同时也会对野生动物构成风险。
The program also carried potential costs for wildlife. Reports of dogs killing wild animals, mostly jackals, appeared in 41% of surveys. Most incidents involved individual animals, but a small number of surveys recorded 50 or more jackals killed. The authors said these ecological effects require further investigation, indicating that guarding dogs can reduce some risks to livestock while creating risks for wild animals.
一些不受欢迎的行为随时间变得不那么常见。2010年至2018年间调查的狗比1994年至2001年间调查的狗追逐野生动物的可能性低4.47倍。
Some unwanted behaviors became less common over time. Dogs surveyed between 2010 and 2018 were 4.47 times less likely to chase game than those surveyed between 1994 and 2001.
研究人员还强调了适当照料和早期监管在预防或纠正不良行为方面的重要性。作者警告称，调查结果可能低估了牲畜损失。受访者也可能给出了他们认为采访者希望听到的答案，这可能会影响调查结果。这些局限性意味着报告的减少幅度应谨慎解读。尽管如此，研究人员得出结论认为，该项目总体上是成功的，并建议在其他面临类似牲畜损失的地区推广使用护卫犬。
The researchers also emphasized the importance of proper care and early supervision in preventing or correcting unwanted behavior. The authors cautioned that the survey results may underestimate livestock losses. Respondents may also have given answers they believed interviewers wanted to hear, potentially affecting the findings. These limitations mean the reported reductions should be interpreted with care. Nevertheless, the researchers concluded that the program had been successful overall and recommended livestock guarding dogs for other areas experiencing similar livestock losses.