Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 76169114115, Kerman, Iran.
Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 21;12(1):4781. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-08697-w.
Understanding dynamics of free-roaming dog (FRD) population is critical for planning and implementation of dog population management programs. FRD population size estimation as well as dynamic modeling of dog population under different female dog neutering interventions were investigated in order to determine the most appropriate animal birth control approach. We performed population size estimate of dogs using sight-resight surveys by photography in a randomly selected 25 blocks of the city and all the suburbs of greater Kerman area. Main demographic features were characterized and the dog density distribution was mapped. A dynamic model was developed to predict free-roaming dog population variations after 5 and 10 years. Different scenarios based on 10, 30, 50, 60 and 70% female dog sterilization were considered to predict the effects of animal birth control measures. Free roaming dog population was estimated at 6781 dogs (65.3% males) in Kerman and suburbs with several major population hotspots. Analysis of the dog locations within the city showed that the largest proportion of the dogs were observed in the vacant lots (46.2%). Modeling predictions indicated that, in the absence of management, the free-roaming dog population could increase from a baseline of 6781 to 13,665 dogs (2.02 fold increase) in 5 years and to 19,376 dogs in 10 years (2.86 fold increase). Using a population dynamics model, we simulated five neutering coverages to explore the impact of female neutering on free-roaming dog population size. The 5-year projections of the model have shown that 50% annual female dog sterilization significantly reduced free-roaming dog population by 0.44 comparing to the baseline population. Findings of the present study improve our knowledge on the nature and extent of dog population dynamics in Iran. Effective population control and selection of the most appropriate neutering interventions require a comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics and dynamics of FRD population.
了解流浪犬(FRD)种群的动态对于规划和实施犬只管理计划至关重要。为了确定最适当的动物节育方法,我们研究了 FRD 种群规模估计以及不同母犬去势干预下犬种群的动态建模。我们通过在城市的 25 个随机选择的街区和大克尔曼地区的所有郊区进行摄影目视调查来估计犬只的种群规模。描述了主要的人口统计特征,并绘制了犬密度分布。建立了一个动态模型来预测 5 年和 10 年后流浪犬种群的变化。考虑了基于 10%、30%、50%、60%和 70%母犬绝育的不同情景,以预测动物节育措施的效果。估计在克尔曼和郊区有 6781 只流浪犬(65.3%为雄性),有几个主要的人口热点。对城市内犬只位置的分析表明,犬只的最大比例出现在空地(46.2%)。建模预测表明,如果不进行管理,在 5 年内,流浪犬种群可能从 6781 只增加到 13665 只(增加 2 倍),10 年内增加到 19376 只(增加 2.86 倍)。使用种群动态模型,我们模拟了五种去势覆盖率,以探讨母犬去势对流浪犬种群规模的影响。模型的 5 年预测表明,与基线种群相比,每年 50%的母犬绝育可使流浪犬种群减少 0.44。本研究的结果提高了我们对伊朗犬只种群动态性质和范围的认识。有效的种群控制和选择最合适的绝育干预措施需要全面了解 FRD 种群的特征和动态。