Ethnoecology, Resource Use, Conservation And Development In A ...

mobility prevented this. Three of those identifying a food shortage said that worms
were eaten at this time, two said dry seeds - meaning those of trees that had fruited
the previous rainy season - and one each said fish, poo'a fruit (Pouteria sp.) and
tokoro. Five interviewees mentioned that this species sometimes raids farms, two
saying that a farm can be destroyed in a single visit. Another said they often feed off
yams and other tubers when these are present in old farms. Four interviewees stated
that dogs may be killed when hunting this species, one further claiming that dogs
may be eaten. Three pointed out the danger to humans, one saying that people are
sometimes killed when hunting while another related a tale of how he had been
seriously injured in an attack. In connection with their consumption of snakes, several
interviewees suggested them to be immune to snakebite. Four attributed this to
antivenom secreted by the scent gland; one said that he sometimes carried this gland
himself for use as antivenom. All fourteen interviewees to consider the relationship to
seeds agreed that they are destroyed when eaten.
All agreed that groups are large: the lowest figure given was 20-50, and eleven
interviewees said that groups can exceed one hundred animals in size - up to one
thousand, according to one individual. Four interviewees discussed intergroup
interactions, considered by all to be aggressive - one attributed this intergroup
aggression to the males. Two interviewees talked of temporary dispersal of groups:
during feeding according to one, when resting according to the other, groups
aggregating again for travel. Two interviewees mentioned the security against
predation provided by the large group, one observing that the group can kill large
felids. Nevertheless, fourteen considered jaguars to be predators, and ten pumas,
though five of these specified that these felids prey only on young animals. Two
described how jaguars follow the herd waiting for opportunities to attack stragglers
lagging behind the main group. Five interviewees also considered that two aquatic
predators - water camoudi (Eunectes murinus) and black caiman (Melanosuchus niger)
might take opportunities to catch peccaries when they are crossing large rivers. Two
interviewees pointed out the herd's ability to cross rivers of any size by swimming. In
considering habitat use, five other interviewees remarked upon their habit of coming
out of their usual forest home onto the savannah during the rainy season months of
June, July and August, and three of these observed that this was done in order to
feed off the fruits of the palm dyuwuza (Mauritia flexuosa). One interview suggested
that during the dry season they might be found in the vicinity of large rivers, in order
to make use of drying pools for bathing and for foraging for earthworms or fish.
Three other interviewees made mention of their use of swamps for bathing and/or