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Endangered Species Research

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ESR is a gold Open Access research journal on all endangered forms of life on Earth, the threats faced by species and their habitats, and the necessary steps that must be undertaken to ensure their conservation.

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Online: ISSN 1613-4796

Print: ISSN 1863-5407

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr

Impact Factor2.6 (JCR 2026 release)

Article Acceptance Rate70% (2025)

Median Time in Review165.5 days (2025)

Total Annual Downloads227.526 (2026)

Volume contents
Endang Species Res 43:89-98 (2020)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01055

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Assessment of the threatened carnivore community in the recently expanded rainforest protected area Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve, Madagascar

ABSTRACT:  Madagascar is an island nation renowned for its biodiversity and species endemism, yet it is still largely understudied despite intense anthropogenic threats including forest loss and edge effects. Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve is a recently expanded rainforest protected area that is lacking detailed surveys and assessments of the native carnivore community of the endemic family Eupleridae. To identify which terrestrial carnivores occupy the reserve and what anthropogenic disturbances and factors best explain their occurrence patterns, we deployed 35 motion-activated cameras to detect native and introduced carnivores. From November 2018 to February 2019, we collected 2918 unique capture events (all species) and confirmed the presence of 5 euplerids: Galidia elegans, Galidictis fasciata, Eupleres goudotii, Fossa fossana, and Cryptoprocta ferox. These results extend the known range of E. goudotii and G. fasciata. In the reserve, F. fossana and G. elegans were the most common and widespread native carnivores, while E. goudotii was the rarest. We highlight the negative impact of edge effects on G. fasciata and F. fossana and the threat posed by the free-ranging non-native carnivore C. familiaris. This study represents the first detailed survey and occurrence estimates of the carnivore community of this protected area, allowing comparison with other protected areas in Madagascar. Our empirical findings show that anthropogenic disturbance negatively impacts carnivore existence within the Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve and provide important management recommendations for protecting the carnivore community and the co-occurring wildlife living within this area.

KEYWORDS

Camera trapping Edge effects Free-ranging dogs Non-native species Occupancy

Patrick H. Ross (Corresponding Author)

  • Department of Sustainable Development, Appalachian State University, Living Learning Center, 305 Bodenheimer Drive, Boone, NC 28608, USA

patrickhross@gmail.com

Erik Patel (Co-author)

  • Research and Conservation, Lemur Conservation Foundation, PO Box 249, Myakka City, FL 34251, USA

Barry Ferguson (Co-author)

  • Independent Researcher, Antalaha (206), SAVA, Madagascar

Rojo Nandrianina Ravelijaona (Co-author)

  • Department of Biology, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar

Guy Irenel Raoloniana (Co-author)

  • Research and Conservation, Lemur Conservation Foundation, PO Box 249, Myakka City, FL 34251, USA

Erin Wampole (Co-author)

  • Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA

Brian D. Gerber (Co-author)

  • Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA

Zach J. Farris (Co-author)

  • Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences, ASU Box 32071, 1179 State Farm Road, Suite 432, Boone, NC 28608, USA
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