[Animals] Pumas spotted hunting donkeys to reclaim their territory in Death Valley National Park

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In Death Valley National Park, cougars are hunting donkeys to reclaim space in their habitat. This argues scientists.
In an article published by the journal Science earlier this month, the first photos of cougars killing donkeys in Death Valley National Park are shown. The venue is located between the states of California and Nevada, United States. The reasons are clear according to scientists: the cougars are trying to recover their habitat.

“IT IS HELPING US UNDERSTAND THE EFFECT THAT HORSE SPECIES HAVE ON THE NORTH AMERICAN LANDSCAPE,” MENTIONS BIOLOGIST KATE SCHOENECKER, PUMA SPECIALIST.

Donkeys in the Americas
Donkeys are not native to America. They arrived with the colonization in the 16th century as pack and work animals. Little by little, due to the social conditions of those who raised these animals, the species gained space in the wild territory of the continent. Thanks to their ability to survive diverse climatic conditions, donkeys became established in some states of what is now US territory.

According to the Bureau of Land Management, the wild burro po[CENSORED]tion is estimated to be approximately 17,000. Its impact on the ecosystem is such that even Death Valley National Park considers the donkeys that inhabit its enclosure an invasive species. The Park plans to capture all of the specimens and send them to animal shelters.

We suggest: The donkey, an endangered species in Mexico

Invasive species promote water viability
In a study coordinated by biologist Erick J. Lundgren, the possibility that donkeys are not a harmful species for the ecosystem is discussed. The research maintains that the equine po[CENSORED]tion promotes the viability of water, which is a benefit to other species.

Abby Wines, a management analyst at Death Valley National Park, says the new study won't change the goal of removing the donkey po[CENSORED]tion. Any benefits the donkeys can bring, like cleaning the water, can also be done by Park staff, she says.

The invasive equines
The case of donkeys is not isolated. There are also, for example, the Sable Island horses, which although they are now wild, are not native to the island they inhabit. All the evidence points to the fact that we are seeing the effects of the introduction of equine species to ecosystems where they do not belong. The other animals claim their territory but hunting invasive species is not enough.

“THIS IS AN INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES,” SAYS MARK BOYCE, AN ECOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA. “IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS MISTAKE TO CONCLUDE THAT BECAUSE PUMAS KILL DONKEYS, WE DON'T NEED TO REMOVE THEM” HE POINTS OUT.

https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/avistan-a-pumas-cazando-burros-para-recuperar-su-territorio-en-el-parque-nacional-del-valle-de-la-muerte/