ES1232811U - Device for live capture of scavenging raptors (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for live capture of scavengers of prey formed by a loop (1), an elastic support (2) and an anchor (3) and characterized in that it has: - A loop of braided steel cable (4) closed with aluminum rivets (5) and with a rubber tube stop (6) to prevent it from closing completely on the animal's leg. - A double elastic rubber support (8) with a loop, a threaded carabiner on each end (7) and a turn remover (9) between the rubber and the carabiner on the lower end. - A metal walk (10) with braided steel cable (4). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device for live capture of scavengers raptors.

Technical sector

The present invention is framed within the live capture systems of wildlife species, generally oriented to their study for scientific or management purposes (eg by marking with rings or wing marks, placing GPS emitters and / or the taking of biological samples). Live capture requires, therefore, the subsequent release of the specimens in conditions that guarantee their survival in the natural environment.

The object of the present invention is a new device for live capture of scavenging raptors by loop. It is an easy installation system that does not require prior habituation of the animals to be captured, so it can be activated at the same time it is installed.

Background

There are numerous live capture devices of animals in general and raptors in particular (eg cages, stocks, nets, ties; Watson & Watson 1985, Bloom et al. 2007; Zuberogoitia 2013a, b). For the capture of large scavenging birds of prey such as, for example, the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), the black vulture (Aegypius monachus) or the vulture (Neophron percnopterus), metal cages with different passive closure systems (eg. Ref. Parany Gyps 1 of Máquia Serveis Ambientals SL) or active (eg remote activation; Zuberogoitia 2013a) that allow capturing several individuals at once. Various network systems are also used for this purpose, such as cannon nets or mesh-stocks (Bloom et al. 2007; Zuberogoitia 2013b). In general, these systems require periodic work for more or less time (eg more than 3 months; Zuberogoitia 2013a) to accustom animals to the place of capture and the elements that make up the capture system.

Alternatively, as with mammals, to capture medium and large birds, including vultures, different types of individual traps can be used, which capture the specimens by the legs and generally require less previous work of acclimatization of the animals. . Among them are different types of ties (eg Watson & Watson 1985; Zuberogoitia 2013b; Bildstein 2016), and even strains adapted to catch birds by the legs (eg Victor 3 adapted; Spiegel et al.

2013); although the use of the latter is prohibited in many countries, including Spain and the other member states of the European Union (The Law Library of Congress 2016).

However, although leg loops have already been used for the capture of vultures in various parts of the planet (eg Zuberogoitia 2013b; Bildstein 2016), there are few detailed descriptions of the systems used. Watson & Watson (1985) briefly describe some systems of loops used to capture scavengers, consisting of one or more loops, usually nylon, tied directly to the bait or placed around them, and detail a system to capture eagle volatinera (Terathopius ecaudatus). This system consists of placing a network with a steel cable edge buried and fixed to the ground with a metal pickaxe. In this network multiple nylon ties are fixed, placing in the center a meat bait that is also fixed to the ground. The authors consider that the system has an acceptable success rate (21% of birds captured from the total number of individuals that descend into the trap), especially considering that the rest of the traps tested did not capture any individual (Watson & Watson 1985). However, it is, according to the authors themselves, a method that requires a lot of assembly time and that, for the capture of more individuals, would require a lot of labor for the simultaneous installation of several traps.

Explanation of the invention.

This utility model is an improvement of the live capture systems of scavengers of prey due to its easy installation, which does not require large infrastructures or mounting surfaces, nor the previous habituation of the animals to be captured, so it can be installed almost anywhere and activate at the same time it is installed. Its small size makes it suitable for capturing specimens little accustomed to human presence in feeding places such as feeders, muladams or other similar infrastructure of greater size. A detailed description of the system is provided to allow its safe use, both for the animals to be captured, and for the personnel in charge of the capture.

This device for live capture of scavenging raptors consists of three parts: a loop (1), a support (2) and an anchor (3).

1.1. The part of the loop consists of a braided steel cable (4) 1.0 mm thick, breaking load 30 kg / daN and 1.2 m long, which is closed using two aluminum rivets (5) of 1 , 5 x 19.0 x 9.0 mm. The loop includes a plastic stop, rubber tube (6), to ensure that its loop does not close completely and does not damage the captured specimen. The rubber tube (6) is 5 mm in diameter and 3-5 cm in length. At the free end of the loop, by means of two aluminum rivets (5) of 2.0 x 16.0 x 8.0 mm, a loop is created that will be used to join the loop (1) of braided cable to the rest of the system of capture, by means of a thread carabiner (7). This carabiner allows the loop (1) to be easily attached to the elastic support (2) that constitutes the second part of the capture system. This type of coupling not only allows you to easily replace the ties, but also allows you to hook several ties to the same support.

1.2. The elastic support (2) - which will cushion the pulls of the captured animal - to which the ties (1) are fixed, consists of an elastic rubber (8) of 10.0 mm in diameter, breaking load 153 kg / daN and 1 , 5 m long, folded and tied at both ends leaving a free loop to hook the rest of the components. The double rubber has a final length of about 40 cm between the two ends. At one of the ends, a spin-remover (9) is placed that allows the elastic band (8) to rotate without getting tangled, preventing it from being blocked with the movement of the trapped animal and that it remains immobilized and / or can suffer damage . The turn-remover is attached to another metallic thread carabiner (7) that will allow the loop (1) and the elastic support (2) to be fixed to the third part of the system: the anchor (3). As with the loops (1), the elastic support carabiner (2) will allow several rubber bands to be attached to the same anchor (3).

1.3. The anchoring system (3) can be of different types. In this case we use an iron anchor (10) with a cylindrical body of dimensions 80.0 x 20.0 mm, which has a conical end and a beveled end. The cylindrical body of the anchor is hollow, with 3.0 mm wall thickness, and has a lateral expansion of about 20.0 mm in length with a 4.0 mm diameter central hole that is used to connect the anchor to a 3.0 mm thick steel braided cable (4), using a loop created using an aluminum rivet (5) of 15.0 x 10.0 x 8.0 mm. The cable facilitates that the anchor can be stuck in the ground and that, when pulled, it is placed horizontally and fixed in the ground. The other end of the steel cable (4) consists of a closed loop with aluminum rivet (5) of 15.0 x 10.0 x 8.0 mm. The anchor (10) is driven into the ground at a depth of at least 20 cm.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows the complete capture device described here with all the components of each of the three parts: the loop (1), the elastic support (2) and the anchor (3).

Figure 2 shows the detail of the different components used: braided cable (4), aluminum rivets (5), rubber tube (6), thread carabiners (7), elastic rubber (8), roll-away (9) ) and anchor (10).

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

A particular example of the use of the device for live capture of scavengers of prey according to the present invention is described below, according to the structure described in the "Explanation of the invention" section, and in view of the figures presented.

The bait (eg carrion, meat debris) is arranged in the area selected for capture and the anchors are placed around, at a distance of at least 2 m from the bait. It is recommended to have at least 5-6 anchors to ensure that the bait is completely surrounded, using 2-3 rubber bands per anchor, and 2-3 ties per rubber band. The number of ties to be placed will depend on the objective of the capture and the area designated for it, but the effectiveness of the system with up to three tires per anchor and three ties per rubber has been proven. The elastic band of ties must be hidden; preferably burying it superficially in the ground, or, failing that, covering it with surrounding plant matter. The ties are deposited open on the ground, slightly raised to facilitate that the birds get entangled when walking on them. The opening of the ties can be variable, between 15-25 cm in diameter.

As noted above, the device for live capture of scavengers raptors by means of ties described here, can be used for the capture of different species of vultures, since when approaching walking to the food they are hooked by the legs in the loops arranged around. The main utility of this system is the live capture of specimens without causing damage. While the device is activated, it must be constantly monitored to release captured specimens as quickly as possible and thus minimize the possibility of damage or escape. The biggest advantage of the system is the ease and versatility of the assembly, in virtually any location, even if it is small or complex orographically, and without the need to habituate the animals beforehand. In our experience with this method the number of copies captured simultaneously, in the same event, ranged between 1 and 3 griffon vultures with a minimum of 36 activated loops; getting to capture twice on the same day in the same location. On average, the number of birds captured per day was 1.5 (range: 0-6), with a total of 23 specimens captured in 15 days of trapping. The animals stopped going down from the fourth day of non-consecutive catches in the same location.

Claims (4)

1. Device for live capture of scavengers of prey formed by a loop (1), an elastic support (2) and an anchor (3) and characterized in that it has: - A loop of braided steel cable (4) closed with aluminum rivets (5) and with a rubber tube stop (6) to prevent it from closing completely on the animal's leg. - A double elastic rubber support (8) with a loop, a threaded carabiner on each end (7) and a turn remover (9) between the rubber and the carabiner on the lower end. - A metal anchor (10) with braided steel cable (4). 2. Device for live capture of scavenging raptors, according to claim 1, wherein the loop (1) of braided steel cable (4) is finished off with a closed loop with aluminum rivets (5), to which hook a thread carabiner (7) that allows to easily fix the loop (1) to the elastic support (2). 3. Device for live capture of scavenging raptors, according to claim 1, wherein the elastic rubber support (2) has at one end a turn-remover (9) and a thread carabiner (7) that allows fixing the ground support by means of an anchor (10) or other anchoring system. 4. Device for the live capture of scavenging raptors, according to claim 1, wherein the anchor (3) consists of a hollow cylindrical metal anchor (10) with a conical end and a bevelled to facilitate nailing in the terrain and can be blocked in it efficiently. The metal anchor (10) is attached to the rest of the system by means of a 3.0 mm braided steel cable (4), terminated on a loop topped with aluminum rivet (5) to fix the elastic support (2).