Data from: Using drones and sirens to elicit avoidance behaviour in white rhinoceros as an anti-poaching tactic

Poaching fuelled by international trade in horn caused the deaths of over
1000 African rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum and Diceros bicornis) per
year between 2013 and 2017. Deterrents, which act to establish avoidance
behaviours in animals, have the potential to aid anti-poaching efforts by
moving at-risk rhinos away from areas of danger (e.g. near perimeter
fences). To evaluate the efficacy of deterrents, we exposed a population
of southern white rhinos (C. simum simum) to acoustic- (honeybee, siren,
turtledove), olfactory- (chilli, sunflower) and drone-based stimuli on a
game reserve in South Africa. We exposed rhinos to each stimulus up to
four times. Stimuli were considered effective deterrents if they
repeatedly elicited avoidance behaviour (locomotion away from the
deterrent). Rhinos travelled significantly further in response to the
siren than to the honeybee or turtledove stimulus, and to low altitude
drone flights than to higher altitude flights. We found the drone to be
superior at manipulating rhino movement than the siren due to its longer
transmission range and capability of pursuit. In contrast, the scent
stimuli were ineffective at inciting avoidance behaviour. Our findings
indicate that deterrents are a prospective low-cost and in situ method to
manage rhino movement in game reserves.