Local Accounts of Opportunistic Encounters with Bush Dogs (Speothos venaticus) in the Rupununi Region of Guyana

The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is naturally rare, extremely elusive and notoriously difficult to study in the field. The abundance, distribution, and ecological requirements of this species are poorly understood, hampering conservation and management efforts. More effective methods for collecting data that will increase our understanding and inform management are needed for this species. Previous studies have shown that bringing indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) into the scientific process has considerable potential for improving research and natural resource management. By collaborating with subsistence resource users, scientists can boost productivity and cut costs, all while supporting conservation and building capacity in local communities. We present 78 reports of opportunistic encounters with bush dogs from surveys of key informants from the Rupununi Region of Guyana. In the absence of an effective tool for quantitative study of this species, more comprehensive surveys of local observations may be the best tool to inform management moving forward.

薮犬（Speothos venaticus）天然稀有，生性极其隐秘，且出了名的难以开展野外研究。目前学界对该物种的种群丰度、分布范围与生态需求均了解不足，这严重阻碍了其保护与管理工作的推进。针对该物种，亟需研发更高效的数据收集方法，以深化对其的认知并为管理决策提供支撑。既往研究表明，将本土生态知识（indigenous ecological knowledge, IEK）纳入科学研究流程，对优化研究与自然资源管理工作具备显著潜力。通过与依赖生计资源的当地民众开展合作，科研人员不仅能够提升研究效率、降低研究成本，同时还能助力保护工作、提升当地社区的能力建设。本研究整合了来自圭亚那鲁普努尼地区（Rupununi Region）关键知情人的访谈调查，共获得78条薮犬偶遇观测记录。鉴于目前尚无针对该物种的有效定量研究工具，全面收集当地观测记录或可成为未来为该物种管理工作提供决策依据的最优路径。