Good virtual fences make good neighbors: opportunities for conservation

Fences can both enhance and detract from the conservation of wildlife, and many detrimental impacts are associated with creating physical barriers. By contrast, virtual fences can restrict, control or minimize animal movement without the creation of physical barriers, and present key benefits over t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal conservation Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 187 - 196
Main Authors: Jachowski, D. S., Slotow, R., Millspaugh, J. J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2014
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects:
Barriers
biological fencing
birds
Fences
monitoring
proximity-based sensors
radio-activated guards
real-time sensory deterrent
virtual management
wildlife
Wildlife conservation
wildlife management
ISSN:1367-9430, 1469-1795
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Fences can both enhance and detract from the conservation of wildlife, and many detrimental impacts are associated with creating physical barriers. By contrast, virtual fences can restrict, control or minimize animal movement without the creation of physical barriers, and present key benefits over traditional fences, including: (1) no need for construction, maintenance or removal of traditional fences; (2) rapid modification of boundaries both temporally and spatially based on specific conservation concerns; (3) application of novel conservation approaches for wildlife that integrate monitoring, research and management; and (4) social‐psychological benefits that may increase support for conservation. We review the various types of sensory, biological and mechanical virtual fences, and the potential benefits and costs associated with fully integrating virtual fences into protected area management and wildlife conservation. The recent development of real‐time virtual fences represents the potential for a new ‘virtual management’ era in wildlife conservation, where it is possible to initiate management actions promptly in response to real‐time data. Wide‐scale application of virtual fences faces considerable technological and logistical constraints; however, virtual fences are increasingly popular and soon will offer realistic management strategies for both terrestrial and avian wildlife conservation.
Bibliography:ark:/67375/WNG-RTPRF81M-N
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
University of KwaZulu-Natal
ArticleID:ACV12082
istex:9D938E3BD2D7D8ECA44CE8D0ADC62F05B39431A3
University of Missouri
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
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ISSN:1367-9430
1469-1795
DOI:10.1111/acv.12082