The Effects of Poaching on Bull Mating

Poaching's negative effects and consequences have created numerous dilemmas reaching all corners of the globe. Bulls in particular are hunted for the shear fun of acquiring them. Bulls are a popular catch for hunters because of a stoic demeanor and aggressive personality. If a bull is hunted while attempting to secure a mate or while in the actual process of mating, the negative result of the animal being caught weighs heavily on that bull's entire pack.

  1. General Behavioral Observations

    • Bulls in Tanzania were monitored to establish behavioral identifiers significant to their dominance rituals and patterns and how these relate to mating realities. During these studies it was observed and reported that the older animals in the group dynamic maintained control of the overall unit. Older bulls mate more often and are defended more heartily by the younger members of the group. Poachers are often seen as renegades who steal the young vulnerable bulls which are less aggressive by nature. These poachers also take advantage of the fact that the older bulls remain focused on solely protecting themselves.

    Territorial Adversaries

    • The general demeanor and attitude of the average bull requires that individuals who are not already familiar to the animal keep a safe distance to avoid injury. As people continue to ignore their neighbor's warning signs regarding trespassing on private property in order to steal cattle, bulls continue to be tested regarding their personalities. Bulls can sense when an intruder is nearing their vicinity, thus bulls tend to react to the intrusion prior to being certain it is in immediate danger.

    Mating Frustrations

    • Persons who elect to intrude upon a bull's private domain do so at their own risk for a number of mating related possibilities. When the animal is in full-blown mating mode, he is overly aggressive and instinctively reacts to his innate need to protect his mate. Antagonizing a bull in this manner stirs and heightens his aggression. His protectiveness also comes on two levels. On one hand he is protecting the cow he is attempting to seize and on the other hand he fights intruders simply because he refuses to let any other potential mates interrupt or derail his agenda.

    Running Out of Viable Options

    • The act of poaching requires that a hunter remove a viable bull from his pack for personal use or sustenance. Removing bulls one by one in this manner escalates the issue of the disintegration of the unit related to its ability to be able to continuously produce healthy offspring. Poaching puts healthy, assertive bulls in danger of growing into full maturity with their group. As the older more aggressive bulls continue to protect themselves by running and hiding and the younger ones continue to die off the animal community in general suffers. The unit loses its ability to be able to properly self-regulate the very mating rituals, cycles and customs which sustain it as a species.