TRAUMATIC INJURIES CAUSED BY DOG AND CAT ATTACKS IN URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AREAS OF QUITO

Abstract

Dogs and cats represent a global threat to avifauna due to their predatory capacity. In the northern Andes, information on the impact of these attacks on the wildlife is scarce. This study analyzes injuries caused by dogs and cats on four common bird species in Quito (Zenaida auriculata, Turdus fuscater, Zonotrichia capensis and Porphyrio martinica) between 2020 and 2022. A total of 164 individuals were recorded: 84 Z. auriculata, 33 T. fuscater, 30 Z. capensis and 17 P. martinica, showing a trend of attacks on the limbs. The birds arrived at the wildlife hospital in good body condition, suggesting that even healthy individuals are vulnerable to attacks. In addition, we investigated different socio-environmental variables that could be associated with the arrival of birds at the hospital, finding that areas with higher income status reported more attack cases, while population density and land use did not show a clear pattern. This is a first step to better understand the pet problem within cities and to foster strategies that reduce attacks and promote ecosystem resilience.