Feeding behaviour of the wild Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) in human cultivated fields

Abstract

Feeding behaviour of wild Japanese serows was investigated by means of video tape recordings and food traces-eaten at 3 cultivated fields in Yamagata and at 1 in Akita prefecture from July to November. Serows frequently entered and left fields and using the regular routes. Two serows invaded the fields and fed on crops every 3 to 6 days in each of the 3 Yamagata fields. In the Akita field, 4 serows invaded the field and fed on crops every 0.4 days. Serows used crop fields not only for eating crops but also for eating weeds and for resting. The serows were found in fields not only during the night from 18:00 to 6:00 but also during the day from 6:00 to 18:00. Feeding time (min/visit) was 6.3 ± 6.0 in Yamagata and 13.8 ± 11.2 in Akita through the investigation period. Intakes (gDW/visit) of soybean and adzuki bean leaves, beans, carrot leaves and broccoli leaves were estimated as 13.5 (1.6% of the daily feeding requirement), 81.1 (9.8%), 45.8 (5.6%) and 86.4 (10.5%) respectively in the 3 Yamagata fields. In the Akita field, intake of adzuki bean leaves was estimated at 208.4 (25.3%). In conclusion, cultivated fields might not be a special feeding place but some part of the habitat as the forest for serows. Invasions of serows to cultivated fields might be accelerated as a result of a lack of shyness to human beings in cultivated fields.