Study of the new farming technique to improve the results of the repopulation of hare (Lepus europaeus) in campania region Italy. part 2. time of escape

Materials and methods. 110 hares (55 males and 55 females) with an age between 140 to 800 days, have been used for our study between year 2002 and 2006. Ten of the hares were observed with the help of video-surveillance and the rest were observed directly by an operator. Pairs of animals were placed in experimental cage (200cm of length x 100 of width x 120 of height) closed in a fenced area of minimum 100 square meters provided with spontaneous or sown vegetation. After a period of adaptation in the cage the hares were given the opportunity of leaving the cage. A little door to the back wall of the cage was connected with a step ramp to allow escaping. Time of escape from the cage was recorded for each animal. Data were analyzed with Variance Analysis (SAS System, 2000) and results are tested for gender (male vs female) and age (old vs adult vs young). Results. The average time of escape resulted 14.23±11.24 days. Gender differences are statistically marked and the escaping time is longer for the females (15±7 vs 12±7; P≤0.001). In all the categories of age females need more time before leaving the cage: old (13 vs 20; P≤0.01); adult (13 vs 16; P≤0.01); young (11 vs 13; N.S.). For young animals it takes an average time of 12 days to leave the cage towards the fenced area compared with old animals that stayed hidden in the cage for 16.50 days before living it. Adult hares show average values (14.50 days) between the values for old and young animals. All the escaping times recorded among the categories of age appear statistically different (16.50 vs 14.50 vs 12.00; P<0.01). Discussion. The innovation of the proposed system is based on the opportunity given to the animals of spontaneously leaving the cage for the fenced area. The proposed system appears to conflict totally with the usual techniques used in Italy during the normal repopulation operations. Data of this study emphasize male's tendency to leave the cage earlier than the more fearful females in all the categories of age. None of the animals leaved spontaneously the cage earlier than ten days. An average time of 15 days is needed before the animals recognize the ideal conditions of quiet required to go out of the cage. When the animals decide to occupy the fenced area the second step is finished positively and it's possible to start the third. Unfortunately the time needed to obtain good survival rate results is too long and doesn't match the needs of extremely limited time of the entities in charge of the fauna management (Province Administrations; territorial hunting authorities). This management's team have to complete in one day the repopulation operations in 5-10 localities far from each other. The results of our experimental trial show that the hares need a long time of acclimatization in every changed phase. An average of 10 days must be considered the minimum time of acclimatization to ensure a good results after the release in natural conditions. Conclusion. Obtained results permit to resume the following conclusions: a. European hare confirms her shy behaviour, typical characteristic of the prey. b. The cage that had housed the animals in captivity is initially considered to be a safer hideout, compared with the offer of freedom. c. It's needed a long time before the subjects, after observing all the movements and components, find the courage to leave the cage for the fenced area. d. It takes a shorter time for young animals to leave the cage. This fact encourages choosing young subjects for the repopulation operations, apart from the gender. e. The little difference between male and female young hares suggests that both the gender can be used to repopulate. Adults and especially olds should not be used, because significant differences were recorded between males and females.