Adaptive behavioural strategies to seasonal challenges by a semiurban feral ungulate
Format of work:
Journal Article
Event presented at / Journal Name:
Animal Behaviour
Speaker / Contact Author's Name:
Alan McElligott
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Research aim:
This study investigates how a semiurban feral population of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, adapts behaviourally to seasonal changes (wet vs. dry season). Using non‑invasive observations of 71 individuals, the authors assessed body condition, feeding behaviour, space use (home range and core area), and associations with personality traits.
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Key finding:
Body condition was highest in the wet season and declined significantly in the dry season, indicating physiological impacts of seasonality. Older individuals were more affected than younger ones. Feeding behaviour remained predominantly grazing, but browsing increased slightly (from 0.01% to ~0.83% of feeding budget) during the dry season – a shared population‑level strategy. Space use: Home ranges expanded in the dry season compared to the wet season (from 0.11 to 0.15 km²), while core areas (e.g. marshlands) did not change. Females consistently used three times larger home ranges than resident males, independent of season. Personality influenced space use in females: individuals with higher ‘social tension’ (approaching/avoiding conspecifics, self‑grooming) had smaller home ranges and core areas. No associations were found for ‘vigilance’ or ‘general dominance’.
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Industry or policy relevance:
Seasonal resource scarcity drives adaptive behavioural flexibility in semiurban large herbivores, including increased browsing and home range expansion. Intrinsic factors (age, sex, personality, sterilisation status) strongly modulate these responses – highlighting that individual variation cannot be ignored in management. The study underscores the value of non‑invasive monitoring for informing conservation and welfare in human‑dominated, climate‑sensitive landscapes.
Funders:
This research was funded by the Lantau Conservation Fund (Hong Kong SAR Government-funded programme; Grant ref. RE-2021-01).
Links to Open Access Publications or DOI:
Citation:
Bhattacharjee, D., Flay, K. J., Mumby, H. S., & McElligott, A. G. (2026). Adaptive behavioural strategies to seasonal challenges by a semiurban feral ungulate. Animal Behaviour 231, 123414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123414
