On the occurrence and damage of the invasive nutria (myocastor coypus molina, 1782) in palestine

Abstract

The Nutria or Coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina, 1782) is one of the invasive vertebrate species residing in and near some aquatic habitats of Palestine (27,000 km2) and other neighboring countries. The animal was said to be introduced from Chile, South America, into Palestine by fish farmers for fur production in the early 1950s. It was released into many aquatic ecosystems for economic and ecological reasons, but it was proved to cause damage to agriculture, wildlife and other human properties. Hence, the current descriptive study comes to give notes on the occurrence and dangers of the invasive Nutria in Palestine. The study, which lasted three years (July 2018 - June 2021), was based on many procedures to satisfy its purposes. Frequent field visits, direct observations and photography, meetings and discussions with stakeholders, and fellow-up of local news and social media sites were common tools used throughout the succeeding stages of the study. The current study shows that the Nutria happens in great parts of northern and central and coastal Palestine, including the Hula Lake, the Jordan River and its tributaries, and many valleys of Palestine. Specimens of the animal caught from northern Wadi Arabah and Negev Desert as well. In spite of their polluted waters, Wadi Al-Muqatta in northern Jenin, West Bank, and the lower Jordan River harbor a population the invasive Nutria. The Nutria does not occur in the Gaza Strip and the three live specimens of the animal incidentally fell into fishing nets in 1997 seemed to come from Ashkelon; the closest city in the Palestinian land occupied by Israel since 1948. As far as the dangers of the invasive Nutria in Palestine are concerned, they include herbivory and destruction of aquatic plants, attack and feeding on agricultural crops, creation of "eat-outs" areas which is harmful to many freshwater animals including the Caspian Terrapin (Mauremys caspica), use of and disturbance to many water birds nests, competition with the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), damages of burrowing behavior of Nutria to banks along waterways and other human properties, and aggressiveness towards humans and pets. Many measures have been applied to control the Nutria in Palestine. The role of the Palestinian carnivorous mammals in controlling the Nutria should be respected.