DIY your captures when everything else fails: Description of an artisanal dart launcher with an assessment of the medium-term response in a primate

Abstract

When our dart guns failed in Morocco, we devised an artisanal pressurised air launcher to replace them. The effective shooting range was between 12 and 20 m, which made it possible to capture wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus), from groups that would not allow for a closer approach or enter any trap. To assess the effect of that method of capture, we monitored the groups on foot before and after the captures. We looked for evidence of a change in risk perception after the captures. We did not uncover any such evidence in the step lengths, turning angles, home range area, frequency of rest while on the ground or frequency of social interactions. We conclude that for the study animals, being captured with our artisanal dart launcher, had a similar effect to being darted with a professional gun, and we intend this note as an inspiration to other field operators finding themselves in a similar predicament.