Hunter harvest of birds and fruit bats in American Samoa, 1990-91
Craig P, Morrell TE, Sooto K. 1991. Hunter harvest of birds and fruit bats in American Samoa, 1990-91. Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources. American Samoa Government. Pago Pago, AS
Birds and fruit bats are hunted year-round for subsistence and recreation in American Samoa. To determine harvest levels, 13-18% of the hunters on the main island of Tutuila were interviewed quarterly in 1990-91. A high opportunistic harvest of fruit bats and terrestrial birds occurred following habitat loss caused by a hurricane in February, 1990. Adjusting for this factor, a typical annual take of 2100-2400 Pacific pigeons (Ducula pacifica), 500 purple-capped fruit doves (Ptilinopus porphyraceus), and 500-1600 fruit bats (Pteropus tonganus and Pteropus samoensis) is estimated. These rates seriously impede the recovery of game populations.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Craig, Peter; Morrell, Tom; Sooto, Kiso
- Date of Issue
- 1991-05
- Publisher
- Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources. American Samoa Government
- Units
- NPSA , PACN
- Keywords
- American Samoa, Animal Studies, Hunting, Pacific Fruit Bats (Pteropodidae), Pacific pigeon (Ducula pacifica), purple-capped fruit dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus), Samoan Fruit Bat (Pteropus samoensis), Tongan fruit bat (Pteropus tonganus)