I witnessed the Nov. release of the sheep but have not seen them in the last two months because they indeed have gone to higher altitudes - and places that the authorities at CSR and Putsch Ridge have placed off limits. I agree with nearly all the above poster: a clear case of an editor bootlegging the author's intentions. Not to gang up on Mr. Small, and respecting his personal experience, but he should really brush up on his sloppy usage of the word "exponential." Likewise, he can not extrapolate linearly
from the post-release mortality rates. Conditions have already changed = the sheep have moved on to higher altitudes. A safe prediction is that the mortality rate will not remain constant, and indeed will likely go down. Finally, I am surprised at his comment that hunting the offending lions is injurious to the ecosystem. Their numbers have been expanding, a condition that will threaten equilibrium. Let's give the wildlife folks their due. As the article demonstrates, they are aware of the problem and responding to threats to all the specieis discussed (lions, sheep, and us) quite well. It would be nice only if the mortality in capturing the sheep, a point not raised in the article, could be decreased.
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from the post-release mortality rates. Conditions have already changed = the sheep have moved on to higher altitudes. A safe prediction is that the mortality rate will not remain constant, and indeed will likely go down. Finally, I am surprised at his comment that hunting the offending lions is injurious to the ecosystem. Their numbers have been expanding, a condition that will threaten equilibrium. Let's give the wildlife folks their due. As the article demonstrates, they are aware of the problem and responding to threats to all the specieis discussed (lions, sheep, and us) quite well. It would be nice only if the mortality in capturing the sheep, a point not raised in the article, could be decreased.