No recent attempt has been made to survey dhole distribution, or to estimate remaining population numbers. We surveyed 15 protected areas in Thailand with camera traps from 1996 to 2010. We used the photo locations of dholes (n = 96) in the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model along with six environmental variables to model current dhole distribution, as well as species predictive occurrence layers for sambar, red muntjac, wild boar, tiger, and leopard. The MaxEnt model identifi ed the predicted probability of the presence of leopards and sambar as positive and the most important variables in modeling dhole presence, indicating that maintaining a suffi cient prey base may be the most important factor determining continued survival of dholes. Roughly 7 % of the total land area in Thailand is potentially suitable for dholes. However, surveys to date have focused on protected areas, which make up just a third of the potential suitable areas for dholes. Only in four protected areas do they occur across the entire landscape, suggesting that in the majority of places where they occur, habitats are not uniformly suitable. Using the model, we identifi ed several potential areas where dholes have not been reported, and therefore status surveys are needed, and where future research of the species might be focused.

The presence of gaur (Bos gaurus) at the border of Khao Yai National Park (KYNP) in Thailand has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of individuals’ crop feeding. This study examines the feeding adaptations of gaur at the edge of the protected area and assesses whether gaur response to increased nutrient availability in crop plants compared to natural forage. During the day, gaur mostly utilized forest areas in KYNP and entered the agricultural areas at night. Gaur ate 43 natural forage species. Natural forage species contain high levels of crude protein and lipid, but they are found in small quantities and scattered areas when compared to crop plants, especially Zea mays L., that are available in large quantity and are heavily foraged on by gaur. However, greater understanding of the electivity index and nutrition of forage species along the edge of the protected area can be used to reduce the gaur-human conflict by keeping gaur in KYNP. Reducing the large monoculture areas that is the food sources of gaur along the edge may reduce or prevent gaur leaving the park and can be applied to advance conservation actions.

No abstract

No abstract

Abstract. Charaspet K, Sukmasuang R, Khoewsree N, Pla-Ard M, Paansri P, Keawdee B, Chanachai Y, Bhumpakphan N. 2021. Spatial and temporal overlaps of top predators: Dhole, tiger and leopard, and their potential prey in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Biodiversitas 22: 580-592. The study of the spatial-temporal overlap of top predators and their prey is important to understand competition among predators and predator-prey relationships so that the viable populations of predators and other animals can be sustained. This research aimed to study the abundance of three top predators: Dhole (Cuon alpinus), tiger (Panthera tigris) and leopard (Panthera pardus), and their potential wild prey in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, and to investigate the spatial-temporal overlap between those three predators, and their potential wild prey. We tested two significant hypotheses: (i) tiger and leopard had the highest spatial-temporal overlap and the spatial overlap of dhole and leopard was higher in comparison to dhole and tiger due to a higher prey overlap; (ii) the three species of large carnivore avoided spatial-temporal overlap even if they were in the same area. The study was conducted using camera traps. In addition, the spatial-temporal overlap of large carnivores and their potential prey was studied to understand the important species of prey of these large carnivores. The results showed that the spatial overlap of tiger and leopard was the highest. Dhole had significant spatial overlap with leopard, which was higher in comparison to dhole and tiger. A significant temporal overlap of dhole and leopard was not found. Also, a significant temporal overlap of tiger and leopard was not found. The results were based on hypotheses that conformed to the niche overlap index of the potential prey and the temporal overlap coefficient. There were ten important species of potential prey of large carnivores: Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), gaur (Bos gaurus), banteng (Bos javanicus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) and red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus). The important recommendation is the protection of the sanctuary from wildfires which spread from the outside in, especially in dry evergreen forest. Food resources of herbivores in the area must be managed, as well as the prevention of epidemics from livestock to wild animals.