Abstract. Charaspet K, Sukmasuang R, Khoewsree N, Pla-ard M, Songsaen N, Simchareon S. 2019. Movement, home range size and activity pattern of the golden jackal (Canis aureus, Linneaus, 1758) in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Biodiversitas 20: 3430-3438. We studied the movement patterns, monthly home range sizes, and activity patterns of the golden jackal in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK) from November 2017 to June 2019. Data were obtained by trapping and collaring a female jackal with a satellite collar, and from a concurrent camera trap survey. The female jackal had an average daily movement of 1.7 km, and her overall home range size was 26.3 km2, based on 1,191 locations across 7 months and using the 95% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) method. The monthly home range size (95% MCP) was the smallest in December (9.2 km2) and the largest in March (20.51 km2). Results from camera traps revealed 33 species of wild animals, including 16 species of carnivorous mammals and 17 non-carnivorous species. The relative abundance index (RAI) of the jackal was 24.33, which was the highest of all carnivore species, and the second-highest of all species, suggesting jackals were one of the most common mammal species in HKK. Based on camera trap data, the mean diel activity of jackals in HKKwas at 00: 46 hours, and their activity overlapped most with potential prey including hares and small rodents. Results also revealed that golden jackals prefer dry dipterocarp forest compared to other habitat types Our results lead to a better understanding of the ecology of golden jackals in Thailand, and provide a baseline for future research on this species.

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.

Abstract. Charaspet K, Sukmasuang R, Khoewsree N, Pla-ard M, Chanachai Y. 2020. Prey species and prey selection of dholes at three different sites in Thailand. Biodiversitas 21: 5248-5262. The study of prey species and prey selection of Dholes at 3 different sites was conducted at Khao Yai National Park, Salak Pra, and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries from 2013 to 2020. Information on Dhole prey at the sites was collected from the residues of dhole scats, from which the selection index, the relative biomass of the prey, and the relative amounts of the consumed prey were calculated. The data were collected simultaneously with the use of camera traps at each site. The study revealed that there were 13 species of Dhole prey with body weight over 5 kg. The result indicated that there were 7 species of even-toed ungulates. The relative biomass of even-toed ungulates ranged between 76.78 - 90.50% of the total biomass of all the Dholes’ consumed prey for all study sites. The dietary diversity index unveiled a similar index in all areas, which proved the adequacy of the analyzed scats. However, the Niche breadth index, which indicates the relevance of prey selection and prey species to the appearances of the prey at each site, was found to be high at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Khao Yai National Park, while the index was found to be low at Salak Pra Wildlife Sanctuary. The results revealed that Dholes consumed viverrid species and Malayan porcupine more often at the site where there were large carnivores. The recommendation from this study was the conservation and restoration of the ungulate populations, the main prey, as it greatly affects the conservation of the Dhole populations in Thailand.  Grassland and salt lick sites, water sources improvements are also important to promote prey population. The conservation of wildlife prey by releasing them to nature, as currently conducted, has an effect on the increase of Dholes’ prey species.

Abstract. Khoewsree N, Pla-ard M, Sukmasuang R, Paansri P, Chanachai Y, Kaewdee B, Phengthong P. 2022. Spatio-temporal analysis of dholes (Cuon alpinus) in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Biodiversitas 23: 2668-2678. The relationship of the occurrence of key wildlife species and other wildlife in the ecosystems is complex and unique as a result of interactions between species as well as responses to complex environments. Spatio-temporal analysis of dholes (Cuon alpinus) in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, aimed to study of the coexistence of the dhole with its main prey, humans, and other physical factors based on camera trapping. The temporal and spatial overlap analysis found that dholes coexist with five prey species and also with humans. The dhole also occurred with a significant positive temporal or spatial overlap with 20 other potential prey species. It was found that water sources and villages had a negative effect on the dhole's occupancy while there was a positive effect from roads, elevation, and slope. The dhole's occupancy model was most closely related to small rodent proximity. It also was found that the dhole's occupation was also related to humans. Based on the results of this study, some recommendations were developed to advocate the strict management of recreation areas. There should also be a boundary between the area of ??human activities and the natural forest of the area and this should include the control of illegal entry into the area from the area surrounding the national park to reduce interactions between human activities and wildlife.

Abstract. Khoewsree N, Charaspet K, Sukmasuang R, Songsasen N, Pla-ard M, Thongbantum J, Kongchaloem W, Srinopawan K. 2020. Abundance, prey, and activity period of dholes (Cuon alpinus) in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Biodiversitas 21: 345-354. The abundance and occupancy of dholes in Khao Yai National Park are the highest among found carnivorous mammals. This demonstrates the importance of the home range of dholes. From the scat analysis, eight species of mammals that are prey can be identified. The dholes mainly consume ungulates when considering the most percentage of relative biomass consumed were ungulate species. For the number of prey animals consumed by dholes per year, a dhole consumes 25.94 prey animals per year which consist of 6.51 masked palm civets, 6.44 Asian palm civets, 4.55 muntjac, 3.97 lesser mouse-deer, 2.22 large Indian civets, 1.03 wild boars, 0.66 sambar, and 0.56 porcupines. From the daily activity pattern captured by the camera trap, dholes have an average activity period of 14:49 hours. Therefore, they are mostly diurnal. The results of the study confirm that Khao Yai National Park is an important habitat of dholes. To maintain the population of dholes in the area, the most important factor is maintaining the ungulate population in the area, especially muntjac, sambar, lesser mouse-deer, and wild boar by increasing and improving the quality of grassland, austerity of maintenance, garbage and dirt disposal from tourism activities in the area for ecological health, and public relations for dholes’ conservation in the long-term.