Large felid habitat connectivity in the transboundary Dawna-Tanintharyi landscape of Myanmar and Thailand

Montgomery, Clara; Stokes, Demelza; Wantai, Seree; Moo, Saw Sha Bwe

doi:10.1007/s10980-021-01316-5

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 78 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We identified suitable C. sumatraensis and B. gaurus habitats in Dawna-Tanintharyi Landscape (DTL), Western Forest Complex, Kaeng Krachan and Kuiburi, which are transboundary parks connecting Myanmar and Thailand. These areas were identified as important conservation areas to build habitat connectivity for maintaining large felids, their prey, and other animal populations (Greenspan et al, 2021). However, our models predicted low suitability areas where C. sumatraensis has been recorded in Myanmar, such as Hkakaborazi NP and Hponkanrazi (Lwin et al, 2021;Rao et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Mapping threatened Thai bovids provides opportunities for improved conservation outcomes in Asia

Horpiencharoen,

Muylaert,

Marshall

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Wild bovids provide important ecosystem services throughout their native range. In Asia, most are threatened with extinction. Five wild bovids remain in Thailand: gaur (Bos gaurus), banteng (Bos javanicus), wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis) and Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus). However, their populations and habitats have declined substantially and become fragmented. Here, we identified potentially suitable habitat for these five threatened bovids using ecological niche models, first throughout the species entire distribution and second within Thailand, and quantified how much suitable area remains within protected areas. We combined species occurrence data with 28 environmental variables for modelling and used a spatially-restricted Biotic-Abiotic-Mobility framework for two accessible areas: 1) species-specific accessible areas and 2) a single large accessible area. We applied spatially restricted and weighted average ensembles from eight algorithms when generating maps. ForB. gaurusandB. javanicus,the best models predicted suitable habitat was mostly within Southeast Asia, withB. gaurushaving predicted large areas in Thailand and India.B. arneesuitable habitat was mostly in India.C. sumatraensissuitable habitat was mostly in Thailand and Myanmar.N. griseuswas mainly restricted to China. In Thailand, the highest bovid potential richnesses were in the Northern Forest, Western Forest, Eastern Forest and Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complexes. We identified unprotected hotspots with >50% of overall suitable habitat located outside protected areas.B. arneehad the smallest proportion of protected habitat (9%). Suitable areas identified in and out protected areas may guide habitat management and conflict mitigation strategies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Mapping threatened Thai bovids provides opportunities for improved conservation outcomes in Asia

Horpiencharoen,

Muylaert,

Marshall

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Given leopards have already disappeared quickly from most parts of their range across Southeast Asia (Rasphone et al, 2019; Rostro‐García et al, 2016), we believe the greater Kweekoh landscape should be considered a priority area for leopard conservation action. Moreover, Kweekoh may be connected to other habitats in the Kawthoolei region and may receive emigrant leopards from western Thailand (Greenspan et al, 2021). Given low population densities, however, future breeding is far from assured, particularly if underlying pressures (e.g., poaching and habitat loss) persist or worsen.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Efforts to officially incorporate this area into the protected area system, including active patrols by rangers in this habitat, could help further safeguard leopard populations. Moreover, Kweekoh is adjacent to WEFCOM, a regional large felid stronghold in Thailand, to and from which protected movement and dispersal corridors could help bolster transboundary leopard populations (Greenspan et al, 2021). Future efforts might attempt to identify those species targeted by local hunters, such as through interviews, and the level of trade in leopard parts (and other species) that exists among communities surrounding Kweekoh, as the illegal wildlife trade is a general problem in the region (Oswell, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupancy, density, and activity patterns of a Critically Endangered leopard population on the Kawthoolei‐Thailand border

Montgomery¹,

Stokes²,

K'lu³

et al. 2023

Population Ecology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Large carnivores have been largely extirpated from Southeast Asia due to deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and poaching. Estimating the density of endangered carnivore populations, and identifying relationships between species occupancy and both environmental and anthropogenic factors, is essential for effective conservation planning. Recently, the IUCN conservation status of the Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri) was upgraded to “Critically Endangered.” We surveyed Kweekoh Wildlife Sanctuary in Kawthoolei, an area administered by the Karen ethnic group in eastern Myanmar, to quantify (1) leopard population density using spatially explicit mark‐resight (SMR) models, (2) leopard occupancy as influenced by important ecological variables, and (3) potential differences in activity between melanistic and spotted leopard morphs. Leopard density was estimated to be 1.39 ± SE 0.22/100 km2. Leopard occupancy (ψ = 0.43; 95% credible interval: 0.26–0.67) increased further from roads, at relatively higher elevations, and in areas with higher relative abundance of wild boar. Leopard activity was cathemeral, with higher activity during night hours, and significant overlap (Δ = 0.84; 95% confidence interval: 0.71–0.96) between melanistic and spotted morphs. However, melanistic leopards were more active during twilight hours than spotted individuals whose activity did not significantly vary throughout the day. Indochinese leopard density estimates in Kweekoh were among the lowest reported from Southeast Asia. Leopard occupancy was highest in the sanctuary's core areas, suggesting the presence of negative anthropogenic impacts along the sanctuary borders. We suggest our low density estimates warrant immediate and decisive conservation action, including better protection for leopards, their habitat, and their prey.

show abstract

“…Restoring vegetation between Kui Buri and Kaeng Krachan National Parks could promote the movement of dhole and their prey, in contrast to Lenya and Nga Wun Reserve Forests which are separated by the Maw daung‐Singkhon highway. A physical habitat corridor would need to be developed to promote wildlife movement, which itself would require serious political commitment as the management of habitat across this transboundary forest complex will be challenging (Greenspan et al, 2021). Other suitable patches that are isolated and would require connectivity to be restored in the landscape for them to function as habitats for dhole include patches in northern Myanmar (patch 6, 8, 10, 15, 16; Figure 3), northern Thailand (area 20; Figure 3), and the Dong Phayayen—Khao Yai Forest Complex of central Thailand (patch 14, 19; Figure 3).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…promote wildlife movement, which itself would require serious political commitment as the management of habitat across this transboundary forest complex will be challenging (Greenspan et al, 2021). Other suitable patches that are isolated and would require connectivity to be restored in the landscape for them to function as habitats for dhole include patches in northern Myanmar (patch 6, 8, 10, 15, 16; Figure 3), northern Thailand (area 20;…”

Section: Stronghold Prioritizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Where will the dhole survive in 2030? Predicted strongholds in mainland Southeast Asia

Tananantayot

Agger²,

Ash

et al. 2022

Conservat Sci and Prac

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dhole (Cuon alpinus) is threatened with extinction across its range due to habitat loss and prey depletion. Despite this, no previous study has investigated the distribution and threat of the species at a regional scale. This lack of knowledge continues to impede conservation planning for the species. Here we modeled suitable habitat using presence‐only camera trap data for dhole and dhole prey species in mainland Southeast Asia and assessed the threat level to dhole in this region using an expert‐informed Bayesian Belief Network. We integrated prior information to identify dhole habitat strongholds that could support populations over the next 50 years. Our habitat suitability model identified forest cover and prey availability as the most influential factors affecting dhole occurrence. Similarly, our threat model predicted that forest loss and prey depletion were the greatest threats, followed by local hunting, non‐timber forest product collection, and domestic dog incursion into the forest. These threats require proactive resource management, strong legal protection, and cross‐sector collaboration. We predicted <20% of all remaining forest cover in our study area to be suitable for dhole. We then identified 17 patches of suitable forest area as potential strongholds. Among these patches, Western Forest Complex (Thailand) was identified as the region's only primary stronghold, while Taman Negara (Malaysia), and northeastern landscape (Cambodia) were identified as secondary strongholds. Although all 17 patches met our minimum size criteria (1667 km2), patches smaller than 3333 km2 may require site management either by increasing the ecological carrying capacity (i.e., prey abundance) or maintaining forest extent. Our proposed interventions for dhole would also strengthen the conservation of other co‐occurring species facing similar threats. Our threat assessment technique of species with scarce information is likely replicable with other endangered species.

show abstract

Large felid habitat connectivity in the transboundary Dawna-Tanintharyi landscape of Myanmar and Thailand

Cited by 4 publications

References 78 publications

Mapping threatened Thai bovids provides opportunities for improved conservation outcomes in Asia

Mapping threatened Thai bovids provides opportunities for improved conservation outcomes in Asia

Occupancy, density, and activity patterns of a Critically Endangered leopard population on the Kawthoolei‐Thailand border

Where will the dhole survive in 2030? Predicted strongholds in mainland Southeast Asia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About