Tiger and leopard diets in western Thailand: Evidence for overlap and potential consequences

Simcharoen, Achara; Simcharoen, Saksit; Duangchantrasiri, Somphot; Bump, Joseph K.; Smith, James L.

doi:10.1016/j.fooweb.2018.e00085

Cited by 40 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Incorporation of prey variables into models has often been done using indices such as overall prey biomass or density (Robinson, Bustos, & Roemer, 2014), general presence or absence of prey (Alexander, Gopalaswamy, Shi, Hughes, & Riordan, 2016;Vinitpornsawan, 2013), relative abundance indices (Chanchani, Noon, Bailey, & Warrier, 2016), or photo-trap rates (Sunarto et al, 2015). Our study considered only the probability of large prey occupancy because large prey comprises 89% of tiger prey biomass (Simcharoen et al, 2018). We also examined other natural and anthropogenic features to determine the relative influence of these correlates in shaping tiger distribution in WEFCOM.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From November 2010 to December 2012, Thailand's Department of National Parks, Plants, and Wildlife Conservation (DNP), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS, Thailand), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF, Thailand) conducted an occupancy survey that included elephants ( Elephus maximus ), tigers and the main prey of tigers: banteng ( Bos javanicus ), gaur ( Bos gaurus ), and sambar ( Rusa unicolor ) in the Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM) (Figure ). Collectively, these three large ungulates comprise 88%–95% of the tiger's prey in WEFCOM (Pakpien et al, ; Simcharoen et al, ). This landscape covers 19,600 km 2 and consists of 17 contiguous protected areas making it the largest intact protected area in Thailand and all of southern Asia (Figure ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of its size and geographic extent, WEFCOM provides critical habitat for tigers in the region. The landscape also supports numerous other threatened wildlife species including the tiger's main prey: gaur ( Bos gaurus ), banteng ( Bos javanicus ), wild water buffalo ( Bubalus arnee ), and sambar ( Rusa unicolor ) (Simcharoen, Simcharoen, Duangchantrasiria, Bump, & Smith, ). Data from camera‐trapping and radio telemetry suggest that HKK alone supports an estimated 35 to 58 tigers (Simcharoen et al, ; Duangchantrasiri et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…The covariates chosen for modeling were selected based on a priori knowledge of prey and habitat preferences of tigers (Smith et al, 1998;Wegge, Odden, Pokharel, & Storaas, 2009;Harihar & Pandav, 2012). Previous studies in Thailand found that banteng, gaur, and sambar were principal components of tiger diets (Simcharoen et al, 2018). We considered three prey predictors (a) bovidae: gaur + banteng, (b) sambar, and (c) all prey species combined (Jornburom, 2016).…”

Section: Selection Of Ecological and Anthropogenic Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Figure 1). Collectively, these three large ungulates comprise 88%-95% of the tiger's prey in WEFCOM (Pakpien et al, 2017;Simcharoen et al, 2018). This landscape covers 19,600 km 2 and consists of 17 contiguous protected areas making it the largest intact protected area in Thailand and all of southern Asia (Figure 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of prey occupancy and other ecological and anthropogenic factors on tiger distribution in Thailand's western forest complex

Duangchatrasiri¹,

Jornburom

Jinamoy³

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Despite conservation efforts, large mammals such as tigers ( Panthera tigris ) and their main prey, gaur ( Bos gaurus ), banteng ( Bos javanicus ), and sambar ( Rusa unicolor ), are highly threatened and declining across their entire range. The only large viable source population of tigers in mainland Southeast Asia occurs in Thailand's Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM), an approximately 19,000 km 2 landscape of 17 contiguous protected areas. We used an occupancy modeling framework, which accounts for imperfect detection, to identify the factors that affect tiger distribution at the approximate scale of a female tiger's home range, 64 km 2 , and site use at a scale of 1‐km 2 . At the larger scale, we estimated the proportion of sites at WEFCOM that were occupied by tigers; at the finer scale, we identified the key variables that influence site‐use and developed a predictive distribution map. At both scales, we examined key anthropogenic and ecological factors that help explain tiger distribution and habitat use, including probabilities of gaur, banteng, and sambar occurrence from a companion study. Occupancy estimated at the 64‐km 2 scale was primarily influenced by the combined presence of all three large prey species, and 37% or 5,858 km 2 of the landscape was predicted to be occupied by tigers. In contrast, site use estimated at the scale of 1 km 2 was most strongly influenced by the presence of sambar. By modeling occupancy while accounting for imperfect probability of detection, we established reliable benchmark data on the distribution of tigers in WEFCOM. This study also identified factors that limit tiger distributions; which managers can then target to expand tiger distribution and guide recovery elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Selection Of Ecological and Anthropogenic Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of prey occupancy and other ecological and anthropogenic factors on tiger distribution in Thailand's western forest complex

Duangchatrasiri¹,

Jornburom

Jinamoy³

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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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

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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.

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Weights of gaur (Bos gaurus) and banteng (Bos javanicus) killed by tigers in Thailand

Khaewphakdee

Simcharoen²,

Duangchantrasiri³

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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The primary prey of tigers across much of South‐East Asia has been depleted, reducing the ability of already limited habitat to support tigers. To better understand the extent to which two of the largest prey species, gaur (Bos gaurus) and banteng (Bos javanicus), contribute to the tiger's diet, we estimated the average size of these species killed by tigers. This information is needed to more accurately calculate biomass of these species in the tiger's diet and to devise strategies to increase tiger carrying capacity where habitat is fragmented and limited in west‐central Thailand. We used temporally clumped locations of 24 satellite radio‐collared tigers to identify their kill sites and obtained mandibles from 82 gaur and 79 banteng. Kills were aged by teeth eruption sequence, sectioning the M1 molar and counting cementum annuli. Of all gaur killed, 45.2% were adults; of all banteng killed, 55.7% were adults. The average weight of banteng killed was 423.9 kg, which was similar to the 397.9 kg average weight for gaur. The mean weight of both prey species is 3.5–4.5 times greater than the predicted 1:1 preferred prey to predator ratio. In the absence of medium‐sized prey, killing these larger animals may be especially critical for female tigers provisioning nearly independent young when male offspring are already larger than the mother. This is the first study to present data on the average weights of gaur and banteng killed in South‐East Asia, and these results suggest that these are key prey species to target in tiger prey recovery efforts.

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Tiger and leopard diets in western Thailand: Evidence for overlap and potential consequences

Cited by 40 publications

References 35 publications

Impact of prey occupancy and other ecological and anthropogenic factors on tiger distribution in Thailand's western forest complex

Impact of prey occupancy and other ecological and anthropogenic factors on tiger distribution in Thailand's western forest complex

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

Weights of gaur (Bos gaurus) and banteng (Bos javanicus) killed by tigers in Thailand

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