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Grassman Jr., L.I.; Tewes, M.E.
Spatial ecology and conservation of four sympatric felids in a fragmented forest in north-central Thailand
2005  Conference Proceeding

There is a paucity of natural history information on free-ranging felids in Southeast Asia. We report on the spatial ecology of 4 sympatric felids in a fragmented forest landscape in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, north-central Thailand (16ø5'-16ø35> N, 101ø20'-101ø55' E). From February 1999-February 2003, 4 clouded leopards (_Neofelis nebulosa_) (2 males and 2 females), 2 Asiatic golden cats (_Catopuma temminckii_) (1 male, 1 female), 1 female marbled cat (_Pardofelis marmorata_), and 20 leopard cats (_Prionailurus bengalensis_) (14 males and 6 females) were radio-collared and tracked from 3-20 months. The 200 km2 study area was dominated by a mixed evergreen forest on an 800-1,100 m elevation plateau. Felids were trapped in box traps, sedated and radio-collared with a VHF transmitter. Clouded leopards exhibited a mean annual home range (95% minimum convex polygon) of 30.8 km2, and traveled an average of 1,932 m each day. Range sizes of clouded leopards were similar to those calculated for a female (39.5 km2) and a male (42.2 km2) clouded leopard in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Extensive overlap between 2 male clouded leopards (X = 39%) in this study was unexpected because both individuals were mature with established ranges. Asiatic golden cats ranged 57.9 km2, and traveled an average of 1,597 m per day. In contrast to clouded leopards, Asiatic golden cat movements were not clustered around small core areas and space use within the home range was relatively uniform. A marbled cat was tracked for 1 month and ranged 5.3 km2. Leopard cat spatial organization was characterized as weakly territorial with similar intra-sexual range sizes and minimal seasonal variation. Mean annual home-range size (13.2 km2) was larger than observed in previous studies Core area (50% minimum convex polygon) averaged 2.0 km2, and the mean one-day movement was 1,298 m (SD ñ 981, range 35-8,653). Leopard cat habitat use was generally in proportion to occurrence. Analysis of 21 scats and 2 observations indicated that medium-sized cats (i.e. clouded leopard and Asiatic golden cat) consumed at least 9 species that consisted of terrestrial and arboreal mammals. No scats were attributed to marbled cats, whereas murids dominated leopard cat diet. Hunting by local people in the Study site was opportunistic and typically included birds, primates, small mammals and deer. Illegal aloewood (_Aquilaria crassna_) collection coupled with hunting often entailed large numbers of people for extended periods in the forest and was of particular conservation concern during the study period. The conservation of felids requires increased forest ranger patrols, continuing wildlife conservation education, and implementation of a sustainable-use ethic within appropriate sections of the buffer zone.

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