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Shwe, N.M.; Grainger, M.; Ngoprasert, D.; Aung, S.S.; Grindley, M.; Savini, T.
Anthropogenic pressure on large carnivores and their prey in the highly threatened forests of Tanintharyi, southern Myanmar
2023  Oryx (57): 262-271

The Tanintharyi Region in southern Myanmar is rich in biodiversity yet is facing threats from varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure. In this research we examine how anthropogenic pressures are influencing large carnivores (tiger _Panthera tigris_, leopard _Panthera pardus_ and dhole _Cuon alpinus_) and their major prey species (wild pig _Sus scrofa_, muntjac _Muntiacus_ spp., sambar _Rusa unicolor_, gaur _Bos gaurus_ and banteng _Bos javanicus_) in the Lenya Reserved Forest and adjacent areas of Sundaic forest. We used data from camera-trap surveys during May 2016-March 2018 and logistic regression to analyse the relationships between the presence of large carnivores and explanatory variables such as human disturbance, landscape variability and changes in prey distribution. Tiger presence was positively associated with the occurrence of gaur and distance to villages. The occurrence of prey did not explain the detection of leopards in the study area. We suspect this was because leopards have a broad diet, including arboreal primates, and their prey was not fully recorded in our camera-trap survey. Dholes were positively associated with wild pigs and the total number of prey but not associated with forest type and landscape variables. To restore the carnivore population and conserve the biodiversity of this area, effective protection of predators and habitat management for large ungulates are crucial.

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