SPATIAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF THE FELID COMMUNITY IN
PHU KHIEO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, THAILAND

Lon Grassman,
Feline Research Center, C. Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University, Kingsville
Dept. of Forest Biology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand

Sponsored by the Leonard X. Bosack and Bette M. Kruger Foundation

The following text is Lon's 2001 progress report describing his project and initial results.

Link to Lon's 2002 progress report (Ms Word)

Link to Lon's 2003 final report (MS Word)

INTRODUCTION.  A field study on the ecology of several rare and endangered felids in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand has been ongoing since November 1998.  This long-term study has met with success thus far with the trapping and radio collaring of several previously unstudied cats.  These include clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa (pictured above, tranquilized for radio collaring), marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata and Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temmincki.  In addition, leopard cats Prionailurus bengalensis, a relatively common small cat in the study area, are also being radio tracked.  This study has currently logged over 6,000 trap nights.  With a predicted 30,000 more trap nights remaining, it is hoped that we may capture several more representative individuals of these species, in addition to other species.  Upon completion of the field study a carnivore community conservation plan will be developed and distributed to range Southeast Asian countries.

STUDY SITE.  Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in northeastern Thailand in Chayaphum Province.  It is one of only three protected areas in Thailand which does not contain a permanent human settlement.  The study area is located on a mixed evergreen forested plateau at 800-1,500 m elevation.  Phu Khieo WS is noted for harboring several endangered species including: Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, tiger Panthera tigris, Sarus crane Grus antigone and white-winged duck Cairina scutulata among others.  In addition to our study animals, Phu Khieo WS also contains leopard P. pardus, fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus and jungle cat Felis chaus.  As a grassland species, the jungle cat is probably one of the rarest cats in Southeast Asia.

OBJECTIVES.  Study objectives include determination of cat home range size and intraspecific overlap; activity patterns; habitat utilization; prey selection; threats; and long-term survival requirements.

Spatial data are to be compared with seasonal variation and animal physical parameters.  This is a field intensive study with emphasis on voluminous data collection balanced between diurnal and nocturnal time periods.

METHODS. Radio telemetry is the primary method used in data collection.  Animals are trapped in box traps baited with live chickens.  Target species are anaesthetized, radio collared and released.  Subsequent tracking follows a periodic rotation whereby both diurnal and nocturnal times are represented.  To access prey selection, scat is collected in the field and identified via microscopic comparison of hairs with a known reference collection.

MARBLED CAT.  The marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata remains perhaps the most enigmatic small felid of mainland Southeast Asia.  The natural history of this poorly understood cat has been the subject of debate among biologists for many years.  Previous carnivore field studies have failed to capture and radio collar this species within their supposed geographic range.

On May 31 2000 this female marbled cat was trapped in a steel box trap (150 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm) baited with a live chicken.  The trap was located along an animal trail in a hill evergreen/bamboo mixed forest (~900 m elevation) 10 m from a stream.  This individual, although lean, appeared to be in good physical condition.  Examination of the nipples revealed no previous evidence of suckling.  The teeth were moderately yellowed and dulled.  The ectoparasite load was relatively heavy with >20 engorged ticks removed.  A small tissue sample from the ear was collected for future genetic assays, and a small 80 gram radio collar was fitted.

Preliminary home range data indicate an overall range of 5.8 km2 (n=23 radio locations).  Over a course of 4 weeks this cat moved in a north by northwest directioninto mountainous evergreen terrain (1,000-1,500 m elevation).  Activity (45%; n=180 activity readings) has been primarily nocturnal follwed by crepuscular time periods.  This cat’s home range overlaps that of a radio collared female clouded leopard which is also being actively tracked in this study.

The capture of this individual was unexpected as marbled cats are not listed in the most recent mammal list for Phu Khieo WS and, in fact, are not shown on many distribution maps as ranging in northeastern Thailand.  Clearly a reevaluation of this species’ distribution in this region is needed.  Throughout the northeast most forested land has been converted into agricultural land.  The Petchabun forest Complex, which contains Phu Khieo WS and Khao Yai National Park to the south, is the only large remaining forest block.  Within both protected areas marbled cat presence has recently been confirmed.

The similar habitat requirements and morphology of the clouded leopard and marbled cat, in addition to the relatively high density of clouded leopards, may favor the marbled cat in Phu Khieo WS.  However, the fact that this prime adult female has yet to give birth may indicate very low densities and subsequent difficulty in locating a mate. 

NEW 2002 Cat News article: Marbled Cat pair in northeastern Thailand. (MS Word)

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