Peechanit Ketsuwan. Managing ungulate hotspots as sources of wildlife for maintaining forest corridor function in Thong Pha Phum National Park Western Thailand. Master's Degree(Environmental Biology ). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2009.
Managing ungulate hotspots as sources of wildlife for maintaining forest corridor function in Thong Pha Phum National Park Western Thailand
Abstract:
Thong Pha Phum National Park is a small forest corridor connecting protected
areas in western Thailand. This corridor is difficult to manage due to limited information
about wildlife and their distributions. Finding areas of ungulate concentration, or hotspots
of ungulates and their threats, can provide practical management. Scientific-based
management and tentative information can provide guides to the best solution for
maintaining a functioning wildlife corridor. Ungulates were studied because of their
representation as the survival species escaping from hunting and their important
ecological roles. Four steps of study were conducted, including (1) Rapid Ecological
Assessment (REA), (2) analysis of distribution patterns of ungulates and their disturbance,
(3) experimental management solutions, and (4) larger scale implementation.
Reconnaissance surveys on 230 km covering an area of 110 km2 were done during Jan
2006 to Feb 2008. Relative Abundance (RA) of ungulate and disturbance factors was
calculated in 0.25 km2 grid size. Five species of ungulates were found including Sambar
deer, gaur, common muntjac, wild pig and serow. Average RAs of wild pig (0.106±0.051)
and muntjac (0.051±0.006) were high and dispersed through the corridor. Average RAs
of Sambar deer (0.020±0.003), serow (0.015±0.003) and gaur (0.005±0.165) were low
with limited distribution. Average RA of human activities (0.060±0.006) and domestic
animals (0.061±0.007) were significantly equal. When RA of ungulate and disturbance
were overlaid, 5 patches of ungulate and disturbance concentrations were presented.
Stepping stone refuges were adapted to manage the corridor. Providing important
information feedback and training to wildlife rangers was also conducted, and the
monitoring system was evaluated. Forestry rangers had positive attitude toward practical
management using science-based information.