Thursday, June 01, 2006
Leopard Cat Research
ECOLOGY OF LEOPARD CATS IN THAILAND
Researchers: Lon Grassman, Jr., Sean Austin, Michael Tewes, and Nova Silvy (TAMU)
Little ecological and behavioral information exists on leopard cats. We are studying these wild cats in Khao Yai National Park and Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary. These refuges are located in a tropical evergreen forest and a mixed-evergreen forested plateau in Thailand. Sean Austin and Lon Grassman used radio-telemetry to gather data on home range size, habitat preference and use, activity patterns, and diet.
Our study is providing baseline information for this species. In Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Lon Grassman captured, radio-collared, and tracked via radio-telemtry 26 leopard cats. In Khao Yai National Park, Sean Austin captured 16 leopard cats and radio-collared 10 for which he obtained >500 locations. Preliminary data indicate leopard cat home ranges vary 0.9-4.3 mi2. Although activity patterns were irregular, leopard cats were active primarily during daylight. We also analyzed scat composition to identify prey species consumed. We will examine genetic variation in the two study populations to provide information on population structure and geneflow of leopard cat. Microsatellite data will be compared to radio-telemetry data to gain insights into social structure.
This information will make a significant contribution to our knowledge of the species and is critical for developing, prioritizing, and implementing management and conservation strategies. More ecological information is needed to develop better management and conservation practices in Southeast Asia.
Cooperative funding by the Bosack and Kruger Foundation through the Cat Action Treasury, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Sierra Endangered Cat Haven, Hexagon Farm, Parco Faunistica La Torbiera, Columbus Zoo, Point Defiance Zoo, and Mountain View Farms Conservation Breeding Centre.
SURVIVAL OF LEOPARD CATS IN THAILAND
Researchers: Lon I. Grassman, Aaron M. Haines, and Michael E. Tewes
The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a relatively common felid found throughout southeast Asia. However, no survival estimates have been developed for this felid. Our objectives were to estimate and contrast annual survival rates for male and female radio-collared leopard cats, and compare our mean annual survival rate to previous studies. From December 1999 to December 2002, we radio-collared leopard cats in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. We calculated survival rates for leopard cats in 2000, 2001, and 2002. We also calculated survival rates using data from two previous radio-telemetry leopard cat studies in Malaysia and Thailand for comparison.
We found no difference in annual survival between adult male and female leopard cats in our study area. Our estimates of mean annual leopard cat survival on Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary were higher than those calculated for leopard cats in Malaysia and central Thailand. Our high mean annual survival estimate of adult leopard cats may have been related to the remote location of the study area where there were minimal anthropogenic stresses on leopard cats. The two previous studies documented anthropogenic mortalities of leopard cats including hunting and vehicle-collisions. We did not observe any anthropogenic leopard cat mortalities.
Researchers: Lon Grassman, Jr., Sean Austin, Michael Tewes, and Nova Silvy (TAMU)
Little ecological and behavioral information exists on leopard cats. We are studying these wild cats in Khao Yai National Park and Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary. These refuges are located in a tropical evergreen forest and a mixed-evergreen forested plateau in Thailand. Sean Austin and Lon Grassman used radio-telemetry to gather data on home range size, habitat preference and use, activity patterns, and diet.
Our study is providing baseline information for this species. In Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Lon Grassman captured, radio-collared, and tracked via radio-telemtry 26 leopard cats. In Khao Yai National Park, Sean Austin captured 16 leopard cats and radio-collared 10 for which he obtained >500 locations. Preliminary data indicate leopard cat home ranges vary 0.9-4.3 mi2. Although activity patterns were irregular, leopard cats were active primarily during daylight. We also analyzed scat composition to identify prey species consumed. We will examine genetic variation in the two study populations to provide information on population structure and geneflow of leopard cat. Microsatellite data will be compared to radio-telemetry data to gain insights into social structure.
This information will make a significant contribution to our knowledge of the species and is critical for developing, prioritizing, and implementing management and conservation strategies. More ecological information is needed to develop better management and conservation practices in Southeast Asia.
Cooperative funding by the Bosack and Kruger Foundation through the Cat Action Treasury, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Sierra Endangered Cat Haven, Hexagon Farm, Parco Faunistica La Torbiera, Columbus Zoo, Point Defiance Zoo, and Mountain View Farms Conservation Breeding Centre.
SURVIVAL OF LEOPARD CATS IN THAILAND
Researchers: Lon I. Grassman, Aaron M. Haines, and Michael E. Tewes
The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a relatively common felid found throughout southeast Asia. However, no survival estimates have been developed for this felid. Our objectives were to estimate and contrast annual survival rates for male and female radio-collared leopard cats, and compare our mean annual survival rate to previous studies. From December 1999 to December 2002, we radio-collared leopard cats in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. We calculated survival rates for leopard cats in 2000, 2001, and 2002. We also calculated survival rates using data from two previous radio-telemetry leopard cat studies in Malaysia and Thailand for comparison.
We found no difference in annual survival between adult male and female leopard cats in our study area. Our estimates of mean annual leopard cat survival on Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary were higher than those calculated for leopard cats in Malaysia and central Thailand. Our high mean annual survival estimate of adult leopard cats may have been related to the remote location of the study area where there were minimal anthropogenic stresses on leopard cats. The two previous studies documented anthropogenic mortalities of leopard cats including hunting and vehicle-collisions. We did not observe any anthropogenic leopard cat mortalities.
