Research Article: Duangchantrasiri, S., Umponjan, M., Simcharoen, S., Pattanavibool, A., Chaiwattana, S., Maneerat, S., Kumar, N.S., Jathanna, D., Srivathsa, A. & Karanth, K.U. (2016). Dynamics of a low-density tiger population in southeast Asia in the context of improved law enforcement. Conservation Biology, 30, 639–648.

Blog Author: Nitya Satheesh

Highlights:

  • Designated areas have been set aside specifically for wildlife and wild places to counter anthropogenic pressures.
  • Conservation models have been focused on large carnivores such as tigers due to their charismatic nature as well as their role in protecting a wide number of species
  • This study focused on a model implemented by the Government of Thailand focusing on monitoring a source population of wild tigers (Panthera tigris)
  • The study found that while survival rates and recruitment of new tigers in the population showed an increasing trend over the study period, low tiger densities could be attributed to poaching incidents. 

 

Large carnivores have largely been considered catalysts or ambassadors for global conservation due to their charisma and role in aiding the protection of a wide range of species as well as ecosystems.  A prime example of large carnivore conservation is the tiger. Tigers have been the focus of conservation efforts worldwide as their range has shrunk by ~93% and population numbers have declined to about 2000-3000 individuals. This decline has been majorly driven by human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, and overhunting of their prey. One strategy used to counter this is to set aside specifically designated areas to protect wildlife and wild places. These are areas that have stringent regulations on anthropogenic actions allowing little to no human interference. Although this strategy has garnered support for protecting habitats and wildlife, few rigorous empirical studies on species recovery exist or are monitored. 

Several conservation models have been initiated to reduce anthropogenic pressures on tigers; however, rigorous and scientific population monitoring techniques have to be implemented to assess the success of such models. One such model was initiated by the Thailand Government in Huai Kha Kheng (HKK) wildlife sanctuary in 2006, focusing specifically on the source population recovery of wild tigers (Panthera tigris). They established intense foot patrolling systems to monitor tigers and their prey and prevent poaching activities. Additionally, they initiated a rigorous tiger monitoring scheme that was first developed in India.

HKK, a wildlife sanctuary with a 2780 sq. km. size, was established in 1972. This is part of Thailand’s 18,000 sq. km. western forest complex. In addition to housing the largest tiger population in Southeast Asia, this sanctuary also protects several endangered ungulates, including the gaur, eld’s deer, and banteng. It was observed at the time of this study that although the park could potentially sustain 700 tigers in HKK, they occurred at relatively low densities of <4 tigers per 100 sq. km.

Scientists from the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) sought to understand the factors that influence the tiger population in HKK. They speculated on whether the stringent conservation measures implemented would result in a rise in tiger populations. To monitor tiger populations, systematic field surveys were conducted over seven years between 2006 – 2012. Paired camera traps were placed along expected tiger traverse routes which capture images of both flanks of an individual tiger thereby increasing chances of identification.

Study surveys yielded photos of 90 individual tigers ( 33 male, 50 female, and 7 unknown). The analysis’s findings indicated a stable tiger population and a high annual survival rate of  82% across the study area. Additionally, they found that the annual recruitment of new tigers into the population increased gradually during the study period. There was no obvious increase in tiger populations, and densities in HKK are significantly below potential levels which could be attributable to continuous poaching occurrences, even though they discovered that improved anti-poaching operations led to a drop in evidence of poaching. Future intense monitoring of poaching incidences will help in reducing anthropogenic pressures on tiger populations.

 

Keywords: Tiger, Panthera tigris, conservation, camera trap, wildlife monitoring, species recovery, Thailand, population monitoring

You can access the original article here.