Khao Yai NP, Thailand

Khao Yai NP, Thailand, 2003-2007

Study Description:

The aim of this project, run by the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, was to: continue previous carnivore monitoring, expand into areas previously under-surveyed, and determine the status and distribution of all large mammal species across Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Funding and support of the project was provided in part by FREELAND Foundation and the Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation.

This project took place from October 2003 – February 2007 in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. CamTrakker Film Cameras were used in 217 camera stations over an average period of 29 days.

 Study Design:

 Khao Yai National Park is located in central Thailand. Most of the park’s terrain is hilly and dominated by deciduous forest, with dry evergreen forest occupying higher elevations (elevation ranges from 100 to 1350m). From October 2003 to March 2007, KYNP ranger teams conducted camera-trapping surveys to detect carnivore species and their prey. The teams were formed under the Carnivore Conservation Project (CCP), a collaboration between KYNP staff, the non-governmental organization PeunPa/FREELAND, and the Smithsonian Institution.

CamTrakker® (Cam Trak South, Inc., Watkinsville, Georgia, U.S.A.) cameras were set up in 217 locations over 6,260 trap nights. Park rangers deployed cameras throughout the park in a randomized-block design utilizing KYNP's 22 management zones. In this design, two zones were chosen randomly without replacement for each survey. Each zone was surveyed at least once during the study period. The team further delineated each zone into 1-km2 grid squares and randomly chose grid squares for camera placement. Four to six grid squares in each zone were selected based on the number of working cameras. Once a grid square was selected, teams set up actual camera locations within a square based on areas where high numbers of wildlife were likely to be detected (i.e., along wildlife trails and waterways).  No bait was used.