Tiger density, movements, and immigration outside of a tiger source site in Thailand

Landscape‐scale strategies for conserving wild tigers emphasize the role of core breeding populations (source sites) to replenish surrounding areas which have lost tigers. In Southeast Asia, a few potential source sites remain, particularly Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand (HKK). We inve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation science and practice 2021-12, Vol.3 (12), p.n/a
Main Authors: Phumanee, Worrapan, Steinmetz, Robert, Phoonjampa, Rungnapa, Weingdow, Suthon, Phokamanee, Surachai, Bhumpakphan, Naris, Savini, Tommaso
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breeding
camera trap survey
Cameras
Density
dispersal
Environmental protection
Habitats
Immigration
Landscape preservation
National parks
Parks & recreation areas
Poaching
Population
population recovery
Prey
Recovery
SECR
Wildlife
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife management
Wildlife refuges
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Summary:Landscape‐scale strategies for conserving wild tigers emphasize the role of core breeding populations (source sites) to replenish surrounding areas which have lost tigers. In Southeast Asia, a few potential source sites remain, particularly Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand (HKK). We investigated tiger density in two reserves (Mae Wong, Khlong Lan: MWKL) adjacent to HKK where tigers and their prey were scarce due to historic poaching but current management offered effective protection. Camera trapping revealed 10 adult tigers (four males, six females), at least two of which had immigrated from HKK. Spatially explicit tiger density was 0.359 tigers/100 km2, 5.6 times lower than HKK. The population was breeding, with six cubs observed. Tiger movements (measured by σ, the spatial scale parameter) were twice as extensive in MWKL as in HKK, indicative of prey scarcity in MWKL. The disparity in density between MWKL and HKK reveals that tiger recovery is a slow process when prey are scarce, even when recovery areas are apparently well‐managed and connected to a source site. We review source‐recovery dynamics of tigers in other sites in Asia and find that low prey impedes landscape‐scale recoveries elsewhere as well. Landscape‐scale recovery of wild tigers is impeded by prey depletion, even when recovery areas are connected to a source population.
ISSN:2578-4854
2578-4854
DOI:10.1111/csp2.560