Habitat preferences of reintroduced banteng (Bos javanicus) into the Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand

Abstract

ContextLarge forest-dwelling mammals are highly sensitive to habitat structure. Thus, understanding the responses of reintroduced banteng (Bos javanicus d’Alton 1823) to their habitat is important for ensuring the sustainability of a reintroduction program. AimsThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the habitat preferences of banteng after reintroduction into the Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand on the basis of fieldwork conducted between January 2015 and November 2017. MethodsSeven banteng individuals bred at the Khao Nampu Nature and Wildlife Education Center were systematically reintroduced into the Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary in 2015 (four individuals) and 2016 (three individuals). The banteng individuals were tracked via radio-collars and camera-traps. The maximum-entropy method (MaxEnt) and multiple logistic regressions (MLR) were used to identify habitat preferences. Kernel-density estimates (KDE) and a minimum convex polygon (MCP) were used to estimate the area of the habitat used. Key resultsIn total, 407 radio-signal locations showed that the MaxEnt habitat-preference models classified the banteng as associated with distance from villages and salt licks (regularised training gain of >1.0). Multiple logistic regressions form 32 camera-trap locations classified the banteng as associated with low elevations far from villages, guard stations and roads in a flat area (no aspect). The two methods for estimating habitat use provided similar results and showed that the reintroduced banteng used a wider range of habitat in the dry than in the wet season. ConclusionsThe results from the present study suggest that the reintroduced banteng individuals prefer low elevations and flat areas without human activity. ImplicationsThese findings are important for possible translocations elsewhere.

Monitoring body condition score of reintroduced banteng (Bos javanicusD’Alton, 1923) into Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand

“…However, this was an accidental introduction without systematic planning (Chaiyarat et al, 2018). Using lessons learned from this incident, the first systematic introduction of captive-bred banteng into the natural habitat was set up at the Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary where banteng successfully adapted to the new environment (Chaiyarat et al, 2019). In 2015, the first group (two males and two females) was reintroduced in December (dry season), while the second group (two males and one female) was reintroduced in July 2016 (wet season) in the same area (Chaiyarat et al, 2019).…”

“…Using lessons learned from this incident, the first systematic introduction of captive-bred banteng into the natural habitat was set up at the Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary where banteng successfully adapted to the new environment (Chaiyarat et al, 2019). In 2015, the first group (two males and two females) was reintroduced in December (dry season), while the second group (two males and one female) was reintroduced in July 2016 (wet season) in the same area (Chaiyarat et al, 2019). The behavior and physiology of banteng can be altered after reintroduction into a new environment, especially by the change of diet and the need to forage.…”

“…Data were collected as previously described in Chaiyarat et al (2019Chaiyarat et al ( , 2020 as follows: 1. Training of the banteng before reintroduction…”

“…Seven captive-purebred banteng were bred in a 302 ha enclosure. Four adult males and three adult females between five and seven years old were habituated with transportation boxes (1 m × 2.5 m × 1.8 m, width × long × high) individually for 6 months at the Khao Nampu Nature and Wildlife Education Center (Chaiyarat et al, 2019). They were then translocated to Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary where they lived in a soft release cage (Sankar et al, 2013) for 4 months before release.…”

“…First, collar signals were examined 1 week after reintroduction to reduce the bias when the banteng were not familiar with their new habitat. The radio-collared banteng were monitored periodically every week through ground tracking, using homing in and triangulation techniques (White & Garrot, 1990) via VHF signals (Chaiyarat et al, 2019). Four individuals of captive-bred banteng were reintroduced in December 2015 during the dry season (November-April).…”