Leopard density in post‐conflict landscape, Cambodia: Evidence from spatially explicit capture–recapture

Gray, Thomas N. E.; Prum, Sovanna

doi:10.1002/jwmg.230

Cited by 74 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(54 reference statements)

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“…Balme et al [27] obtained a density of 7.17 per 100 km −2 in a protected buffer area in South Africa while the non-protected farmlands had leopards at 2.49/100 km −2 . A recent study from a protected area in Cambodia, devoid of human habitations, obtained leopard density estimates of 3.6/100 km 2 and 3.8/100 km 2 using SECR (Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture) and conventional CR (Capture Recapture) methods [50]. Estimate of leopard density in India is available from only within protected areas with 15/100 km 2 [38] but this area is largely devoid of people and agricultural land-use.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Big Cats in Our Backyards: Persistence of Large Carnivores in a Human Dominated Landscape in India

Odden²,

et al. 2013

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Protected areas are extremely important for the long term viability of biodiversity in a densely populated country like India where land is a scarce resource. However, protected areas cover only 5% of the land area in India and in the case of large carnivores that range widely, human use landscapes will function as important habitats required for gene flow to occur between protected areas. In this study, we used photographic capture recapture analysis to assess the density of large carnivores in a human-dominated agricultural landscape with density >300 people/km2 in western Maharashtra, India. We found evidence of a wide suite of wild carnivores inhabiting a cropland landscape devoid of wilderness and wild herbivore prey. Furthermore, the large carnivores; leopard (Panthera pardus) and striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) occurred at relatively high density of 4.8±1.2 (sd) adults/100 km2 and 5.03±1.3 (sd) adults/100 km2 respectively. This situation has never been reported before where 10 large carnivores/100 km2 are sharing space with dense human populations in a completely modified landscape. Human attacks by leopards were rare despite a potentially volatile situation considering that the leopard has been involved in serious conflict, including human deaths in adjoining areas. The results of our work push the frontiers of our understanding of the adaptability of both, humans and wildlife to each other’s presence. The results also highlight the urgent need to shift from a PA centric to a landscape level conservation approach, where issues are more complex, and the potential for conflict is also very high. It also highlights the need for a serious rethink of conservation policy, law and practice where the current management focus is restricted to wildlife inside Protected Areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Big Cats in Our Backyards: Persistence of Large Carnivores in a Human Dominated Landscape in India

Odden²,

et al. 2013

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“…To maximize detection probability for large carnivores, we situated cameras on an animal trail, ridgeline, or old logging road, and placed them approximately 45 cm above the ground in the trail center and 2-5 m from the middle of the trail. Leopard and other large cat movements are likely to be funneled by these features (as indicated by leopard signs; e.g., Karanth 1995, Gray andPrum 2012). Each station was located within a 1.7 Â 1.7-km (2.89 km 2 ) cell, and was situated as close to the center of each cell as possible to avoid clumping of stations, while not compromising the suitability of the location.…”

Section: Camera Trappingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melanistic leopards reveal their spots: Infrared camera traps provide a population density estimate of leopards in malaysia

Hedges

Lam²,

Campos‐Arceiz

et al. 2015

Jour. Wild. Mgmt.

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To date, leopards (Panthera pardus) in Peninsular Malaysia have been overlooked by large carnivore researchers. This is in part due to the country's unique population of individuals that are almost all melanistic, which makes it nearly impossible to identify individuals using camera traps for estimating leopard density. We discovered a novel modification to infrared flash camera traps, which forces the camera into night mode, that allows us to consistently and clearly see the spots of a melanistic leopard. The aim of this project was 1) to determine the feasibility of identifying melanistic leopards with confidence using infrared flash camera traps, and 2) to establish a density estimate for the leopard population in a wildlife corridor in Malaysia using maximum likelihood and Bayesian spatially explicit capture‐recapture (SECR) models. Both SECR approaches yielded a leopard density of approximately 3 individuals/100 km2. Our estimates represent the first density estimate of leopards in Malaysia and arguably, the world's first successful attempt to estimate the population size of a species with melanistic phenotypes. Because we have demonstrated that melanistic leopards can be monitored with confidence using infrared cameras, future studies should employ our approach instead of relying on scars or body shape for identification. Ultimately, our approach can facilitate more accurate assessments of leopard population trends, particularly in regions where melanistic phenotypes largely occur. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.

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“…Precision of abundance estimates in comparison with those produced by heterogeneity models used for other large felids, further highlight the favorable results of this study. Gray and Prum () compared mixture models and a Huggins type gender model (comparable to the spatial tactic model used here) for leopard Panthera pardus and detected differences in abundance estimates between the model types. However, true abundance of leopard was unknown, thus inferences regarding the accuracy of estimates could not be made.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the poor performance of the CAPTURE heterogeneity M h model for large carnivore species, this model has recently been deemed inappropriate for the use with these species (Gray & Prum, ). Our study confirms this, and thus previous studies having used this model for estimating cheetah abundance, might be inaccurate and represent overestimates of abundance (e.g., Marker et al., ; Marnewick et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping with intrasexual behavioral differences: Capture–recapture abundance estimation of male cheetah

Edwards

Fischer

Wachter

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Population estimates are a fundamental requirement of ecology and conservation. While capture–recapture models are an established method for producing such estimates, their assumption of homogeneous capture probabilities is problematic given that heterogeneity in individual capture probability is inherent to most species. Such variation must be accounted for by abundance models; otherwise, biased estimates are risked.Here, we investigate the performance of four types of heterogeneity models for estimating abundance of male cheetah Acinonyx jubatus, a species with two distinct spatial tactics of territorial and nonterritorial (floater) males. The differences in spatial movements of territory holders and floaters are expected to result in intrasexual heterogeneous capture probabilities. Four heterogeneity models were used to model male abundance at five territories in central Namibia; (a) a spatial tactic model, (b) a finite mixture model, both run in program MARK, (c) a floater‐only model, and (d) a heterogeneity Mh model, both run in the program CAPTURE. Camera trap data of cheetah, taken at frequently visited marking trees, were used to derive true abundance. Model results were compared to the true abundance to assess the accuracy of estimates.Only models (a), (b), and (c) were able to consistently produce accurate results. Mixture models do not require prior knowledge regarding spatial tactic of males, which might not always be available. Therefore, we recommend such models as the preferred model type for cheetahs.Results highlight the potential for mixture models in overcoming the challenges of capture probability heterogeneity and in particular their use with species where intrasexual behavioral differences exist.

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Leopard density in post‐conflict landscape, Cambodia: Evidence from spatially explicit capture–recapture

Cited by 74 publications

References 32 publications

Big Cats in Our Backyards: Persistence of Large Carnivores in a Human Dominated Landscape in India

Big Cats in Our Backyards: Persistence of Large Carnivores in a Human Dominated Landscape in India

Melanistic leopards reveal their spots: Infrared camera traps provide a population density estimate of leopards in malaysia

Coping with intrasexual behavioral differences: Capture–recapture abundance estimation of male cheetah

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