Sightings of Common Palm Civets Paradoxurus hermaphroditus and of other civet species at Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary and Veun Sai–Siem Pang Conservation Area, Cambodia
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T. ISEBORN , L. D. ROGERS , B. RAWSON and K. A. I. NEKARIS Abstract
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Night surveys are still sparse in Cambodia and therefore only limited data are available on the distribution, density and ecol Civetsogy of nocturnalParadoxurus mammals. hermaphroditus In 20 km of nocturnal line transects in Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary (southwest Cambodia) in 2009, and 17.2 km in Veun Sai–Siem Pang Conservation Area (northeast Cambodia) in 2011, we encountered 14 Common Palm , seven in each site. Mean linear encounter rate for CommonArctogalidia Palm Civet trivirgata was 0.35 and animals/ Viverra/ Viverriculakm (SE ± 0.17) in Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary and 0.39 animals/km (SE ± 0.21) in Veun Sai–Siem Pang Conservation Area. Other small carnivore species sighted during the surveys comprised Small-toothed Palm Civet sp. Although there is no evidence that civets are commonly hunted for use in traditional medicine, they are caught Keywordsopportunistically: for local consumption. Further surveys in Cambodia could clarify trends in nocturnal mammal populations.
anthropogenic pressure, night surveys, nocturnal mammals, traditional medicine
ករអេងកត䮚បេភទសត䮜សេពច䮚កអំ ូប និង䮚បេភទសតស䮜 េពចេ��ង�េទៀតំ - េនកងែដនជ䮚មកសតុន 䮜ៃ䮚ពភនំសកំ សុ និងតំបន់អភិរក��ុឺនៃស-េសៀមប៉ ង កង䮚បេទសកមុន ុពជ animals in traditional medicines and for wild meat both locally etand al for illegal export, raise concern for fast-disappearinget al hab សេងបខ itats and unsustainable exploitation of forest products (Platt . 2004, Ashwell & Walston 2008, Grismer . 2008). ករអេងកតេពលយប់េនែតមនភពខះចេន䮜 䮛 ះេនកុនង䮚បេទសកមុពជ ែដល ជលទ䮋ផលករ䮚បមូលទិនន The status of many nocturnal mammal species is still ន័យ េទេលើ របយ ដង់សុីេត និងលកខណះជីវ��សៃនថន䮊 ិកសត䮜�䮚តីចរេនមនកំរតេនេឡិ ើយ ។ poorly understood in Cambodia, given theet al general focus on- េនកុនងឆន ំ ២០០៩ 䮚កុម��វ䮚ជវបនេ䮚ជើសេរសវើ ធិ ី��សេដ䮊 ើរ䮚តង់សុិក (Transects) េពលយប់ េន diurnal and sign-based mammal surveys (e.g. Momberg &
ែដនជ䮚មកសត䮜ៃ䮚ពភំនសំកុស(ភគនរតីៃន䮚បេទសកមុពជ)បនចំងយ ២០គីឡូែម៉䮚ត និងកុនងឆន ំ ២០១១ Weiler 1999, Long & Swan 2000, Walston . 2001). Most re
េនតំបន់អភិរក�វនៃសុឺ -េសៀមប៉ ង(ភគឥ�ន䮏ៃន䮚បេភទកមុជព )បនចំងយ១៧,២ គីឡូែម៉䮚ត ។ 䮚កុម search including nocturnal mammalset al in Cambodia has simply ��វ䮚ជវបនជួប䮚បទះសំេពច䮚កអូបParadoxurus hermaphroditus ចំនួន១៤កបលេនតំបន់ទំងពីរ recorded species presence (e.g. Walston et& al.Duckworth 2003, Holden & Neang 2009, Schank . 2009) with only a handful (ចំនួន៧កបលកុងតន ំបន់និមួយៗ) ។ ជមធយមករជួប䮚បទះសំេពច䮚កអូបេនកុនងករអេងកតគឺមន et al et al ± attempting to quantify abundance (Gray 2010, Streicher ចំនួន០,៣៥ កបលកុនងមួយគីឡូែម៉䮚តកេរ ៉ (SE 0.17) កុនងែដនជ䮚មកសត䮜ៃ䮚ពភំនសំកុស និងចំនួន ± 2010, Coudrat . 2011, Gray & Phan 2011, Starr . 2011). ០,៣៩កបល កុនងមួយគីឡូែម៉䮚តកេរ ៉ (SE 0.21) កុនងតំបន់អភិរក�វនៃសុឺ -េសៀមប៉ ង។ េ䮚កពីេនះមន Population sizes of nocturnal mammals in Cambodia and- 䮚បេភទមំ�សីមួយចំនួនេទៀតបនជួប䮚បទះផងែដរេនកងករសន ិក�េនះ មនដូចជ សំេពចអុចខនង ុ threat levels to them are therefore mostly speculative. Arctogalidia trivirgata និង Viverra/Viverricula sp. ។ េទះបីជគម នករបញជ ក់ថសំេពចជទូេទ their Onethreat often status largely on The overlooked IUCN Red family List of is Threatenedthe Viverridae Species (civ; 䮚តូវបនេគ䮚បមញ់ស䮚មប់េ䮚បើេធើ䮜ឳសថបូ�ណក៏េ�យ ក៏䮚បេភទេនះជទូេទ䮚តូវបនេគ 䮚បមញ់ ets). Seven civet species are reported from CambodiaArctictis bintu (with- ស䮚មប់េធើ䮜ជមូ䮠ប��រ ។ ជចុងេ䮚កយ䮚កុម��វ䮚ជវ បនផ䮊ល់អនុ�សន៍េ�យមនករសិក� rong Viverra megaspila, Near Threat- ថនិកសត䮜�䮚តីចរបែនថមេទៀតេដើមបី�ម�ន និង䮚តួតពិនិតយករែ䮚ប䮚បួលៃនចំនួនរបស់� ។ IUCN 2011): the Vulnerable (VU)V. zibetha Binturong
, VU Large-spottedParadoxurus Civet hermaphroditus ened (NT) LargePaguma Indian larvata Civet, LC Small Indian, Least Civet Concern Viverricula (LC) ពកយគនិះ䮛 សំពធ ករសិកយេពលយប់ ថនិកសត䮜�䮚តីចរ និងឳសថបូ�ណ indicaCommon Palm Civet Arctogalidia, LC trivirgata Masked. Palm Civet Nycticebus - and LC Small-toothed Palm Civet - Introduction nameseThe traditional nocturnal, medicine arboreal lorises(Starr et al are heavily hunt ed and traded in Cambodia for use in Khmer, Chinese and Viet . 2010). Arboreal civets et al. are likely to be hunted through the same processes, and although Human activities in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot are they may not be specifically targeted, populations are plausibly leading to major declines in mammal populations (Myers being affected. This note presents sightings of Common Palm 2000, Ceballos & Ehrlich 2002). With a tumultuous history of StudyCivets and areas other civet species in two sites in Cambodia. civil conflict over the last half-century, Cambodiaet al withstood some of these declines, and stands out as retaining some of the largest tracts of forest in the region (Claridge . 2005). With- a move to liberal democracy, forest loss has now increased The Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary (= Phnom Samkos WS), dramatically, and the impact on biodiversity has become se in the Cardamom Mountains of southwest Cambodia (Fig. 1), vere. Demands for timber, for non-timber forest products, for encompasses 3,338 km² of protected forest (Daltry & Momberg
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- ® 2000). LDR surveyed specifically in the lowland Samkos Basin lengths measured with a laser range finder (Bushnell Sport close to the base camp at 12°21'N, 103°07'E, an area charac 450) were® confirmed with GPS® reference points (Garmin: terised by dry dipterocarp forest with occasional patches of eTrexVista HCx and GPSMAP 60CSx). Checking compass semi-evergreen and evergreen forest. The Veun Sai–Siem Pang- bearings approximately every 50 m ensured transect linearity. Conservation Area (= Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA) covers 550 km²- Surveys took place between 19h00 and 04h00. Most surveys in north-eastern Cambodia which, while the target of conser were conducted simultaneously by two observers, but twice in vation activities, is not currently a legally designated protect Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA the team consisted of three, and once ed area (Fig. 1). TI surveyed in the southernmost part of Veun six, people. Observers walked randomly selected transects, Sai–Siem Pang CA (base camp:Lagerstroemia 14°01'N, 106°44'E) where determined by picking the number out of a hat. Each transect broadleaf evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest and mixed was walked at least twice, excepting two in Veun Sai–Siem deciduous forest dominated by species are the Pang CA walked only once. Twice in Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA, prevalent forest types. Currently available habitat maps are transects were not completed due to heavy storms and were insufficient to assess relative proportions of forest type along repeated on a different night; the uncompleted transects are- transects accurately at this scale. Both sites are subject to included here because animals were seen during their early considerable illegal logging, hunting, fires (including burning part. Observers walked 0.5–1 km/hr maintaining 10 m dis for shifting cultivation), and often unsustainable collection of tance between each other, scanning all levels of vegetation Methodsnon-timber products by the local population. and, in Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA, stopping for 5–10 min every- 100 m to maximise probability® of detection. The 4.5V head torches with red filter (Petzl ) for detection and identifica - tion of animals mostly used were not bright enough in open The records presented here were collected during population parts in Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA to penetrate the entire search- surveys of lorises. All nocturnal mammals seen were system- volume effectively; here, locally purchased torches with white atically recorded, with particular attention to civets, which light were used for initial detection and identification of ani- are potential predators of lorises. Phnom Samkos WS was sur mals followed by closer observations using red light. veyed from April to July 2009 and Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA from Species status at each site is expressed as the linear en- April to June 2011, timings dictated by external constraints.- counter rate per kilometer, which is calculated as the number The 17 transects (Table 1) were a minimum of 500 m apart. of animals seen divided by distance walked. Linear encoun Transect preparation minimised cutting of vegetation (suf ter rates were calculated per individual transect-line and ficient to allow passage for one person at a time) and other averaged to give a final figure for each site; this gives each- changes to microhabitat that might affect the distribution of transect-line equal weighting no matter how often it was animals. In Phnom Samkos WS transects were placed in three walked. The encounter-rate approach is fraught with meth separate areas of the Samkos basin accessible by three small- odological difficulties, most significantly the assumption that- trails. The transects were all cut following the bearing of 220° viewing distance (i.e. detection function) is uniform along running parallel to each other. In Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA, ran and between transects. These estimates are for general refer domised transect positioning was prevented by the patchy- ence, and as a potential basis for monitoring in Veun Sai–Siem tathabitat, for lorises. so transects were positioned not to cross farm land ResultsPang CA if transects be repeated at a later stage. and other large open areas assumed to be inappropriate habi
Transects were marked every 50 m with flagging tape and allowed to rest for at least 30 hrs before the first survey In total 37.2 km were surveyed along transects: 20 km in on that transect (as recommended by Peres 1999). Transect Phnom Samkos WS and 17.2 km in Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA (Table 1). We confidently identified Common Palm Civets (seven each in Phnom Samkos WS and on transects in Veun- Sai–Siem Pang CA), mainly as a solitary animal but once as a duo. In Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA five further Common Palm Civ ets were seen off-transects. Most Common Palm Civets were in evergreen forest, but two records in Phnom Samkos WS were in dry dipterocarp forest. While evergreen forest was the
Table 1. Night transects walked at Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary in 2009 and Veun Sai–Siem Pang Conservation Area in 2011, Cambodia. Phnom Veun Sai–Siem Samkos WS Pang CA Number of transects 10 7 Individual transect length 1 km 1.1–1.6 km Total transect length 10 km 9.2 km Fig. 1. Locations of the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary and Veun Sai– Total distance walked 20 km 17.2 km Siem Pang Conservation Area within Cambodia. Total survey effort 25 hours 29 hours
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predominantly surveyed habitat in Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA, in- tudes towards animals living in the Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA (42 Phnom Samkos WS about 60% of surveyed transect was in dry hunters and 20 non-hunters, aged 17–67 years). Civets were dipterocarp forest. In Phnom Samkos WS Common Palm Civ never placed by hunters in the top ten desired prey species, nor ets were encountered mostly in trees, but twice on the ground. Maniswere they mentioned in the context of traditional medicine use. In Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA, they were detected at heights of Other relatively obscure nocturnal animals, including pangolins 6–22 m above the ground (mean 12.6 m ±1.67). Behaviours , various lizards and snakes, and lorises, were preferred by- at first contact included being alert/watching the observers;- hunters, reflecting their higher economic value. Despite this, non- resting; playing socially and feeding on fruit. target species were said usually Prionailurusto be caught whenbengalensis observed, in a sugtree Physical characteristics and behaviour of a civet seen fur- gesting that opportunistic offtake of civets may be high. ther off the transect in Phnom Samkos WS correspondedArctogalidia tri to- Apart from a Leopard Cat virgatathose described by Duckworth (1997) and Walston & Duck in the dipterocarp forest in Phnom Samkos WS, no other small worth (2003)Paguma for Small-toothed larvata Palm Civet carnivore species were encountered directly. Only a few other . Initially, we assumed that the animal A was field a guide Masked to Nycticebusnocturnal speciesbengalensis were seen from transects N. (Phnom pygmaeus Samkos Palmthe mammals Civet of Southeast Asia based on conversation with our WS first, Veun Sai–Siem Pang CAPetaurista second): Bengalphilippensis Slow Loris local guide and his pointing to this species in Tragulus (n = 9, 0), kanchil Pygmy Loris (n =- (Francis 2008). The animal jac0, 5), Muntiacus Indian Giant muntjak Flying Squirrel (n = 3,- was in lowland evergreen forest, making considerable noise 1), Lesser Chevrotain (n = 15, 7) and Red Munt as it moved around high in a tree. On 17 May 2011 in Veun (n = 1, 0). In Phnom Samkos WS, munt Sai–Siem Pang CA in evergreen forest, facing each other on jacs were frequently seen and heard out of survey time. - the thick branches of two neighbouring trees at 12 and 14 m Hunting remains a chief threat to wildlife in Cambodia. above ground respectively, we Viverra/Viverriculasaw a duo of civets with distinct Not only were head-torches, which facilitate nocturnal hunt black-and-white banded tails and neck-markings. They were ing, readily available at markets and small shops around bothCan- not safely identifiable beyond in litt . Both genera- issites, familiaris but also traditional snares were seen in hunter’s houses, are almost invariably seen singly and on the ground, at least in and many people could be observed with domestic dogs - the Mekong countries (J. W. Duckworth . 2012), suggest , with which they also hunted. Future nocturnal ing that perhaps they were in some reproductive association. surveys in Cambodia should attempt to quantify civet abun Mean linear encounter rates for Common Palm Civet dance. The paucity of quantitative data from the region and were 0.35 animals/km (SE ± 0.17) in Phnom Samkos WS and the strong evidence of hunting urge more research to clarify 0.39 animals/km (SE ± 0.21) in Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA. These nocturnal mammal conservation status in Cambodia. Further transectsfigures do were not necessarily not uniform. indicate a proportionate difference explorations into local ecological knowledge might clarify why in density, because sighting distances along and between at least some nocturnal mammal taxa in the country seem to Discussion Acknowledgementsoccur at consistently low densities.
- We would like to thank T. Eastoe, O. Nelson, T. Wood, E. Woodfield- In the two study areas only three of Cambodia’s seven civet- and the staff of the Cambodian branches of Conservation Interna species were found,P. hermaphroditus echoing previous spotlightingViverra studies: zi- tional and Fauna & Flora International as well as Ministry of Environ bethaStreicher and (2010), V. megaspila in Veun Sai–Siem Pang CA, also only confi ment and Cambodian Forestry Administration for allowing access to dently identified although both the sites and their assistance with the logistics of carrying out the were subsequentlyP. hermaphroditus camera-trapped at- study. We are grateful to J. Mathai for his constructive comments and the sitePaguma (BR pers. larvata obs.).. Starr (2012), in MondulkiriP. hermaph Province- suggestions and to J. W. Duckworth for his advice during the writing roditusfor two years, only encountered and posRed process. We would also like to thank N. Hon for the translation and Listsibly We certainly encountered C. Coudrat and N. Hon for their contribution to the map. Funding was ‘commonly’ at both sites, but many civets’ general provided by Primate Society of Great Britain, Primate Conservation categorisation as LC is based on minimal field data: many ReferencesInc. and Oxford Brookes University MSc Primate Conservation. nocturnal studies do not attempt to quantify their abundance. Because detection varies between species, habitat types,- studies. Wildlife Society Bulletin observers and environmental conditions (Anderson 2001), Anderson, D. R. 2001. The needAn to overview get the basicsof the use right and in trade wildlife of plants field for comparable results, survey methods should be standard and animals in traditional medicine 29: systems 1294–1297. in Cambodia ised (Struhsaker 1981, Peres 1999). Density calculationset al. are Ashwell, D. & Walston, N. 2008. best achieved using DISTANCE software, which incorporates- . TRAFFICDis- the probability of detection function (Buckland 1993). tanceSoutheast sampling: Asia, Greater estimating Mekong abundance Programme, of biological Hanoi, Vietnam. populations. This study’s intended use of DISTANCE sampling for civet den Buckland, S. T., Anderson, D. R., Burnham, K. P. & Laake, J. L. 1993. sities was preventedet al by the low number of encounters: 60–80 - independent sightings, and never less than 40 are required Chapman and Hall, London, U.K.Introduction to Distance sampling. (Buckland . 1993, 2001). Such sampleet sizes al are frequently Buckland, S. T., Anderson, D. R., Burnham, K. P., Laake, J. L., Borch impossible to generate in nocturnal transect surveys of small ers, D. L. & Thomas, L. 2001. carnivores in tropical forest (e.g. Mathai . in prep.). - Oxford UniversityScience Press, Oxford, U.K. Iseborn (2011) interviewed villagers from two ethnic Ceballos, G. & Ehrlich, P. R. 2002. Mammal population losses and the groups, the Kavet and Lao, regarding their knowledge and atti extinction crisis. 296: 904–907. Small Carnivore Conservation
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