NAT. NAT. HIST. BUL L. SIAM Soc. 54(2): 195-207 ，2006

SMALL AROUND A KAREN VILLAGE IN NORTHERN PROVINCE ，: ABUNDANCE ，DISTRIBUTION AND HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Nattha Nattha Wattanaratchaki t' and Sompoad Srikosamatarcl

ABSTRACT

The aim of 出is study was to understand the ecology of small mammals around a Karen village village and the relationships between small mammals and the lifestyle of the . Th e abundance ，distribution and species diversity of small mammals were studied around a Ka 民 n village ，Muang Pham ， Pang Ma Pa District ， in Mae Hong Son Province. Ten species were

captured. captured. Menetes berdmorei ， rattus ，如 d bukit were the most common species

around around the village. R. rattus w ぉ abundant in paddy fields ， whereas M. berdmorei was captu 問 d more often in com fields. N. bukit was most common in multiple-use forest area. 明le highest abundance abundance of small mammals was found in 恥 agricultural area ，whereas 曲eir gl 四回 tspecies diversity diversity was in the community fores t. Most species that occur 四 d in the agricultural 蹴 a were pest pest species. su ゆ r had low density around the village but was a valuable source

of of protein for Karen villagers. About 3，000 raωweighing a to 飽1 of more 血an 300 kg we 問 ∞nsumed in Muang Pham village during November 20 04- January 2005. Disturbance from agriculture ， and harvest of timber and non-timber forest products around the village have caused caused a high abundance of pest species around 白is Karen village. Most species were tolerant of of disturbed areas ， whereas species most sensitive to disturbance ，such ぉ M. surifer ， were rare

ne 紅 the village.τ 'h e consumption of rat meat is tending to decf ぬ se in the younger generations.

Key words: Abundance ，Human consumption ，Karen ， Northem τ'h ailand ， Small manunals

別 TRODUCTION

Small mammals are good ecological indicators for the condition of te 町田町ial habitats (WILES ， 1981; ELLI O' π EJ AL ， 1989; KA.N CHANASAKA ， 1992; W 札悶R & RAB 町 OWITZ ， 1992; 1992; PlNN OY ， 1993; LYNAM ， 1997; HAMAR 汀， 1997). 百ley are important seed dispersers and seed predators ，佃d are also food for several predators. Many species of small mantmal are are serious pests 泊 agricultural areas around the world (DAVIDSON ， 2000; DOA ，2001 ， WOOD & CHENG ， 2003). Most studies of small mammals have focused on their ecological roles roles and role as pests. Few studies have examined all linkages between small mantmals and the local community. Th is research focused on the density and species diversity of small mammals around a Karen village 加 Mae Hong Son Pr ovince ，and on their roles as p 回 ts and human food. τ'h e Karen are the largest h i1l位 ibe group in 百四land (SANTASOMBAT ，1999). 官 ley are are farmers who practice rotational swidden cultivation in mountain valleys.τ 'h e Karen cultivate cultivate rice ， their most important agricultural crop ， in both dry fields and paddy fields

IDep 紅 tment of Biology ，Faculty of Science ，Mallidol University ，Rama VI Road ， 10400 ，百 lail 釦 d Rec 哩ived 21 De cember 2005; accepted 17 August 2006.

195 195 196 196 NATIHA WATIANARATCHAKIT AND SOM 即 AD SRIKOSAMATARA

(UNDP ，2004). 百le Karen are known to have high environment a1 awareness and aI芯 good conservationists conservationists (PROSAO & SIRALUK ， 1999; SANTASOMBAT ， 1999; UNDP ，2004). 官 ley believe 伽 t most wild are homes of human spirits (PROSAO & SIRALUK ， 1999). They hunt wildlife ， but are not dependent on this activity as 釘 'e other groups such as 白e Lahu and 町即時 (S 百別METZ & MA 百 ffiR ， 1996; Tu NGITTIPLAKORN ET AL ， 1999). Th e food of Karen people comes mostly from agriculture and includes rice ，com ， beans and many kinds of vegetables. In addition to agricultural products ， other food the for Karen fru:n ily comes from forest 釘 eas around the village ，and includes wild vegetables ，insects ， amphibians ， birds and many species of sm a1 1m ru:n m a1 s including tltose 出at are agricultur a1 pests. pests.

STUDY AREA

Muang Ph ru:n village lies in Mae Hong Son Pr ovince ，nortltem 百凶land (98 ・19-35' ， UTM 0427650 ， 2165500). This village lies at an a1 titude of 80 0- 1200 m witlt surrounding 釘 eas covered mostly by mixed deciduous ， dry dipterocarp ，and bru:n boo fores t. Th ere 訂 e several several major stre ru:n s running through the area including the Huai N ru:n Pru:n， Huai Kut-on ，Huai Pa Muang ，Huai Rai and Huai Pong. Muang Ph ru:n village is about 40 years old ，and consists of about 120 households (CHAEKPIMAI ET AL ， 2001). Most vi1l agers are farmers who st i1l practice rotational swiddening. swiddening. Rice is planted in bo 白 dry fields and paddy fields; tlteir minor crops include com ，beans ，garlic and many other vegetables. Agricul 旬 ra1 areas 釘 e mostly located ne 訂 the the village. 百le Karen people gener a1 1y classify forest 訂 'eas around tlteir villages accord 泊g to to the resources utilized from tlte forest ， or on their activities in tlte fores t. τ'h e four main types types are: multiple-use forest ， cemetery forest ， conserved forest ，and community forest (SANTASOMBAT ， 2001). 官 le forest area ne 紅 'est the village was mostly multiple~use forest where tlte villagers harvested harvested both timber and nontimber forest products (NTFPs). Th e main vegetation was mostly mostly deciduous forest witlt some areas dominated by bru:n boo. Gibbons and hombills were still found in tlte multiple-use forest north of tlte village. Gener a1 1y ，tlte villagers avoided avoided disturbing tlte habitat of tltese two species. 官le cemetery forest ，where dead people people were buried ，was sm a1 1 in area and ne 釘 tlte village. 百le conserved forest included the the watersheds where major stre ru:n s of 出e village orig 泊ated ，and consisted of mixed deciduous deciduous forest and 批y dipterocarp fores t. Strict rules for protecting tlte forest are still

enacted; enacted; human activities such as 印刷ng wood and hunting are prohibited in this 釘 ea. Most of conserved forest has been declared as a part of Sun Pan Dan Wildlife Sanctuary. Th e community forest covers a small area soutlt of tlte village ，where Mixed Deciduous Forest Forest dominates. It contains two sites of speci a1 interest: Pong Luang ， the largest mineral lick lick in Muang Ph ru:n v出age ，and Wang Pla ，a small reservoir witlt a tempor 紅 yd ru:n to provide provide water and conserve fish for consumption. Th ere 釘 'e strict rules prohibiting both

villagers villagers and outside people 合om catching fish 血血is 釘 ea. 官 le villagers avoid doing any activities activities in tlte Community Forest ，especi a1 1y hunting and cutting timber ， because tltey believe 白紙 this area is a holy place. Most trees in 出is forest have been ordained ，which is is a way for loc a1 people to protect large trees. In addition ，everybody 泊 tlte village must help help to make firebreaks to prevent forest frres each ye 低 SMALL MAMMALS AROUND A KAREN VILLAGE 197

420 日日 o 43 口000 440 口口 o 450 口口口

218 日目白日 ‘tftL1 218 日日日日 Th d .， -

2 15日日口口 2 150 口口口

214 日口口口 214 日日日日

o 10 20

213 日日日日 』一一一一一一一寸 213 日日目。 K M

38 口口口 o 390000 400000 4 唱日日日日 42 口口旧日 43000 口 44 口口 00 45 口口口口

Fig ur e 1. Location s of hi lJ削除 villag es in SlI n Pan D，m a nd L lIl11 Nam Pai Wildljfe Sanctuarie s. The hi ghli ght ed area area outLin es th巴 wa tershed surr oun din g th e m ain slu dy vi ll age ，Muan g Pham

METHODS

Trapp ing

S ix square grids were plac ed around th 巴 Ka r巴n village in both the agriculture area and fOI 巴st ar eas (Table 1，Fig . 2) . Grids 1-2 were l ocated in ag ricultural area ，Grids 3-5 w ere set set in multiple-u se forest ，and Grid 6 was la id in the sm all CO l11l11 unity Fores t. Each grid contained 36 tr aps in a6 x 6 sq uare， covering 1 ha . Trap s were spa ced 20 111 apar t. Liv e tr aps 14 x 14 x 24 C Il1 w 巴re pl ac 巴d on th e gro und. Th 巴 traps w e re set for 4 co nsec utive night sa nd bait 巴d fo r an average of 144 trap-nights. Traps were baited with ripe ripe ban ana and were checked twic e a day (0800- 1000 h and 1600 -1 800 h)w hil e se t. After After checking the traps we rec leaned of old bait and feces ，and rebait ed. Captured ll1 am l11 als

W 巴r巴 weighed ，individu all y m arked by hair -cl ippin g，and release d at the point of capture A nimal sp ecies we re id 巴nti fied w ith ASKINS (J 977) ，MARSHALL (1 977) and CORBE 竹& H 止し(1 992). D ata on sex and age cla ss were also co l1 ected. The recaptured animals w 巴re recog ni ze d by unique patt 巴rn s of h air cli pping. The abundance of capt ur ed anim als was measured as individuals captul 巴d per 100 trap-nights ，a nd spec ie s ri chn ess was th 巴 nU ll1 ber of sp巴cies captured on eac h grid.

Interview Method

D a ta on the number s of rats trapped by villa ge rs were collect 巴d by intervi ew ing the villagers. villagers. We had one Kar 巴 n assistants who co ul d speak Tha i help to translate the language . 198 N ATIHA W ATIANARATCHA KIT AND SDMPOA D SRIKOSAM ATARA

4~2~4~00~0~--4~2~6~0~00~--4~2~8~0~0~0---4~3~0~0~0~0---4~3~?~0~0~0---4~3~4~0~0~0---4~3~6~0~0~0 ---4~3~800 0 2172000 1" 2 172000

2170000 2170000

2168000 2168000

2166000 2166000

2164000 2164000

Legend 2162000 2162000

Wang Pia Muang Pham village cente 0 1 2 A Nam Pam Ranger Station 21!DOOOO ,-::-_l 2160000 Pong Laung (mineral lick) KM e f"\1 Village boundary 424000 426000 428000 430000 432000 434000 436000 438000

Fi gure 2. Locations of 6 square trapping gri ds around Muang Pham vill age. The boundary marks the total vill age area whi ch includes approximately the local watershed.

Table 1. Locations and forest types of trapping sites

Trap site Forest type Description Grid I Abandoned corn fi eld about 1 month ago Agricultural wastes sti ll remain in the area Grid 2 Abandoned corn field about 4-5 month ago Many thorn plant in tl1e area Grid 3 Deciduous Forest t Bamboo Forest Near road Grid 4 Dec iduous Forest Near gibbon habitat Grid 5 Deciduous Forest Near San Pun Daen WS Grid 6 Deciduous Forest Huai Pong running through grid site SMALL MAMMALS AROUND A KAREN Vll. LAGE 199

Table Table 2. Number and abundance of small mammals captured around Muang Pham Village. (Relative (Relative abundance (RA) = number of captured individuals x 100 Itotal number of 釘apnights) Gri d Sites Grid Grid 1 Grid 2 Grid 3 Grid 4 Grid 5 Grid 6 To 凶 Habitat Habitat type Agri. Agri. Muti. Mut i. Muti. Commu. Species Species No. No. RA No. RA No. RA No. RA No. RA No. RA No. RA Bandicota Bandicota savilei - . . . - . . 0.7 0.1 Berylmys Berylmys ber 伽，orei ...... 0.7 0.1 Rattus Rattus rattus 0.7 4 2.8 4 2.8 0.7 3 2.1 13 1. 5 Niviventer Niviventer bukit 2 1. 4 2 1. 4 2 1. 4 4 2.8 3 2.1 13 1. 5 Maxomys Maxomys surifer . 3 2.1 0.3 Menetes Menetes berdmorei 0.7 8 5.6 . . 5 3.5 . 14 1. 6 Tupaia Tupaia belangeri - 2 1. 4 0.7 0.7 . . 4 0.5 4 2.8 14 9.8 7 4.9 8 5.6 5 3. 5 11 7.7 49 5.7 No. No. of species 3 3 3 2 5 (Agri. (Agri. = Agriculture area ，Mut i. = Mutiple-used forest ，Commu. = Community forest)

Table Table 3. Biomass of some captured small mammals Species Species Biomass (g/h a) on grid trapping Rattus Rattus rattus 333 .4 Niviventer Niviventer bukit 224 Menetes Menetes berdmorei 536.3 Tupaia Tupaia belangeri

To 旬I 1480.7

RESULTS

Abundance ，Di stribution and Species Di versity of Small Mammals

A total of 49 individuals of 7 small species were cap 加 red during 864 trap- 凶ghts of grid 回.p p泊g (Table 2). 百lere were 5 species of ，a ground squirrel (Menetes (Menetes berdmore l) and a 住ee shew (Tupaia belangeri). 百le abundance of small mammals 紅 ound Muang Pham village w 出 about 5.67 加dividuals/l00 trap- 凶ghts with biomass of 1. 37 kg ha- I. M. berdmorei was the most abundant species with 1. 62 individuals/100 trap-nights trap-nights and biomass of 536 .3 g ha- I， followed by Rattus rattus and Niviventer bukit with with equal abundance ，1. 5 individuals/100 trap-night ，and biomasses of 333.4 組 d 224 g a:→， ha:→， respectively (Table 3). 200 200 NATIHA W ATIAN 八RATC HAK IT AND So ルIPOAD SR IKOSAMATARA

27 25 -

Eu 司Eu aa 20

;; ;; 15 、。4 z。 lO

5 。 1-40 1-40 41-80 81-120 121-160 161-200 201-240 241-280 >300 No. oftrapped rats

Fig 山 e 3. Di stribulion of rat s lrapp 巴db yv ill age rs.

1600

1400

1200

tgg tgg 1000

司t号包 ココ 800

、。 司 zo 600

400

200 。 Nov ember Dccember January Month

Figul 巴 4. NU I1l be r of rats trapped durin g Nove I1l be r 200ι lanuar y 2005 (Tota l NU I1l be r = 3，2 15 ). SMALL MAMMALS AROUND A KAREN VILLAGE 201

百le highest number of species was captured in Grid 6， in the community forest (Table (Table 2). R. ratt 凶 and N. bukit were captured in the most grid sites ，wh i1 e M. berdmorei and and T. belangeri were found only 泊 the agricultural area and the forest near 血 e village. M. berdmorei and T. belangeri were more agitated 出組曲e murids when trapped. Both were were cap 細胞d only during the day (found when traps were checked in 血 e evening). 百le other species ， Bandicota savilei ，Be η lmys berdmorei and Maxomys sur 俳人 were cap 仰向d only in communal fores t.百 le Variable squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysonii) and Burmese s佐iped tree squirrel (Tamiops mcclellandii) were 仕equently observed in the trees around around the village ， but were not capωred. Leopoldamys sabanus ， Rattus koratensis and Mus cervicolor were each trapped once time during the prelim 泊紅y study period.

Predators Predators of Small Mammals around Muang Pham village

Civets 釘 'e predators of small mammals found around Muang Pham village. Th e footprints footprints of one civet appeared twice in 出， e comfield near the village during the prelirninary sωdy period. It also hunted domestic fow l. During trapping in Grid 3a severed rat's ta i1， app 釘 'ently left by predator ，was found under a tree. Th e numerous domestic cats in 出e village village were also predators of small mammals ， and often hunted in the nearby fores t. Furthermore ，two Spot-bellied Eagle Owls lived in the cemetery forest near Grid 4.

Small Small Mammals as a Protein Source for Villagers

官 le Karen people consume rats in 出e dry season during November to January. At least least 1，500 ー2，000 rats were trapped by villagers each ye 低Th e villagers trapped most of them in the fores t. Data were collected from 54 villagers who 住apped rats 担 2004. Most rat 甘appers could harvest up to 40 individuals ， while only 6 persons got more than 120 rats (Fig. (Fig. 3). One old villager 位apped more than 300 rats during November to mid-December. About 3，000 rats were trapped for consumption during November 20 04-- January 2005 (Fig. (Fig. 4). In 2004 ， the villagers in Muang Pham village consumed about 352 kg of rat meat ， and 出e average per household was 7.2 kg. BURANAKHET (2004) reported that 血e price of rat rat meat was about 80 bah t/k g. 百lU S， the economic value of the rats consumed 加 Muang Pham was approximately 28 ，000 baht during November 20 04-- Ja 直lU ary 2005. Karen villagers traped traped rats only for home consumption. τ'h ere were some problems in species identification ，錨 the Karen could not translate the the names of rats 加to the Th ai language. Consequently ，rats that were not captured could not not be identified 企om interviews. 百le Karen people classify rats only as black or red according according to pelage color. “Red rat" meant a red or brown-bodied rat species such as M. sur 俳r or N. bukit ， while “ black rat" referred to otlter rats such as Rattus spp. Generally ， Karen people preferred to consume M. sur 俳r. 百 le villagers did not consume R. R. rattus because they felt that this species was dirty due to its black body and bad taste. Th e other small mammals that villagers consumed were Leopoldamys sabanus ，M enetes berdmorei berdmorei and Tupaia belangeri. 官 lese species have larger body size ， so they were worth cooking cooking and consuming; villagers did not eat small species such as Mus spp. 百le Karen did did not eat the Pig-tailed Shrew (Hylomys suillus) ， which has short tail ， because they believe 白紙 eating it brings bad luck. 202 NA'π 貼 W'"τTANARATCHAKIT T>N D SOMPOAD S悶 KOS T>MA TT>RA

τ'h e Kar 宅n people did .not 佐ap rats 泊 village areas for consumption because they thought 白at these rats might have eaten dirty food left by humans. Some villagers ate squirrels squirrels more than rats because 白ey felt 出at rats 紅 e dirty because 出ey feed on 血e ground ， while squirrels feed 紅 boreally. 官 ley classified the ground squ 加 el (Menetes berdmorei) berdmorei) as other squirrels 白紙 feed in trees. In In cooking rats ，villagers roasted them to remove the hairs ，and 出en 白e rat meat was cooked like other meats. An y leftover meat was roasted until it was 合Y to preserve it for future future meals. Unlike people 泊 some other rural area ， the Karen did not sell trapped rats. If If large numbers of rats were harvested ， they gave some to their relatives or neighbors. However ，after leptospirosis had affected some villagers ， they 1釘 gely stopped eat 泊g rat mea t.

Small Mammals as Pests

Squirrels Squirrels and rats are regarded as pests 白at damage crops such as rice and corn 恒 Muang Pham village. Al though field owners often set tr'a ps around their fields to protect their their crops ，a large amount of production w 部 stilllost each year. In paddy fields ，rats were more serious pests 白an squirrels but the villagers did not use rodenticides. Dur 加g 由is S加dy ，some villag ぽ s eradicated 血e rats 泊出eir paddy field. Th ey use fish nets to cap 佃 re 出.e rats in paddies at night after finishing other work. 百ley captured at least 80 rats each time time and most of them 釘 'e Rattus spp.

Trapping Equipment Used by Villagers

Th e villagers used homemade 回 p called ，bowk nu ，which 紅 'e simple and easily made using using local materials such as bamboo. 百le 凶 P is light in weight ，and 20 to 30 traps were used used at one time. Th e villagers usually laid 住aps near rat 住ails ， mostly along the s住'eams or or moist areas 泊 the fores t. Th e 位aps were laid down d町泊g 血.e night and picked up in the the mon 血 g.τ 'h e me 心h叩 ism of 血is 佐ap is a loop of s剖ng ，which strangles 血e rat when it it enters the 位'ap ，and a 凶gger which releases it. Milled rice mixed with turmeric is 出e usual usual bait for trapping rats. One advantage of 出is 回 P is that 白e ra t' s body is not damaged ， so so it may be kept for cooking. However ， the traps 白紙 villagers used around agricul 佃 ral fields fields to protect the crops ，ka tam ，differed 針。 m 血e 住'aps used in the fores t. τ'h e mechanism ofthe 住'ap used in the field ，Ka tam 佐aps employ a thick stick or log which ，when released ， smashes smashes down on 血e vict 也1. Th ese 住'aps 釘 e placed at about 3-meter intervals around their agricultural agricultural areas (GARREπ ，1929). 官le names bowk nu 佃 d ka tam are 百凶 names obtained obtained from GARRETI (1929); 白e Muang Pham villagers did not know these n創 nes. 官 le 住aps are shown in Figure 5.

DISCUSSION

Community Structure of Small Mammals around Muang Pham Village

Th e small mammal community around Muang Pham village consis 飽d of few dominant species species with many rare species ，as 泊 most small mammal communities in 佐'O pical forest SM A LL MAMM A LSA RO UN D A K A RE N V ILL A G E 203

a b

C

Fi呂山 官 s. Pi ctur es 0 1' loca l lr ap s lI se d in M uang Pham Vi ll ag巴: a and b，b owk 1111; c，ka /(//11 204 NA TI' HA WA TI' ANARATCHAKIT AND SOMPOAD SRIKOSAMATARA

(FLEMING ， 1975). Most trapped animals were common species that forage on the ground in in the deciduous forest (ASKINS ， 1977; LEKAGUL & McNEELY ， 1977; MARSHALL ， 1977; WILES ， 1981; ELLIOTI EI AL ， 1989; WAL 阻 R& RABINOWITZ ， 1992; HAMARIT ， 1997; PARR ， 2003). Th e replacement of forest area by agricultural fields and human settlements is am 吋or cause cause of the increase in numbers and biomass of small mammals (JE 開 REY ，1977). 百le agricultural 釘 ea probably influences the abundance of small mammal around 白is Karen vi1l age. Some species benefit from 出is change (LYNAM & BILICK ， 1999). R. rattus in p 紅 ticular thrives in disturbed 紅 eas (WILES ， 1981; ELLIOTI EI AL ，1989 ，HAMARIT ， 1997; KANCHANASAKA ，1992 ，P 町 NOY ， 1993; LYNAM & BILLICK ， 1999). R. rattus had high abundance and was found 泊 all forest types around Muang Pham village ， including the agricultural 訂 ea. The appe 紅佃ce of r訂 'e species and the high diversity of small mammal in in the community forest probably results 合om 血e high humidity and vegetation associated with with the s甘'eam the passes through the 釘 ea. Furthermore ， the community forest has a relatively relatively low level of disturbance by vi1l agers. The abundance of M. berdmorei in this study was ne 紅白紙found in deciduous forest in in Doi Suthe p-Pu i National Park (ELLI O' π ，1989) ， but greater th 叩 found 泊 Huai Kh aeng Wildlife Wildlife Sanctuary (W AL 阻 R&RABINOWIπ ， 1992). The higher biomass in this study 也佃 in in Huai Kh aeng WS might be due to the large number of M. berdmorei captured. R. R. rattus is probably the most ubiquitous small m aslID al species in Southeast Asia. It can live in bo 出 natural and disturbed habitats (MARSHALL ， 1977; PANTUWATANA ，EI AL ， 1969; 1969; WILES ， 1981; ELLIOTI EI AL ， 1989; W ALKER & RABINOWITZ ， 1992; KANCHANASAKA ， 1992; 町NNOY ， 1993; LYNAM ， 1995; HAMARπ ， 1997; WOOD & CHUNG ， 2003). Nevertheless ， the the density of R. rattus in this study was lower than that in other disturbed areas of 百lailand (KANCHANASAKA ， 1992; PINNOY ， 1993; HAMA 町 T， 1997; LYNAM & B 江 ICK ， 1999). 1999). Furthermore ， R. rattus is liable to displace disturbance-sensitive species such as Maxomys sur 俳r，which was uncommon in this study (S 百 P田 NSON ， 1993; LYNAM ， 1995; LYNAM & BILICK ， 1999).

Small Mammals and Karen People

A small mammal is around Karen vi1l age that take both advantage and disadvantage disadvantage to villager. Th ey 釘 'e important agricultural pest and provide some of protein for for Karen people in the same time. Small Small mammals such as squiη 'el s and rats are common protein sources for Karen people people as they are for many other rural people in 血e coun 町(Tu NGITTIPLAKORN EI AL ， 1999 ，DOA ，2001 ，STEIN ET AL ，2002 ，WOOD & CHENG ，2003). 百le Karen have consumed rat rat meat for at least 70 years (PROMSAO & SIRALUK ， 1999; TUN GI' πIPLAKORN & DEARDEN ， 2002). 2002). They harvest rats mainly during November-January because they believe that dur 泊g this this period rat meat has the best tas 旬， without the musty odor ，and their trails are also easier easier to find (BURANAKHET ， 2004; WA' 甘 ANARATCHAKIT ，2005). Small mammals are also pests ，and vi1l agers 紅Y to control them in their fields. M. berdmorei is p紅 ticularly notorious ，as 血ey often dig up and eat rice and com (As 阻 NS ， 1997). 1997). However ， the vi1l agers do not use rodenticide because they do not want to spend money and their crops are not grown for cash. Mostly ， the villagers use their home-made traps traps to protect their crops. SMALL MAMMALS AROUND A KAREN Vll.. LAGE 205

Some studies have considered rat consumption by local people as a way of controlling agriculωral agriculωral pests (DOA ，2001 ，WOOD & C 田 NG ， 2003). However ，Karen people deny eating eating the major pests such as R. rattus. In many rural areas of Thailand bandicoots are consumed and sold because 出ey are 1紅 ge sized rats (W ATIANARATCHAKIT ，2005). WEMMER & AUNG (1998) studied one Burmese man who had ajob as a rat trapper. 百lI s man trapped about about 3-4 7 individuals/night ， higher than villager in Muang Pham village. Moreover ， the sp 民 ies 血at Burmese rat trapper caught (R. rattus ， Bandicota bengalensis ， B. indica and ， B. B. savilei) are species the Karen people do not eat. Nevertheless ，trapping skills and rat consumption have been declining among the new generation ，and only 43% of households in Muang Pham village still trapped rats in 白e last last ye 紅 (WAπANARATCHA 阻 T， 2005). Most teenagers leave the village for school or get jobs 泊 town. Th ey do not 泊vest their time to leam such subsistence skills 企om 血eir p紅 'ents. M. sur 俳r is a species 出 at villagers should be aw 釘 e of if the villagers stop ea 出 g rats. rats. Al白 ough it has never been reported as an agricul 旬 ral pest ，it can be a seed predator 泊 Moist Evergreen Forest and Dipterocarp Forest (CURRAN & WEBB ， 2000; DOA ， 2001; APL 削 ETAL ， 2003; KITAMURA ET AL ，2004).

Karen People and Conservation

τ'h e 佐aditions and culture of Karen people do benefit the environmen t. Th ey have high awareness awareness of 白e need to protect n仰向(PREECHPA 肝 A& JIRASUKTAVEEKUL ，200 1).百 le water water f旨om the forest is very important to Karen life because 出ey cultivate both in dry fields fields and paddy fields ， while other 凶bal group plant only 泊 dry fields. 官官 Karen 紅 e therefore therefore still serious about protecting forest areas 由at provide the water and streams that they they depend on. 百lere are many publications refering to the conservationist character of Karen people (PROMSAO & SIRALUK ， 1999; PUG 別 NIER ， 2001; SANTASOMBAT ， 2001; BUERG 削， 2003). Nevertheless ，their conservation practices seem to focus primarily on the important natural resources resources that 白ey use ， such as water and fish (PREEC 田 'ANYA & JIRASUKTAVEEKUL ， 200 1). Karen people are more concemed about decreases in fish than terrrestrial wildlife ， because because fish is their major protein food while wildlife meat is taken only opportunistically. Hunting Hunting is still carried out by Karen villagers and it is hard to stop 血 is activity. It is deeply deeply rooted in their culture ， as in all hill 凶be people. However ，Karen people are not such such notorious hunters as other hill 凶be groups (S 旭町ME 立 &MAT 田 R，1996) ，and 泊 general ， they spend much more time cultivating crops. 百ley produce rice both by 合yand wet cultivation ， so only 1-2 months of the ye 紅紅'e available for other activities such as hunting. hunting. Furthermore ，many of the traditional beliefs of Karen people place more value on the the environment and wildlife species than do those of 0 由er ethnic groups. For example ， the the Karen hunt primarily for their own for consumption ， and they do not seem to harvest and keep wildlife in large quantities as do other hill tribes do that hunt for the' market (PROMSAO & SmALUK ， 1999). Tu NGITTIPLAKORN ET AL (1999) mentioned 白紙 S住engthening the role of leadership can can influence conservation in hill tribe villages. 百le present headman of Muang Pham village village is aware of the decline of wildlife. However ，this aw 釘 'eness has not been translated 凶 o action due to the difficulty of negotiation. Th ere 訂 e so many issues 血at the Karen have have to wo 町 about and wildlife is a relatively minor issue.τ 'h e rangers at the local 206 206 NATIHA WATIANARATCHAKIT AND SOMPOAD SRIKOSAMATARA wildlife wildlife sanctuary station can enforce the law ，but most of 血e rangers are Karen people. Hunting has long been a common pastime and it is difficult to prohibi t.

ACKNOWLEDG 勘ffiNTS

Special thanks to Mr. Suwit Naosawat ，former Superintendent of Sun Pan Dan WS ， for supporting the field study. We thank everybody ，especi aU y Arun and Wanna Piωkp 卸値it at at Muang Pham village ，the host family who took c釘 'e of our food and accommodation. τ'h anks to Pr awit Panasitikun for his help until the field work finished. Ex 位a thanks go to Pati Ngae who helped collect data and to Mr. Supagit Vinitpomsaw 阻 for his assistance in in making Figures 1 and 2. Finally ，血 is research would not have occurred without partial financial financial suppo 此 by a BRT gr 加 t to Dr. Sompoad Srikosamatara (BRT_341015) and a grant supporting the master's. 曲目is directly from TRF /B IOTEC (Biodiversity Research and Training gr 佃 t T_347014).

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