NAT. NAT. HIST. BUL L. SIAM Soc. 47: 77-93 ， 1999 ECOLOGY AND BEHA VIOR OF THE INDOCH 町 ESE LEOPARD IN KAENG KRACHAN NATIONAL PARK ，THAILAND Lo n 1. Grassman Jr. 1 ABSTRACT As part of a 1arger investigation of sympatric carnivore eco10gy ，血 ree adu1t In dochinese leopards leopards Panthera pardus delacouri (2 ma1es ，1 femaie) were capωred and radio-collared in Kaeng Kr achan Nationai Park ，Petchaburi Province ，Thailand ， from February ，1996 出rough Febru 町， 1997 ・ Movement d瑚 indicate that leop 紅白 occupied ove 凶 1 home range 悶 s of 8.8 8.8 to 18.0 km< ，showed a mean dai1y movement of 1.95 km ， and exhibited arrhythmic activity dominated dominated by nωωmai and crepuscular tendencies. Range overlap of > 40 % was recorded between between two males and between a male and a femaie. Identification of scat (n=41) contents revealed 出at leopard feces was dominated by hog badger Arctonyx collaris (44%) ， barking deer deer Muntiacus muntjak (1 9.5%) and wild pig Sus scr ザ，a (7.3%). Comparisons between 白is study study and a previous study in Huai Kh a Kh aeng Wildlife Sanctuary ， Uthai Th ani Pr ovince ， suggest 曲目 fluctuations in seasonal home range size ，activity pattem and diet were less marked in Kaeng Kr achan Nationai Park leop 紅白. Seasonal change and environmental s出 ss es es (fire and fl ∞ ds) were less severe in Kaeng Kr acha 目白an in Huai Kh a Kh aeng ， and these factors factors in addition to differences in forest type may be responsible for the ecologicai differ- ences. ences. INTRODUCTION Of 血e 1紅 ge cats ，perhaps the leopard (Panthera pardus) has been the most studied. Previous leopard research has focused on ecology (SCHALLER ， 1972; SMITH ， 1978; ILANY ， 1986; SEIDENSTICKER ET A L.， 1990; MUCKENHIRN & EISENBERG ， 1973; BAILEY ， 1993) ，movements (NORTON & HENLEY ， 1987; BERT 貼 M ， 1982; MITZUTANI ，1993) ，prey selection (BOESCH ， 1991; HOPPE-DoMINK ， 1984; SEIDENSTICKER ， 1983; KARAN 耳 1& SUNQUIST ， 1995; JOHNSINGH ， 1992; NORTON ETA L.， 1986; SATHYAKUMAR ，1992) ，dispersal (SUNQUIST ，1983) ，early matemal behavior (SEIDENSTIC 阻 R ， 1977) and conservation status (SAN 百 APILLAI ET A L.， 1982). The majority of research on leopards has been carried out in Sub-Saharan A 合ica ， India ， Sri Lanka ，Nepal ，and Israel ，while in Southeast Asia only one previous study exists: exists: RABINOWITZ'S (1989) study in a dry forest mosaic in westem Th ailand. Th is study ，as part of a larger investigation of sympatric camivore 配 ology (GRASSMAN JR. ， 1997) ，was initiated to investigate the natural history of leopards in a tropical evergreen fores t. Departrnent I Departrnent of Forest Biology ， Faculty of Fores 町， Kasetsart University ，Bangkok 10900 ，τ'h ailand Received Received 10 February 1998; accepted 5 Janu 紅 y 1999. 77 78 LON I. GRASS MAN, JR. t Figure I. Map of location of study site in Kaeng Krachan National Park. ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF THE INDOCHlNESE LEOPARD 79 STUDY AREA _ Kaeng Kr achan National Park (KKNP) is Th ailand's largest national park with 2， 915 km". km". Located in south-centr aI Th ailand ，KKNP occupies approximately half of Petchaburi and and part of Prachuab Kh iri Kh an Provinces ， with its westem boarder adjacent to My 佃 m 紅 on the Tenassarim mountain range (Figure 1). The general topography consists primarily of of forested hills rising westward into mountains (Figure 2). Kh ao Panoem 百lU ng is the highest highest peak within the p紅 k at 1，200 m. Th e subtropical forest is composed of dry and wet wet evergreen (85%) ，mixed deciduous (10%) and dry dipterocarp (5%) forest species (TISTR ， 1989). Wet evergreen forest generally occupies elevations above 500 m ， while while dry evergreen c如 be found below 500 m. Mixed deciduous occurs is mainly in 出e eastem ，more level terrain ，and 合 y dipterocarp is found intermittently on steep grades of of approximately 300-4 00 m. Dominant evergreen species in cI uded Tetrameles nudi- flora ， Acrocarpus fraxinifolius ，Aphanamixis polystachya ，Elaeoca 中 us grandiflorus ， Stereospermum Stereospermum fimbriatum ，Barringtonia macrostachya and Crateva magna (τlSTR ，1989). Th e climate of KKNP is influenced by seasonal monsoons. 百lere are two distinct seasons: seasons: typic aI ly ，June 出rough October is 出e wet season ， and November through May is 血e 合y season (CUMM 町 GS ，1992). A verage ye 釘 ly precipitation in Petchaburi Province was 1，000 mm ， with June through September accounting for over 90% of precipitation (GRA Y ET A L.， 1986). Temperatures ranged from lows of 25 0 C in December to highs of 30 0 C in May ， with an overall average of 28 0 C. 百le region contains a mix of Sundaic 如 d Indochinese fauna due to 白e convergence of of these two zoogeographic subregions. Some larger mammalian species present in KKNP included: included: elephant Elephas maximus ， gaur 80S gaurus ， sambar Cervus unicolor ， barking de 町 Muntiacus muntjak ，切pir Tapirus indicus ，tiger Panthera tigris ， and leopard P. pardus (person aI observations). Th e study area was restricted to the south-central portion of the park at 血e Ban Kr ang Camping Ar ea. Encompassing 60 km 2，出 e area consisted of hilly/mountainous terrain at 50 0- 800 m elevation ，primarily with seasonal evergreen fores t. The main p紅 k road running running east and west ，some smaller trails ， and the Pranburi River were in cI uded within the the study 訂 ea.τ 'h e site was chosen due to its central location ， abundant camivore sign ， and and low number of visiting tourists in the area. In addition ，st 回 per te 町 ain to 白e west would have rendered the logistics of a telemetric study very difficult ， while the lower elevations elevations within the study site were more suitable for radio-telemetry. METHODS Trapping Procedure Three Three large wooden-log (200x90x100 cm) and six medium steel mesh (150x40x50 cm) box traps were used to capture the leopards used in this study (Figure 3). AIl 住aps had had single door openings which were tripped by a foot treadle. Domestic chickens were used used as live bait in 出e rear of 血e 位aps. 80 LON 1. GRASSMAN ， JR. Traps Traps were set along the main road ，trails and riverbanks where leopard sign occurred in in the form of spoor ， feces or scrapes. Carnivore scent concen 佐ate was periodically applied applied to increase the attractiveness of the se t. Traps were visited daily to feed and water the the bait chickens ， and check for captures. If， after three weeks ， there were no captures ， a trap was considered unsuccessful and moved to a new location. Capture Protocol Captured Captured leopar 由 were anesthetized via intramuscular i吋ection with a hand-held syringe syringe at 10 mg /k g Calypso (ketarnine hydrochloride; Gedeon Ri chter ， Hungary). All animals animals were injected in the hindquarters 血rough side openings in the traps. Recumbancy time time and attempted versus actual drug dosage rates were recorded (Table 1). Table Table 1. Immobilization of parameters study leopards i吋ected with ketarnine hydrochloride. Weight Weight Attenpted dosage Actual Time to Time to I 由 Sex (kg) (kg) (mglkg) dosage recumbancy “ head up" L3 50 Male 37 10 10.8 4.0 72.0 I L600 Male 40 10 10 7.5 L700 Female 25 10 15 6.0 40.0 During During the first 30 minutes of sedation each animal was fi 仕.ed with a radio-collar and and biological data were collected. Leopards were sexed ，aged ，weighed and measured. Head-and-body Head-and-body length ，tail length ， ear length ，front foot spoor ，and hind foot leng 血 were recorded recorded to the nearest cm. Upper canine length was measured to the nearest mm and overall overall dentition was checked for possible injuries obtained while in the 仕ap. If abrasive injuries injuries were present ，we applied a topical antiseptic and gave a multi-vitarnin booster shot (Biocatalin ， It aly). Individuals Individuals were aged using tooth wear ， eruption (i. e. presence or absence of deciduous deciduous teeth) ，body size ， sexual development and overall body condition (QUIGLEY ， 1987; 1987; BAILEY ， 1993). Four age classes were assigned: juvenile (J) ，young adult (YA) ， prime prime adult (PA) ， and old adult (OA). After collecting data and collaring a leopard ，we placed placed it back into the 回 P to recover. Wh en all reflexes and natural behavior retumed (2 -4 hours) we opened 血e 回 p door and released the animal. Radio-tracking Radio-tracking Adult Adult leopards were fitted with a butyl ，collar-mounted radio transmitter (Wildlife Materials ，Inc. ，Carbondale ， IL.) at 142 MHz to obtain movement and activity data. Each transmitter transmitter contained an activity switch activated by head movements. Signal range varied from 1 to 15 km depending upon obstructions of the terrain and the elevation at which the signal signal was received. All tracking was done on the ground with hilltop stations used ECOLOGY AND BEHAYIOR OF THE lNDOCHJNESE LEOPARD 8J Figure 2. General topography and habitat of KKNP. Figure 3. Wooden-log box trap used to capture study leopards. 82 LON l. GRASS MAN, J R. Figure 4. Leopard L600 Figure 5. Leopard L700 ECOLOGY AND BEHA VIOR OF THE INDOCHll ぜESE LEOPARD 83 frequently frequently for establishing first bearings when the signal could not be received at lower elevations. elevations. The convex polygon method (MOHR ， 1947) was used for annual and seasonal home range range size (HRS) and home range overlap estimates. All plotted points were considered p制 of a home range ，even 血ose where only a small amount of time was spent (LOPEZ ， 1985). 1985). Le opards were radio-tracked intermittently during 24 ーho 町 periods ， but once a month continuous 24- hour tracking was done on each anima l.