<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The dhole (<italic>Cuon alpinus</italic>) is one of the least frequent studied endangered canid species and many aspects of ecological knowledge about this species are lacking. The objectives of this study were to investigate the spatial movement of dholes, prey abundance, prey selection, and prey overlaps with other large carnivorous species in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, during November, 2017 and October, 2018. Two adult female dholes were captured and fitted with GPS collars. Twenty camera trap sets were systematically used to survey the area. Scat collection was conducted along forest roads and trails. The home range sizes and activity radii of the two dholes were 3,151.63 ha. and 1,442.84 m, and 33.39 ha and 331.56 m, respectively. The sambar deer (<italic>Rusa unicolor</italic>) was the most abundant prey species (30.93%). However, dhole fecal analysis showed that the monitored dholes preferred red muntjac (<italic>Muntiacus muntjak</italic>) (57.1%). There was a high degree of prey overlap between dholes and leopards (98%), indicating very high prey competition. The dholes in this study represent movement patterns in richly abundant prey habitats, but with the presence of other predators that can affect prey selection and movement patterns of the dhole in the area.</p></abstract>

The dhole (Cuon alpinus) is one of the least frequent studied endangered canid species and many aspects of ecological knowledge about this species are lacking. The objectives of this study were to investigate the spatial movement of dholes, prey abundance, prey selection, and prey overlaps with other large carnivorous species in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, during November, 2017 and October, 2018. Two adult female dholes were captured and fitted with GPS collars. Twenty camera trap sets were systematically used to survey the area. Scat collection was conducted along forest roads and trails. The home range sizes and activity radii of the two dholes were 3,151.63 ha. and 1,442.84 m, and 33.39 ha and 331.56 m, respectively. The sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) was the most abundant prey species (30.93%). However, dhole fecal analysis showed that the monitored dholes preferred red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) (57.1%). There was a high degree of prey overlap between dholes and leopards (98%), indicating very high prey competition. The dholes in this study represent movement patterns in richly abundant prey habitats, but with the presence of other predators that can affect prey selection and movement patterns of the dhole in the area.

Some ecological aspects of dhole (<italic>Cuon alpinus</italic>) in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Uthai Thani Province, Thailand

Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute

Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Folia Oecologica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Some ecological aspects of dhole () in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Uthai Thani Province, Thailand

The dhole (Cuon alpinus) is one of the least frequent studied endangered canid species and many aspects of ecological knowledge about this species are lacking....

Some ecological aspects of dhole (Cuon alpinus) in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Uthai Thani Province, Thailand

Published Online: Dec 21, 2019

Page range: 91 - 100

Received: Jul 18, 2019

Accepted: Oct 17, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2019-0012

Keywords
GPS-collar, large carnivores, prey species, scat analysis

© 2019 Khwanrutai Charaspet et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Some ecological aspects of dhole (Cuon alpinus) in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Uthai Thani Province, Thailand

Published Online: Dec 21, 2019

Page range: 91 - 100

Received: Jul 18, 2019

Accepted: Oct 17, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2019-0012

KeywordsGPS-collar, large carnivores, prey species, scat analysis

© 2019 Khwanrutai Charaspet et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
GPS-collar, large carnivores, prey species, scat analysis