HABITAT PREFERENCES AND ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF THE LARGER MAMMAL COMMUNITY IN PHNOM PRICH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, CAMBODIA

The northern and eastern plains of Cambodia support one of the largest extents of lowland deciduous forest in South-east Asia and are globally significant for mammal conservation. Between Dec.2008 and Aug.2009 intensive camera-trapping was conducted within mosaic deciduous dipterocarp and mixed-deciduous/semi-evergreen forest in the east of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Mondulkiri province, Cambodia. Forty camera-trap locations were set up for >2700 camera-trap nights producing 707 independent encounters of 23 mammal species. Eight globally threatened species of mammals were recorded including the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), banteng (Bos javanicus) and dhole (Cuon alpinus). Two species, the gaur (Bos gaurus) and pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina), showed significant preference for forest type (higher Relative Abundance Index of both species in mixed-deciduous/semi-evergreen forest). The mix of drier deciduous dipterocarp forest and wetter mixed-deciduous and semi-evergreen forest appears important for maintaining the conservation value of the site. Camera trap encounter rates were lower in areas within a day's walk from villages at the periphery of the protected area whilst cathemeral species displayed higher proportions of nocturnal activity than in similar studies from elsewhere in South-east Asia. We suggest disturbance and hunting may therefore be affecting the distribution and activity patterns of key species. Managing the Non Timber Forest Product (NTFP) collectors as well as finalising, and enforcing, zonation within the protected area are recommended conservation measures for the mammal community.