Diversity and habitat use of terrestrial mammals in the area proposed for water resource development in Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand

Abstract

The Khlong Ta Liu dam construction plan was re-proposed to be constructed in the forest area of Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary in the Ta-riu tributary without a biodiversity impact assessment. Five camera traps were mounted at the hotspot points for terrestrial mammals next to the main trail for 376 trap nights from the forest edge to the forest interior. Fifteen species of terrestrial mammals were found. Two species found were categorized as having endangered status, while seven have vulnerable status. Grazers and browsers, i.e., Sambar, Gaur, Northern Red Muntjac, and Asian Elephant were mostly detected at the forest edge, while omnivores and frugivores, i.e., Wild Boar, Greater Hog Badger, and Northern Pig-tailed Macaque were largely detected in the forest interior. Dhole should be a carnivore species specific to the forest edge while Clouded Leopard should be in the forest interior. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) may relate to species of terrestrial mammals detected at each habitat. Among the five habitats, three would be destroyed upon construction of the dam, including the habitat with the highest diversity of terrestrial mammals. The habitat that would likely be least impacted had the lowest species richness of terrestrial mammals.