Since 2006, the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University in cooperation with Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK), Khao Nang Rum Wildlife Research Station (KNR), and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Thailand Program have established a tiger and prey population standard monitoring system in HKK, gaining satisfactory results. Therefore, the knowledge gained from the monitoring system should be passed on to students and academic researchers who play an important role in saving wildlife through science in order to enhance the effectiveness of future wildlife conservation. This year is the 10th Training Course on Tiger Conservation Techniques, which was established for B.Sc. students from the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University and other interested students from other universities. The purposes of this training are:
1) to obtain an understanding of principles, rationale and operation of the SMART Patrol System.
2) to encourage students’ understanding of data collection techniques and analysis of patch occupancy for estimating wildlife threats and tiger and other focal wildlife distribution.
3) to increase their understanding in techniques of data collection and analysis for estimating tigers using Camera Trapping and their prey population using Distance Sampling.
4) to enhance their skills in a practical way and gain more experience from field operations by working in cooperation with the HKK researchers and patrol rangers.
The training consisted of two parts which included field training during July 3-12, 2016 at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Uthai Thani Province and software operation training during August 1 - 5, 2016 at the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University. There were a total of 23 participants consisting of 18 Wildlife and Range Science students, 1 M.Sc. Forest Biological Science student from the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 1 student from the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University and 3 students from the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University.
Field training at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
Students received the training materials at the registration which was supported by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Thailand Program.
Dr. Anak Pattanavibool, a lecturer from the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University gave concepts and approaches of tiger and prey conservation, including an overview of the international patrol system.
Lecture and test of map reading, compass and GPS use for data collection during patrol, patch occupancy survey and line transect survey.
Learning how to collect data of focal wildlife (e.g., tigers) and threat distribution by using the patch occupancy survey which is a standard method in estimating wildlife within large landscapes. Learning how to identify tiger spray along nature trails.
Learning and practicing data collection by filling out patrol data forms under the SMART patrol system which is an important part of tiger and wildlife protection from various threats within protected areas.
Learning and practicing the SMART Patrol Application data collection by using GPS Garmin Monterra which is a joint development between the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant conservation, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Thailand Program.
Students observed the HKK patrol’s monthly meeting. Mr. Somphoch Maneerat, the superintendent of Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, talked about the patrol in wildlife sanctuaries.
Students joined the patrol with rangers for 4 days in the field. They practiced how to collect data by filling out patrol data forms (Smart Patrol) and collecting data for the patch occupancy survey.
Learning and practicing how to collect data along line transects for the distance sampling technique. In addition, participants conducted a line transect survey of tiger prey density (i.e., gaur, banteng, sambar deer, red muntjac and wild pig) for 2 days in the field.
Lecture about tiger monitoring in Huai Kha Khaeng and Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuaries by
Mr. Somphot Duangchantrasiri, head of Khao Nang Rum Wildlife Research Station (KNR). This was followed by a lecture about a survey of tiger populations using the Camera Trapping technique by Mr. Krearkpon Wongchoo, KNR research assistant.
Software operation training at the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University
For the second period, students learned how to use 1) the SMART program for Smart patrol database,
2) the DISTANCE program to estimate the density and population of tiger preys 3) the Capture-recapture and SPACECAP programs to estimate the density and population of tigers and 4) the PRESENCE program to assess wildlife distribution.
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