More Camera Woes

This month I continued my camera trap efforts to obtain confirmation of dholes in Khao Ang Rue Nai.  The road kill barking deer and hog badger carcasses only attracted monitor lizards.  Both carcasses (bones and all) were completely gone from the areas when we picked up cameras after two weeks.  Yet, I had only one or two photos.  This indicates the cameras’ infrared detection is not responding quickly.

We recently purchased 5 digital cameras.  I look forward to testing them in the field in June. I will also increase my time in the forest looking for dhole sign (footprints, feces).  I will identify a survey trail near water reservoirs (where dholes were seen in February of this year) and walk it daily.

I am working on a second revision of my dissertation proposal draft and including a new research direction.  Concurrent with my ongoing ecological study of dholes in the sanctuary, I also plan to evaluate the risk that domestic dogs represent to the health of dholes.  This will give me data without having to rely on the small chance that we can catch dholes.  To evaluate the risk of disease spill-over from domestic dogs to dholes at KARN, I will measure both species exposure to pathogens and estimate the contact rates of domestic dogs and dholes by radio-collaring domestic dogs.

The biggest hurdle to this plan is research permits.  In June I will begin the process of amending our current permits or applying for new project permits.