Big Mean Lizards

The dhole project should be reworked into the “large, mean lizard project.”  I have plenty of experience tagging and bagging nasty monitor lizards.  After having five box traps open every day and every night for three weeks in May, we only captured 13 lizards.  (At least the sanctuary staff is taking blood samples from the lizards for a DNA study).  We used chicken, scent, racks of beef, and blood and stomach content on trails for baiting.  

Our biggest success was finally figuring out how to secure the trap transmitters at the right angle to have them reliably trigger if a door closed.  This will save us a lot of false alarms and unnecessary hiking.  As soon as I return to the sanctuary, on the 2nd, I will collect photos from the five camera traps I had out for the month at the trap sites.

I am currently in Bangkok after picking up my Dad from the airport.  He will visit me at the sanctuary for 3 weeks.  He brought with him 10 new digital camera traps, two dozen soft-catch foothold traps, a capture stick, and trapping supplies.  As soon as we receive permission from the sanctuary chief, we will begin using these traps in addition to the 5 box traps.  I plan to build an additional box-trap (similar to the ones designed for lynx in Switzerland).  I also met a Thai researcher, Pornchai Patumrattanathan at the sanctuary, who designed a successful foot-snare for tigers.  I will work with Pornchai to possibility modify the foot snares for dholes.

I met with Dr. David Powell in Bangkok, the Assistant Curator of Mammalogy at the Bronx Zoo.  He recently finished a two-week project in Huay Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, to test the potential of using dhole vocalization playbacks.  His work was similar to my earlier unsuccessful attempts to attract wild dholes using vocalizations that I obtained from dholes at the Toronto Zoo.  In preparation for Dr. Powell’s trip, I collaborated with him regarding his proposal.  Unfortunately, during his two weeks in Huay Kha Khaeng he saw no dholes.

I am also working on the statistical analysis for a manuscript that will make up my second chapter:  Mammal Distribution Modeling and Lessons for Park Management, Khao Yai National Park.  This is using past camera trap data I have collected.

Lots of work to do...