I spent the bulk of December back in the U.S. Before coming home for the holidays to visit my family, I spent 10 days at the Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center GIS lab. We looked at 3 years of camera trapping data from Khao Yai National Park and struggled with stepwise logistic regression models. The models incorporate variables such as distance to nearest road, ranger station, village, etc. to predict carnivore presence at the park. Most interesting, we made a map layer that assigns a cost to get to a camera trap point from the park boundary taking into account elevation (i.e. how accessible is the area to a poacher?). The time was very productive and with a bit more work, I am hoping to get a model that accurately predicts carnivore presence to proximity from people. In the best case scenario, we might be able to use the model to make management recommendations. For example, how would carnivore distribution change if the park increased protection measures in certain areas?
I am finalizing the models and plan to finish a draft manuscript (target “Animal Conservation”) by early January, before leaving for Thailand again.
Red Tape
During November I became painfully familiar with the offices of the National Research Council, Provincial Town Halls, Consular Affairs, and Immigration. I spent a week traveling to four provinces where I plan to do interview surveys. I needed to show up in person and get signed letters of permission to begin work. Getting these signatures varied by office, from a wait time of four hours to 15 minutes.
Also, finally, after 5 different visits to three different offices, I obtained a research visa. This is essential for my long term work in the country.
As for research, I completed 100 interviews of villagers around Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary with help from the Sanctuary research staff. I learned to carry reading glasses with me to help facilitate the identification of wildlife photos by the older interviewees!
I will be back in Thailand (after a month’s break to the U.S.) to begin work in mid-January. I hope by that time the trapping permits for dholes will be secured…
Also, finally, after 5 different visits to three different offices, I obtained a research visa. This is essential for my long term work in the country.
As for research, I completed 100 interviews of villagers around Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary with help from the Sanctuary research staff. I learned to carry reading glasses with me to help facilitate the identification of wildlife photos by the older interviewees!
I will be back in Thailand (after a month’s break to the U.S.) to begin work in mid-January. I hope by that time the trapping permits for dholes will be secured…
Still Waiting for Permits
Since returning to Thailand on the 21st of September I have been busy analyzing data collected as part of the carnivore monitoring project I am involved with at Khao Yai National Park. I plan to spend two weeks at the Smithsonian’s Conservation and Research Center in December to work with Dr. Peter Leimgruber and to draft a journal publication related to this project.
I have also entered the data from 87 villager surveys around Khao Yai National Park. Last Friday I was granted permission to conduct interviews outside of Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary. I will pickup the documents for permits this week and expect to start those interviews around November 12th.
I am still waiting for permits to research dholes in Khao Ang Rue Nai. My collaborator from the Smithsonian, Dr. Nucharin Songsasen, is in Thailand this month and we are dealing with the requested changes to the original permit proposal.
Dr. Songsasen and I attended a canid workshop on 25th-27th of October. This was setup in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution and Kasetsart University in Thailand. I presented canid data from three years of camera trapping at Khao Yai. I think it was an extremely productive meeting which brought together interested parties in canid research throughout the country. One output was a step by step plan (including programs, activities, and actors) for developing canid research in Thailand.
The workshop benefited my work because it was good exposure to make key players aware of our planned dhole research at Khao Ang Rue Nai. We also made progress with our relationship with Kasetsart Univ. students and plan future research collaborations with them. The activities in the next few years will be on ecology and education, particularly outreach aiming at changing perceptions of visitors and rangers toward dholes.Upcoming at the beginning of November, I will be transitioning my work out of Khao Yai to focus on Khao Ang Rue Nai.
I have also entered the data from 87 villager surveys around Khao Yai National Park. Last Friday I was granted permission to conduct interviews outside of Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary. I will pickup the documents for permits this week and expect to start those interviews around November 12th.
I am still waiting for permits to research dholes in Khao Ang Rue Nai. My collaborator from the Smithsonian, Dr. Nucharin Songsasen, is in Thailand this month and we are dealing with the requested changes to the original permit proposal.
Dr. Songsasen and I attended a canid workshop on 25th-27th of October. This was setup in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution and Kasetsart University in Thailand. I presented canid data from three years of camera trapping at Khao Yai. I think it was an extremely productive meeting which brought together interested parties in canid research throughout the country. One output was a step by step plan (including programs, activities, and actors) for developing canid research in Thailand.
The workshop benefited my work because it was good exposure to make key players aware of our planned dhole research at Khao Ang Rue Nai. We also made progress with our relationship with Kasetsart Univ. students and plan future research collaborations with them. The activities in the next few years will be on ecology and education, particularly outreach aiming at changing perceptions of visitors and rangers toward dholes.Upcoming at the beginning of November, I will be transitioning my work out of Khao Yai to focus on Khao Ang Rue Nai.