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.
Camera Catastrophe
This month I setup camera traps at 32 locations in an effort to document dholes in Khao Ang Rue Nai. We placed the cameras in areas where we found dhole or prey sign (I have seen no dholes). After a combined 81 trap nights of the cameras in the forest, the picture is grim: 1 mongoose, 1 monitor lizard, 3 elephants (in a sanctuary that is over-run with elephants), 8 sambar deer, and 8 barking deer. However, I have yet to develop the film from cameras setup with road-kill deer parts as bait, so maybe…
I am extremely frustrated with my equipment. I am using second-hand Camtrakker models (film cameras) that are not made to withstand the rigors of the tropical forest. Furthermore, film is rapidly getting harder to find and have developed. It is now the beginning of the rainy season and the humidity and moisture is already a problem. I am rapidly losing camera traps. I started with 18 working cameras. I am down to 7! (6 have problems with the infrared beam (most likely due to humidity), 3 were destroyed by elephants, 2 are clogged with black ant eggs inside the workings of the camera). To solve the ant problem, I bought some silicone caulk which I will use to seal the cameras. Using this caulk also aids the silica gel packets I place inside to absorb moisture. I am also inquiring about building elephant resistant housings and finding a fix-it man, but this will take time (everything happens slowly here, so that means…months). I am considering learning to build my own digital camera traps so I know how they work and how to fix them. But, this seems difficult as all of the sites for parts I have been referred to are no longer in business.
There are numerous digital camera trap models available in US retail stores for hunters, but most are not capable of withstanding the very harsh and humid Thailand environment. However, we have positive reviews from colleagues in western Thailand and Brazil who are successfully using digital camera trap models (which are also capable of capturing video clips). So, my colleagues at the Smithsonian and I have narrowed in on commercial models of digital cameras to purchase (ca. $200/camera). We are also putting in the order for two GPS/GSM collars for dholes this month to leave room for manufacture time so they are ready to be deployed in the field in September.
I am extremely frustrated with my equipment. I am using second-hand Camtrakker models (film cameras) that are not made to withstand the rigors of the tropical forest. Furthermore, film is rapidly getting harder to find and have developed. It is now the beginning of the rainy season and the humidity and moisture is already a problem. I am rapidly losing camera traps. I started with 18 working cameras. I am down to 7! (6 have problems with the infrared beam (most likely due to humidity), 3 were destroyed by elephants, 2 are clogged with black ant eggs inside the workings of the camera). To solve the ant problem, I bought some silicone caulk which I will use to seal the cameras. Using this caulk also aids the silica gel packets I place inside to absorb moisture. I am also inquiring about building elephant resistant housings and finding a fix-it man, but this will take time (everything happens slowly here, so that means…months). I am considering learning to build my own digital camera traps so I know how they work and how to fix them. But, this seems difficult as all of the sites for parts I have been referred to are no longer in business.
There are numerous digital camera trap models available in US retail stores for hunters, but most are not capable of withstanding the very harsh and humid Thailand environment. However, we have positive reviews from colleagues in western Thailand and Brazil who are successfully using digital camera trap models (which are also capable of capturing video clips). So, my colleagues at the Smithsonian and I have narrowed in on commercial models of digital cameras to purchase (ca. $200/camera). We are also putting in the order for two GPS/GSM collars for dholes this month to leave room for manufacture time so they are ready to be deployed in the field in September.
Police Inquiry
I just had a long break for Songkran, the Thai New Year. I was planning to spend it at Pom's house (which is fun because you go around visiting the elderly and pouring water over their hands, then doing the same with the monks). But, I didn't have cash because I had to cancel my ATM card. When I got to Bangkok, I walked up to my apartment and found a new lock over the door handle. At first I thought the landlady had locked us out because we were both away for over a week. Then, I looked closer. The doorknob has a lock, but there are also two loops of metal (one on the door itself and one on the door frame). When you shut the door, these come one on top of the other, then you insert a pad lock. One of the loops of metal was twisted open. Someone had broken into my apartment!!
I was exhausted after a 5 hour bus ride in extreme heat and just wanted a shower. I had to get the landlady to open the door, and then a whole group of people gathered around to watch as I checked what was stolen. Everything seemed to be in place. They left after lots of nodding and sent a guy to put a new latch on the door. I was finally alone and the violation of it hit me. I called Pom and asked if he had my computer. Nope. They stole my (luckily OLD) computer, cords to an external hard drive (luckily they didn't take the drive), and my nice computer bag (which was in the closet....how did they even think to look for the bag? I guess it made leaving less conspicuous). Anyway, then I cried. I don't really need my old computer, but after it died, the previous week, I spent a lot of time fixing it and it was working great (faster than my new computer in fact). I was livid.
Then, (I still didn't get my shower) I had to deal with the police coming. They were more interested in asking personal questions about me being an American and my hair than about the theft. I don't know why they bothered to come. I waited for Pom and the next day we went to the police station to do a formal statement (not that it will do any good).
Our apartment has a security camera taping people going in and out of the building. I thought we could watch this to see if anyone had my bag. But, conveniently, the days I wanted to look at the landlord had no longer saved. Hmmm. I'm just lucky I still have my passport and credit cards.
I was exhausted after a 5 hour bus ride in extreme heat and just wanted a shower. I had to get the landlady to open the door, and then a whole group of people gathered around to watch as I checked what was stolen. Everything seemed to be in place. They left after lots of nodding and sent a guy to put a new latch on the door. I was finally alone and the violation of it hit me. I called Pom and asked if he had my computer. Nope. They stole my (luckily OLD) computer, cords to an external hard drive (luckily they didn't take the drive), and my nice computer bag (which was in the closet....how did they even think to look for the bag? I guess it made leaving less conspicuous). Anyway, then I cried. I don't really need my old computer, but after it died, the previous week, I spent a lot of time fixing it and it was working great (faster than my new computer in fact). I was livid.
Then, (I still didn't get my shower) I had to deal with the police coming. They were more interested in asking personal questions about me being an American and my hair than about the theft. I don't know why they bothered to come. I waited for Pom and the next day we went to the police station to do a formal statement (not that it will do any good).
Our apartment has a security camera taping people going in and out of the building. I thought we could watch this to see if anyone had my bag. But, conveniently, the days I wanted to look at the landlord had no longer saved. Hmmm. I'm just lucky I still have my passport and credit cards.