Improper garbage management attracts vertebrates in a Thai national park

Improper garbage management in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand, significantly attracts wildlife, with 38 vertebrate species, including globally vulnerable Malayan sun bears and long-tailed macaques, drawn to dumpsites. The study found that food waste quantities correlated with tourist numbers, influencing species diversity, abundance, and visitation patterns. Highly abundant species visited more frequently than less common ones, and feeding behavior at dumpsites may alter ecological roles, leading to increased populations and human-wildlife conflict. Camera traps deployed over 601 trap nights (May 2018–January 2019) revealed that diurnal species were most prevalent, followed by nocturnal and crepuscular ones. Proper waste management is critical to mitigate negative impacts on threatened species amid rising tourism-related waste.

Teampanpong, J. (2021). Improper garbage management attracts vertebrates in a Thai national park. Écoscience, 28(2), 107–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2021.1872264