Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries

Spatial and Temporal Habitat Use by the Main Prey Species of Tigers in Two Protected Areas of Thailand’s Southern Western Forest Complex

A recent study reveals that human activities significantly influence the spatial and temporal habitat use of tiger prey species, with notable differences between two protected areas in Thailand's Southern Western Forest Complex (sWEFCOM). The research, conducted through camera trapping surveys from 2019 to 2020 in Khuean Srinagarindra National Park and Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary, found that unsustainable resource use practices, particularly those linked to human presence, are shifting the habitat preferences of key prey species. This shift poses a critical challenge for tiger recovery, as it disrupts the ecological balance essential for their persistence. The study underscores the urgent need for enhanced conservation law enforcement and community engagement in adjacent villages to mitigate these impacts and support the recovery of both prey populations and tigers.