Journal of Forest and Environmental Science

Institute of Forest Science, kangwon National University (강원대학교 산림과학연구소)
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Estimating Population Density of Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) from Camera Traps in Maekdo Riparian Park, South Korea

  • Park, Heebok (Division of Ecological Conservation, National Institute of Ecology) ;
  • Lim, Anya (Division of Ecosystem Services & Research Planning, National Institute of Ecology) ;
  • Choi, Tae-Young (Division of Ecological Conservation, National Institute of Ecology) ;
  • Lim, Sang-Jin (Department of Forest Environment System Graduate School, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Park, Yung-Chul (Department of Forest Environment System Graduate School, Kangwon National University)
  • Received : 2017.06.26
  • Accepted : 2017.07.12
  • Published : 2017.08.31
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Abstract

Although camera traps have been widely used to understand the abundance of wildlife in recent decades, the effort has been restricted to small sub-set of wildlife which can mark-and-recapture. The Random Encounter Model shows an alternative approach to estimate the absolute abundance from camera trap detection rate for any animals without the need for individual recognition. Our study aims to examine the feasibility and validity of the Random Encounter Model for the density estimation of endangered leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) in Maekdo riparian park, Busan, South Korea. According to the model, the estimated leopard cat density was $1.76km^{-2}$ (CI 95%, 0.74-3.49), which indicated 2.46 leopard cats in $1.4km^2$ of our study area. This estimate was not statistically different from the previous leopard cat population count ($2.33{\pm}0.58$) in the same area. As follows, our research demonstrated the application and usefulness of the Random Encounter Model in density estimation of unmarked wildlife which helps to manage and protect the target species with a better understanding of their status.

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