Population recovery patterns of Southeast Asian ungulates after poaching
Abstract
Large ungulate populations in Southeast Asia have collapsed due to commercial poaching, but little is known about patterns of population recovery after poaching has been controlled. Using a sign-based index of abundance, we measured 6-year trends in abundance and habitat use of five ungulate species after poaching ceased at a site in Thailand. Regression slopes of annual indices against time indicated population growth rates (r) of 0.44 and 0.31 for muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) and gaur (Bos gaurus), respectively-close to the intrinsic rates of natural increase for similarly-sized ungulates. Thus, muntjac and gaur can recover relatively rapidly from low population levels. In contrast, sambar (Cervus unicolor) remained consistently rare despite freedom from hunting, perhaps because prime males had been selectively targeted for trophies, disrupting the species mating system. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) were already relatively abundant when monitoring started, illustrating their resilience to hunting and ability to quickly recolonize disturbed areas. Gaur herds (the key demographic unit of the population) and muntjac consistently selected deciduous over evergreen forest as their populations increased, revealing the importance of food-rich deciduous forest in driving recovery of these species. The unexpected failure of sambar to recover suggests that reproductive behavior may override seemingly positive interventions (i.e., stopping poaching) that reduce mortality. Small but well-protected recovery zones set within forested areas might help propel population recovery of ungulates and increase the prey base for endangered tigers.
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In Thailand, a population of B. gaurus recovering after poaching selected deciduous over evergreen forest.
“In Thailand, a population of B. gaurus recovering after poaching selected deciduous over evergreen forest (Steinmetz et al. 2010).”
From Bos frontalis and Bos gaurus (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) (2018) · cites this paper as Steinmetz et al. 2010
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Bos frontalis and Bos gaurus (Artiodactyla: Bovidae)
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- Authors
- Steinmetz, R., Chutipong, W., Seuaturien, N., Chirngsaard, E., & Khaengkhetkarn, M.
- Affiliations
- World Wildlife Fund (US)
- Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation (TH)
- Corresponding author
- Steinmetz, Robert
- Venue
- Biological Conservation
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-01
- Volume
- 143
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 42-51
- ISSN
- 0006-3207 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2002230000
- Cited by
- 102
- References
- 79
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Conservation (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Keywords
- poaching, muntjac, gaur, sambar, wild pigs, habitat use, deciduous forest, trophy hunting, mating systems, population growth rate, wildlife conservation, Southeast Asia
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