Wildlife Diversity on the Kasetsart University Si Racha Campus, Chon Buri Province

Abstract

A study of wildlife diversity on the Si Racha campus, Kasetsart University was conducted in a natural, secondary mixed-deciduous forest from April 2003 to December 2005. The work involved original fi eld observations, a review of available literature on wildlife species and the establishment of a species checklist, with information on conservation status. Permanent roadside counts, live traps, pitfall traps and camera traps were used for the fi eld survey. The results indicated the presence of 173 species consisting of 10 amphibians, 13 reptiles, 128 birds and 22 mammals. According to the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act 2003, 143 (85%) of these species were protected and 33 (19%) were included on the Wildlife Thai Red List (2007). The recent survey did not detect 77 (44%) of the formerly recorded species in this area. The fi ndings indicate that wildlife resources around the campus are under threat by urbanization and environmental pollution. It is recommended that the campus manager should consider conducting long-term monitoring of wildlife diversity, should develop a habitat management plan for maintaining wildlife diversity and should a prepare mitigation plan for reducing confl ict between the crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) and humans.