Past, present and future habitat suitable for gaur (Bos gaurus) in Thailand

Authors

  • Umphornpimon Prayoon Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  • Warong Suksavate Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  • Aingorn Chaiyes School of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Bangkok 11120, Thailand
  • Supagit Winitpornsawan National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  • Somying Tunhikorn National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  • Kamon Faengbubpha National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  • Chatwaroon Angkaew National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  • Sura Pattanakiat Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
  • Prateep Duengkae Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics, Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Keywords:

Distribution, Gaur, Large herbivore, Species distribution model, Wildlife management

Abstract

The gaur (Bos gaurus) distributes throughout mainland South and Southeast Asia. It is listed as an endangered species in Thailand, where its population has been decreasing and suitable habitat has been lost. This study explored the distribution of gaur in Thailand and assessed suitable gaur habitat in the past, present and future. Gaur occurrence data were obtained in 2010 and 2020 field surveys that recorded signs of gaur on wildlife trails and patrol routes in protected areas in Thailand. Maximum entropy was used to generate suitable habitat. The survey revealed gaur in 45 protected areas in 2010 and 59 protected areas in 2020. Although its range had expanded, suitable habitat had declined. The prediction of suitable areas for gaur showed that 10.0%, 7.7%, 8.0% and 8.2% of Thailand was suitable in the past, at present, and in the future based on models 1 and 2, respectively. By 2020, 31.8% of the suitable habitat in 2010 had been lost, while new suitable areas increased in extent by approximately 12.0%. Six potential forest zones for gaur conservation are the Western, Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai, Khlong Saeng-Khao Sok, Kaeng Krachan, Phu Khieo-Nam Nao and Eastern Forest Complexes. This study provided guidelines for gaur habitat management to maintain gaurs and their habitat in Thailand.

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Published

2021-10-31

How to Cite

Prayoon, Umphornpimon, Warong Suksavate, Aingorn Chaiyes, Supagit Winitpornsawan, Somying Tunhikorn, Kamon Faengbubpha, Chatwaroon Angkaew, Sura Pattanakiat, and Prateep Duengkae. 2021. “Past, Present and Future Habitat Suitable for Gaur (Bos Gaurus) in Thailand”. Agriculture and Natural Resources 55 (5). Bangkok, Thailand:743–756. https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/anres/article/view/252964.

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Section

Research Article