rssN 0121.812 Vol XXVI 2009-2010
The Journal of
WILDLIFE
ANd PARKS
Journol ofrwdlde and Parks (2009-20t0) 26 : j-4 l
ACTMTY PATTERN ON MALAYAN TApIR (Iaprirs izdrczs) IN TEMENGOR FOREST RESERVE, PERAK, THROUGH THE USE OF THE CAMERA TRAPPING
TECHNIQUE
Magintan, D., Rufino, M.B.M, & Cosmas Ngau Department of Wildlife and National parks (DWNp)
KM 10, Jqlan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumour ABSTRACT
A study on the activity pattern of rapir (Tapirus indicus) was carried out in Temengor Forest Reserve, Perak, using camera trapping technique. A total of 11 camera traps were deployed and 318 photographs of tapir from 2813 trap nights were captured. The percentage ratio of the tapir captured per unit sampling effort was 0.113. The analysis of the photos showed that tapir wire active early morning (00:00 to 11:00) and 18:00 hr to 23:00 hr in the afternoon. Ththishest percentage oftapir's activity pattem noted in this study is between 05:00 hr to 20:00 hr, whilJ the minimum record ofthe activity pattern was at 16:00 hr to 18:00 hr.
Keywords - Activity pattern, Malayan Tapir, Tapirus indicus, Temengor Forest Reserve, camera trapprng
INTRODUCTION
Peninsular Malaysia and sumatra, Indonesia are the world's strongholds for the Malayan Tapir, Tapirus indicus.Based on observation, this animal seems to have abundant in its habitaq however, more research needed to be carried out. The behavioral ecology and habitat needs ofthe Malayan Tapir are poorly understood as well as its population status. The survival ofthis animal is under threat in its ranges due to forest conversion to agriculture and habitat toss (Khan, lgg'l). Land conversion into agriculture such as huge oil palm plantation, construction of highways, human resettlements and logging industry in the country have lead to forest fraqmentation in which eventually decreased the habitat oftapirs.
Tapirs are forgotten species and less known (Khan, 1992), hence, more study is needed to expand facts on the animal. In this study, we used camera trapping technique to obtain data on the activity of tapir that populate the forest reserve. The so-called camera trapping technique has been usei by researchers to facilitate the evaluation of tapir distribution, population, habitat use and daily activities (Holden, 1998;Holden et aI.,2003; Kawanishi et a/.,2002;Novarino et al.,2004.Traeholt
& Sanusi, 2009) and a few of them described the activities pattem of tapir based on the photos captured. The use of camera traps as tool for tapir research was revealed important bv recent study carried out by Traeholt and Sanusi in 2009 at Krau wildlife Reserve, where individual of tapir visiting saltlicks were identified through its neckline. In addition, they also found ecological behavior of tapirs which was suggesting that tapirs appear to roam within relatively conined home-ranges up to, at least four years. The objective ofthis study is to observe the activity pattern of tapir in Temengor Forest Reserve.
Maginta , D., Rr6no, M.B.M & Cosruts Ngau
METIIODOLOGY
The stutly was conducted in Temengor Forest Reserve, northem Perak' The topography of the study sits ranging from 200 m a.s.l to 1200 m a.s.l with some parts are mountainous' Logging activities are being carried out during the field works in several compartments ofthe reserve.
A total of eight camera traps (Cam Trekker) were deployed in July 2007 and further trip was conducted to deploy another two camera traps in October' Overall, we set up four to 11 cameras in each program. All cameras were set operational for 24 hours, ard the delay between each snaps was 10 second. Every eight weeks, the battery and the memory caxd were rcplaced. The locations of camera traps are varied in terms of altitude and site, often deployed along the active admal trails. Each trip comprised of5 to 8 staffs from the DWNP. The camera trapping programs ended in August 2008.
For flexibility reason all images were recorded in JPEG Image format. Activity levels were considered from tle date and time imprinted on the image. For study purposes, we exclude other species images. The percentage of activity level was used to indicate whether the activity is nocturnal or diurnal. Activities recordod between 1800 - 0700 br were classified as nocturnal and those between 0701 - 1759 hr were classified as diurnal (Mohd. Azlan & Engkamat, 2006). A trap night is a period of 24-hour of camera in function.
lii,E
Figure 1: Map shows the location ofTemengor Forcst Reserve where shrdy was conducted.
RESULTS & DISCUSSION
A total of 318 photographic images of Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) from 2gl3 trap nights were obtained during the study period.-Image of Malayan Tapir was the most frequently deteJted throughout the study in all location. Novarino
"t "i. pooiy has used the p..""ntug" .utio or tapir image-captured per unit sampling effort (number of times that tapirs passed ti'rough the camera/ number oftrapping) for tapir's activities study in Kerinci Seblat National nark surn"aterE Indonesia and recoided 0.092 percentage ratio per unit sampling effort.
For this study, the percentage ratio of tapir captured per unit sampling effort was 0.113. In the previous study by Holden et ar. (2003) in the same area ofKerinci s;blat National park Sumatera, lndonesia, the study recorded 0.017 - 0.0g1 ofthe percentage ratio per unit sampring. The three ly{in8 .*h"q compared, the percentage ratio in Temengor iorest Reserve in peiak ivas slightly higher than the previous studies in Indonesia.
Th.e activity patterns were analyzed based on the time of imaged captured (Figure 2). The results indicate that tapirs are active mostly at night and tend to be solitary. Nonetheless, we have also encountered images where two individuar of tapir captured in the same frame. The photos were mostly-recorded during early morning (00:00 nr; to tate morning (11:00 hr) and from evening (8:00 hr) to m'dnight (23:00 hr). This stucly recoid"d tapi. pusseitLrough camera trap at 16:32 and tapir passed through camera traps at late morning (10:0ihr A t1:O: nr;.
In comparison to several studies in sumatera, Novarin o et ar. e005) recorded tapir during 04:25 hrto 19:57 hr;
l9ta"n et al. e003) recorded at 09:00 to l8:0d. fhe hignest percentage of tapir activity was at 05:00 (13%o) and at 20:00 (l2,o). No record of tapir passing througl,
"uir"* tifi, between 12:00 to 15:00 hr Minimum activity levels were recoried between 08:00 e%) to 10:00 (l7o) and 16:00 (l7o) to 18:00 (l%).
Aclivity,Pattem On Malayan Tapir (Tapirus Indicus) In Temengor
Forest Resene, Petuk, Throueh The Use Of The Canera Trapf,ing Teclnique
Figure 2:Activity paftem of MalayanTapi (Tap;-, i.di"o.; in T"-*g* FoJ"t Reserve, perak, from July 2007 to August 2008.
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Magintan. D.. Ruino. M.B.M. & Cosnas Ngau
Kawanishi et ql. (2002) also have recorded high result lor tapir photographs when conducting camera trapping study in Taman Negara, however, she did not include the photographs ratio. In Novario e/ a/. (2005) findings, the difference in percentage ratio per unit sampling between his study and Holden el a/ (2003) findings resulted from the effect of altitudinal and the placement of camera traps close to the saltlicks. In this study, the placement ofcamera traps were between 800m to 1250 m (a.s.l.) ofaltitude, while, Nov artno et al Q005) placed the camera at the altitudinal range from 183 to 700 m (a.s.l). The result (percentage ratio oftapir image-captured per unit sampling effort) was surprisingly higher than the studies at the low level of habitats. Its shows that tapirs are in fact well distributed in all altitudinal zonation including higher elevation. Numata e/ a/.
(2005) highlighted th€ captured of less than 10 photos of tapir during his study on mammals in lowland Pasoh Forest Reserve and adjacent fragmented forest using camela traps methods was in contrast with the size ofthe area which was only about 25.5 km'?.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
we would like to thank the Director General: the respective division and state directors, and staffs olDepartment of Witdlife and National Parks (DWNP), Peninsular Malaysia for their support and involvement ofthe program in Temengor Forest Reserve
REFERENCES
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Holden, J. and D. Martyr, D. (1998). Southern Sumatera. Tqpir Conservation l0 ; l7
Mohd. Azlan, J. & Engkamat, L. (2006). Camera Trapping and conservation in Lambir Hills National, Park, Saruwak. The Rffies Bulletin of Zoology 54(2): 469 - 475.
Novarino, W. (2005). Population Monitoring and study ofdaily activities ofMalayanTapir (Tapirus indicus) throngh the use of the camera trapping technique in Taratak Forest Reserve, Sumatera Indonesia. Report to the Rufford Small Grant (for Nature Conservation) Andalas University.
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