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Camera trapping in Southern Vietnam: unveiling relative abundance, activity patterns, and conservation challenges of globally threatened pangolins and small carnivores

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Abstract

The U Minh wetlands of southern Vietnam in Ca Mau and Kieng Giang provinces are a degraded, peat-swamp wetland mosaic known to retain several globally threatened species. We deployed 83 targeted camera-traps across U Minh Thuong National Park and U Minh Ha National Park from December 2019 to May 2020, and from November 2020 to June 2021, respectively. Our aim was to detect threatened otters, wild cats, and pangolins in each protected area, to identify relative abundance, activity patterns, and what potential threats they may face to inform conservation priorities for park managers. Our results showed that both protected areas harbour significant regionally important populations of globally threatened Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica), and Hairy-nosed otters (Lutra sumatrana). However, Fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) and Large-spotted civet (Viverra megaspila) previously recorded from U Minh Thuong National Park, were not observed, emphasising the probability of local extirpation. Other than wide-ranging species that are less sensitive to human disturbance (i.e., Common palm civets and Leopard cats), all small carnivores were most active in Melaleuca and swamp/Melaleuca habitats in U Minh Thuong, and both the wetland plantations and disturbed forests of U Minh Ha according to their photographic rates. Human and domestic dogs’ activity periods in both protected areas overlapped strongly with Hairy-nosed otters, which could influence their dispersal abilities and access to resources. Long-term and short-term threats are discussed with relevance to U Minh ecosystem health and future recommendations.

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Data availability

As some of the data represents Critically Endangered species it will be made available only upon reasonable request of the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Thang Van Tran, Khang Hoang Le, Man Minh Nguyen (U Minh Thuong NP) and Truyen Tan Nguyen, Tuan Ket Anh Huynh, Sang Minh Ngo, Linh Hoa Nguyen (U Minh Ha NP) for their support during the fieldwork. We would also like to thank Panthera who generously provided their camera traps for this survey. This work was supported by the National Geographic Society grant number NGS-59549 C-19 and The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Our funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Geographic Society grant number NGS-59549 C-19 and The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quan, Ninh Binh, Vietnam

    Russell J. Gray, Tan Van Nguyen, Long Nhat Cao, Mai Thi Trinh, Thong Van Pham, Huyen Thi Thanh Nguyen, Dzung Van Le & Thai Van Nguyen

  2. IUCN SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland

    Daniel Willcox

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Contributions

R. J. Gray analyzed the data and assisted in writing/editing/revising the manuscript; Nguyen T. V. and Cao L. N. collected field data, classified images, and assisted in writing and editing of the manuscript; Trinh M. T, and Pham T. V. classified images and assisted in the writing and editing of the manuscript, Nguyen H T. T., Willcox D. Le D. V., Nguyen T. V. assisted in data collection activities, and assisted in revising the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Russell J. Gray.

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Gray, R.J., Nguyen, T.V., Cao, L.N. et al. Camera trapping in Southern Vietnam: unveiling relative abundance, activity patterns, and conservation challenges of globally threatened pangolins and small carnivores. Eur J Wildl Res 70, 50 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-024-01809-z

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