Indochinese tiger is one of the four tiger subspecies remaining in China, with the latest wild individual photo captured by camera traps in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve (XSBN-NNR) in year 2007. Two years later, one individual was killed by local villagers. Since then, there has been no putative evidence of wild individual survival. Besides habitat loss and fragmentation, disturbance from humans, mainly seasonal collection of forest products and all year around poaching, has become one of the main survival threats. Lack of information on its current status has created a gap for targeted conservation plan making.
With the support from State Forestry Administration, the Wildlife Institute, Beijing Forestry University (WI-BFU) has leaded a two years’ project (2013 – 2014) on population status and habitat evaluation of Indochinese tiger in Yunnan province, Southwest China. The project was conducted in two historical distribution sites, XSBN-NNR bordering Laos and Nangunhe National Nature Reserve (NGH-NNR) bordering Burma. The stuff from WI-BFU, together with local frontline rangers, make up main force of local field team, they walk line transect recording all signs identified, collected non-invasive fecal samples and set up cameras in these two study sites.
In January and February 2014, the team has set 98 camera stations in Shangyong sub reserve of XSBN-NNR and Cangyuan district of NGH-NNR. All cameras have been retrieved by the end of June, before rainy season arrives. Data analysis and project report writing are on the way. The field work was no easy job, only with the united enthusiasm and passion, could we have it done successfully. We are expecting our work to contribute to this subspecies conservation in China stepwise.
With the support from State Forestry Administration, the Wildlife Institute, Beijing Forestry University (WI-BFU) has leaded a two years’ project (2013 – 2014) on population status and habitat evaluation of Indochinese tiger in Yunnan province, Southwest China. The project was conducted in two historical distribution sites, XSBN-NNR bordering Laos and Nangunhe National Nature Reserve (NGH-NNR) bordering Burma. The stuff from WI-BFU, together with local frontline rangers, make up main force of local field team, they walk line transect recording all signs identified, collected non-invasive fecal samples and set up cameras in these two study sites.
In January and February 2014, the team has set 98 camera stations in Shangyong sub reserve of XSBN-NNR and Cangyuan district of NGH-NNR. All cameras have been retrieved by the end of June, before rainy season arrives. Data analysis and project report writing are on the way. The field work was no easy job, only with the united enthusiasm and passion, could we have it done successfully. We are expecting our work to contribute to this subspecies conservation in China stepwise.