Conserving tigers Panthera tigris in selectively logged Sumatran forests

• Published in: Biological conservation Vol. 141; no. 9; pp. 2410 - 2415
• Main Authors: Linkie, Matthew, Haidir, Iding Achmad, Nugroho, Agung, Dinata, Yoan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2008; Kidlington, Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Deforestation; Detection; forest habitats; forest management; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Habitat use; Large carnivore; Logging; Panthera tigris; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Presence; wildlife habitats; wildlife management; Indonesia; Deforestation; Logging; Habitat use; Presence; Detection; Large carnivore; Fissipedia; Carnivora; Forests; Panthera tigris; Habitat selection; Carnivorous animal; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0006-3207; 1873-2917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2008.07.002

The response of most large carnivores to selective logging is poorly understood. On the one hand, selective logging may represent loss of important habitat, yet, on the other hand, selective logging may increase browse availability for a terrestrial ungulate prey base, thereby indirectly benefiting large carnivores. Using a camera trap-based sampling method, we estimate tiger density in two primary-selectively logged forest areas that straddle Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra. We then investigate potential differences between the habitat use of tigers: within these study areas and forest types; and, within the finer-scale landscape features associated with these covariates. Across the mixed forest study areas, tiger density estimates (adult individuals/100
km
2
±
S.E.) of 2.95
±
0.56 and 1.55
±
0.34 were produced. However, within these areas, tigers showed a preference for primary over degraded forest, and this was related to the greater accessibility of degraded forest sites to people, e.g., through their proximity to roads. Presently, the majority of Sumatran tigers occur within large tracts of primary forest, but these extend outside of the island’s protected area borders, and these unprotected forests are especially at risk from the high levels of deforestation in Sumatra. As forest is cleared, previously remote, and therefore safer, tracts of primary forest become accessible and, eventually, degraded. Yet, from our study, degraded forest in combination with primary forest supported sufficiently high tiger densities and can, therefore, make an important contribution to tiger conservation. It is therefore essential to lessen the detrimental effects of accessibility through increasing law enforcement and destroying ex-logging roads.