Ongoing deforestation in Southeast Asia is leading to increased fragmentation and reduction of ha... more Ongoing deforestation in Southeast Asia is leading to increased fragmentation and reduction of habitat for the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Using the largest detection/non-detection camera trap survey dataset known for the species throughout its range, we investigated factors affecting clouded leopard habitat use across Peninsular Malaysia. Habitat use was modelled using fine scale covariates and recently developed analytical techniques to account for spatial autocorrelation. Clouded leopard habitat use increased with increasing distance from water bodies, higher numbers of discontinuous core areas per unit area and higher elevation. In addition , clouded leopard habitat use was higher in sites with higher average forest change values. After extrapolating the predicted habitat use of clouded leopards across the whole of Peninsular Malaysia, we assessed the suitability of proposed ecological linkages, and identified other suitable forest patches not within the current Central Forest Spine. Our findings are valuable for land use planning and management, in particular, for determining the suitability of forest remnants to support populations of clouded leopard and predicting how this species will respond in human-dominated landscapes. Crown
Malaysia, with its rapidly growing economy, exemplifies the tensions between conservation and dev... more Malaysia, with its rapidly growing economy, exemplifies the tensions between conservation and development faced by many tropical nations. Here we present the results of a multi-stakeholder engagement exercise conducted to (1) define conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia and (2) explore differences in perceptions among and within stakeholder groups (i.e. government, academia, NGOs and the private sector). Our data collection involved two workshops and two online surveys where participants identified seven general conservation themes and ranked the top five priority issues within each theme. The themes were: (1) policy and management, (2) legislation and enforcement, (3) finance and resource allocation, (4) knowledge,
The flat-headed cat Prionailurus planiceps is the smallest wild felid in Southeast Asia. Currentl... more The flat-headed cat Prionailurus planiceps is the smallest wild felid in Southeast Asia. Currently it is thought to be patchily distributed throughout Sumatra, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, and Thailand. Conclusive information on the species distribution, populations, and ecology is largely missing due to the lack of species detection. Here we report the first photographic evidence of flat-headed cats in Pasoh Forest Reserve, and second ever in Peninsular Malaysia. Two individuals moving together during daytime in lowland dipterocarp forest far from water bodies and near an oil palm plantation were photographed. The capture took place in June 2013 with a camera trap located at a height of 10 cm above the ground. Besides adding important information on the species’ potential distribution and ecological ranges, we speculate that flat-headed cat ecology and the height of camera traps could be important factors why the species escapes detection.
Ongoing deforestation in Southeast Asia is leading to increased fragmentation and reduction of ha... more Ongoing deforestation in Southeast Asia is leading to increased fragmentation and reduction of habitat for the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Using the largest detection/non-detection camera trap survey dataset known for the species throughout its range, we investigated factors affecting clouded leopard habitat use across Peninsular Malaysia. Habitat use was modelled using fine scale covariates and recently developed analytical techniques to account for spatial autocorrelation. Clouded leopard habitat use increased with increasing distance from water bodies, higher numbers of discontinuous core areas per unit area and higher elevation. In addition , clouded leopard habitat use was higher in sites with higher average forest change values. After extrapolating the predicted habitat use of clouded leopards across the whole of Peninsular Malaysia, we assessed the suitability of proposed ecological linkages, and identified other suitable forest patches not within the current Central Forest Spine. Our findings are valuable for land use planning and management, in particular, for determining the suitability of forest remnants to support populations of clouded leopard and predicting how this species will respond in human-dominated landscapes. Crown
Malaysia, with its rapidly growing economy, exemplifies the tensions between conservation and dev... more Malaysia, with its rapidly growing economy, exemplifies the tensions between conservation and development faced by many tropical nations. Here we present the results of a multi-stakeholder engagement exercise conducted to (1) define conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia and (2) explore differences in perceptions among and within stakeholder groups (i.e. government, academia, NGOs and the private sector). Our data collection involved two workshops and two online surveys where participants identified seven general conservation themes and ranked the top five priority issues within each theme. The themes were: (1) policy and management, (2) legislation and enforcement, (3) finance and resource allocation, (4) knowledge,
The flat-headed cat Prionailurus planiceps is the smallest wild felid in Southeast Asia. Currentl... more The flat-headed cat Prionailurus planiceps is the smallest wild felid in Southeast Asia. Currently it is thought to be patchily distributed throughout Sumatra, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, and Thailand. Conclusive information on the species distribution, populations, and ecology is largely missing due to the lack of species detection. Here we report the first photographic evidence of flat-headed cats in Pasoh Forest Reserve, and second ever in Peninsular Malaysia. Two individuals moving together during daytime in lowland dipterocarp forest far from water bodies and near an oil palm plantation were photographed. The capture took place in June 2013 with a camera trap located at a height of 10 cm above the ground. Besides adding important information on the species’ potential distribution and ecological ranges, we speculate that flat-headed cat ecology and the height of camera traps could be important factors why the species escapes detection.
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