Abstract
In low elevation areas, well-developed roads and human encroachment have fragmented and isolated the.suitable habitats of wildlife in Taiwan. Information of the present status, distributions and ecological relationships of endangered leopard cats and sympatric carnivores in these areas were helpful for understanding the human impacts on wildlife and for proper conservation. We studied their population ecology in rural areas in northern Taiwan from September 2005 to October 2008 by camera trappig, radio-tracking and interviewing of local farmers. The wild carnivore community was mainly composed of five species, including the ferret badger.(Melogale moschata), masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), crab-eating mongoose (Herpestes urva), lesser oriental civet (Viverricula indica), and the leopard cat. Average home range size of leopard cats was 5.0 km2 (SD=3.3, N=4) and 3.8 km2 (SD=2.5, N=4) with locations taken at 1-hr and over 14-hr interval, respectively, using the 100% MCP method. The size of home range and core area of males were larger than females'. Leopard cats moved an average of 2.71 km/day, and males moved significantly longer dairy distances than females did. Results showed that the leopard cat was mainly a nocturnal species with occasional daytime activities, whereas ferret badger, masked palm civet, and lesser oriental civet were nocturnal and crab-eating mongoose was diurnal. Our results suggested that segregation of temporal and spatial distribution and habitat use occurred among these 5 sympatric carnivore species. Although the study site is one of the few areas in Taiwan where leopard cats can still be seen easily, they were frequently trapped by local farmers for pest control in chicken farms and sold for food and pet. Domestic dogs and cats were also potential threats to this species in addition to habitat fragmentation and decreasing, road barrier and road kills. Conservation measurements are required for the persistence of the leopard cats and other sympatric carnivores in northern Taiwan.
