Abundance, activity pattern and habitat suitability of the selected wildlife species in Ob Khan National Park, Northern Thailand.

The study on the abundance, activity patterns, and suitable habitats of the selected wild mammal species in Ob Khan National Park, Chiang Mai Province, representing the northern conservation area of the country, was conducted using camera traps between August 2021 and July 2022. The study results from 4,304 trap-nights revealed at least nine species of mammals. These included wild boar (Sus scrofa), followed by golden jackal (Canis aureus), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), northern serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), northern tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) and murid species. Most of the wildlife activity occurred during nighttime. The factors influencing the presence of the wildlife species that could be analyzed include three species: red junglefowl, common palm civet, and wild boar. The average percent contribution indicated that climate variables have the highest influence, particularly rainfall, followed by land cover variables and topographic variables. It was found that the factors influencing the presence of the three species do not differ. It also was found that more than 90% of the study area is classed as moderately suitable and less suitable for the wildlife. Therefore, management efforts should focus on highly suitable areas, including the conservation of the mixed deciduous and pine forests, while water source enhancement for wildlife conservation should be protected and improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]