King cobra use of human dominated landscapes in …...2017/07/09 · King cobra use of human...
Transcript of King cobra use of human dominated landscapes in …...2017/07/09 · King cobra use of human...
King cobra use of human dominated landscapes in Nakhon Ratchasima
Colin Strine, Cameron Hodges, SurachitWaengsothorn,Pongthep Suwanwaree, Matt Goode
King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
Vulnerable species IUCN red list
Introduction: King Cobras
iucnredlist.org
Introduction: King Cobras
• May not truly be monotypic
• Venom composition varies greatly between populations
• Likely many small isolated populations throughout distribution and thus deserve higher listing than “vulnerable”
Introduction: Many threats—Anthropogenic
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Sakaerat Environmental Research Station (SERS)
Introduction: Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve
Sakaerat is here!
SERS cover 80 Square Kilometers
Dominated by Dry Evergreen (60%), Dry Dipterocarp (18%) forest types, and plantation
regrowth (18%)
How we get the kings: Surveys
Opportunistic captures
Drift fence traps
Notifications
Rescue teams
Methods: Finding individuals
Methods: Finding individuals
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Methods: Processing and surgery
Radio Transmitter Insertion Into Ceolomic Cavity
Triangulate and record the locations 3 or 4 times per day on each snake.
Habitat, and shelter site selection
recorded
Camera trap placement on shelter sites
Methods: Collecting the data
Adult Male Home Ranges
Results: Movement data
• Mean MCP area = 954.8 ha
• Mean distance moved = 241.5 m
• Mean daily displacement = 238 m
Adult Male Home Range
Results: Movement data
OPHA006
• 99% activity kernel area = 933.49 ha
• 50% core kernel area = 113.41 ha
• MCP area = 1,070.03 ha
>30% outsideprotected area
Adult Male Home Ranges
Results: Movement data
OPHA018
• 99% activity kernel area = 851.38 ha
• 50% core kernel area = 94.53 ha
• MCP area = 831.06 ha
>30% outsideprotected area
Adult Male Home Ranges
Results: Movement data
OPHA015
• 99% activity kernel area = 1,010.08 ha
• 50% core kernel area = 140.61 ha
• MCP area = 1,172.93 ha
>60% outsideprotected area
Female Home Ranges
• Predominately use irrigation canals and steam-beds
• Similar home range size to sub-adult males
Results: Movement data
• Mean MCP area = 274.2 ha
Non-Nesting100% outsideprotected area
Sub-adult Home Ranges
Results: Movement data
• Mean sub-adult male MCP 663 ha smaller than adult male MCP
• Mean MCP area = 291.6 ha
• Mean distance moved = 161.7 m
• Mean daily displacement = 145.1 m
50-100% outsideof protected area
Snakes Tracked at SERS in 2015 & 2016
Results: Movement data
Thirteen individuals were tracked within a two year period
Adult male king cobra (N=4) movement data:
• Mean MCP area = 954.8 ha
• Mean distance moved = 241.5 m
• Mean daily displacement = 238 m
Some individuals used exclusively outside protected area boundaries
Elapid Snakes MCP ComparisonsSpecies Mean MCP Home Range
(ha)Maximum MCP Home Range (ha)
King Cobra (Ophiophagushannah)
954.8 1,172.93
Monocled Cobra (Najakaouthia)
248 454.29
Indochinese Spitting Cobra (Naja siamensis)
14.32 16.66
Tiger Snakes (Notechisscutatus)
3.88 13.5
Australian Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus)
9.6 46.0
Australian Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)
5.8 43.8
Results: Movement data
Sources: SCSET, Unpublished Data, Bartosz Nadolski, Unpublished Data, H. Butler, B. Malone, and N. Clemann, 2005, Richard Shine, 1987, P. Whitaker and R. Shine, 2003
Conflicts with humans often lead to snake mortalities (even within the SBR)
Conclusions: Mortality in Biosphere Reserve
Having Protected Forests is Not Enough They spend a lot of time near humans settlements
Humans need to learn how to live with them (mitigation)
Conclusions: Conservation
Female 17 killed returning to home range
• Nested from June 06-15
• Began return to active season home range on 16th
• Killed between 17th-18th
• Discovered dead on 19th with evident decay in plastic bag
Conclusions: Major mortalities
2017 Nest site
Non-Nesting100% outsideprotected area
Conclusions: A new hope 2017 nest construction
Conclusions: A new hope 2017 nest completion
Community outreach
If they have a snake in their house.
Calls
Conclusions: Outreach
Rescue Team Trainings We hope to establish independent
local snake rescuers that can pass down their knowledge and practices
Conclusions: Rescues
Widespread outreach and education is key to changing
peoples’ perceptions of snakes and threatened
wildlife
Conclusions: Conservation
How can we aid king cobras?