WCS 3-Sentence Science

Big Cats, Little Cats, and Gold Mining in a Myanmar Protected Area

November 22, 2019

CREDIT: WCS MYANMAR PROGRAM

Each year, Wildlife Conservation Society scientists publish more than 300 peer-reviewed studies and papers. “WCS 3-Sentence Science” is a regular tip-sheet — in bite sized helpings — of some of this published work.

Here we present work by WCS’s Myanmar program on how human activities in the country are impacting populations of cat species like leopards and tigers.

1. Researchers deployed camera traps in Myanmar’s Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary to survey for clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosi), tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), golden cat (Catopuma temminckii), and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).
2. While all cats were detected, results indicated that human activities, in particular gold mining, are affecting felid populations.
3. Authors note the importance of Htamanthi within Myanmar’s Northern Forest Complex and highlight the Yawbawmee corridor as a candidate for protection.

Study and Journal: “Population density estimates and conservation concern for clouded leopards Neofelis nebulosa, marbled cats Pardofelis marmorata and tigers Panthera tigris in Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary, Sagaing, Myanmar” from Oryx
WCS Co-Author(s): Hla Naing (Lead), Landscape Coordinator, WCS Myanmar; Saw Htun, Country Program Director, WCS Myanmar

For more information, contact: Stephen Sautner, 718–220–3682, ssautner@wcs.org.