Monitoring of population densities and its structure of the ungulates and wild elephant in Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary

Monitoring of densities and structure of the ungulates and elephant population in Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary was carried out for 5 years consecutively between November 1997 and October 2001 using Line Transect Method. The ungulate population densities were calculated based on direct observation data whereas the elephant population densities were calculated by dung count method. Throughout this study, the ELEPHANT computer canned program based on Fourier Series Analysis was used to calculate the ungulate and elephants dung densities. Specie is population structure based on direct identification was also studied. The results on only 5 ungulate species reflected that the gaur is density was an average of 2.26 individuals/square m (range=0.86-3.66 individuals/square km). for the gaur is population structure, the ratio of adult male: adult female: juvenile: calf was 1:1.64:0.21:0.14. The banteng density was an average of 1.37 individuals/square km (range = 0.24-2.69 individuals/square km). For the bantengs population structure, the ratio of adult male: adult female: juvenile: calf was 1:2.64:0.49:0.15. Moreover, the sambar deer is density was an average of 2.64 individuals/square km (range=1.12-6.06 individuals/square km). The sambar deers population structure had the ratio of adult male: adult female: juvenile: fawn as 1:2.84:0.55:0.24. For the common barking deer, the density was an average of 1.475 individuals/square km (range=0.79-2.36 individuals/square km). The common barking deers population structure had the ratio of adult male: adult female: juvenile: fawn as 1:1.47:0.38:0.19, respectively. The wild boar density was an average of 3.74 individuals/square km (range=1.01-12.88 individuals/square km). Total biomass of the 5 ungulates was 3,850.54 kg/square km. In case of wild elephant population, the average density was 0.36 individuals/square km (range=0.23-0.45 individuals/square km). For elephants population structure, the ratio of adult male: adult female: juvenile: calf was 1:6.25:2:0.75, respectively.The result of the densities showed that the ungulate species population in Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary was in a good status when compared with those in some forest protected areas of India. Nevertheless, the elephant is population density in Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary was about 3.5 times lower. The result analyzed yearly over 5 years consecutively showed that the large herbivorous mammals such as gaur, banteng and elephant of this area should have been protected intensively. Population should also be monitored closely to assess continuously the status of the wild population. One of the main threats, apart from illegal poaching, is the risk of infection from epidemic disease of the wild population that disperse from domestic farm animals released by local people into the area, especially in the east of this sanctuary.