Ecology of goral [Nemorhaedus goral (Hardwicke, 1825)] in Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, Changwat Chiang Mai and Tak

Study on ecology of Goral [Nemorhaedus goral (Hardwicke, 1825)] had been conducted from May, 1996 to July, 1997. The surveys showed that gorals distribute in Mae Lao-Mae Sae Wildlife Sanctuary, Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary, Mae Tuan Wildlife Sanctuary, Mae Ping National Park, Doi Inthanon National Park and Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary. In Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, the habitat site of gorals in the west of Doi Mon Jong is granite. According to habitat selection, they mostly select grassland, rock base area and the forest along deep valley respectively. In rainy season, they commonly utilize the area between 1,400-1,500 m and between 1,500-1,600 m MSL in dry season. The fecal analysis showed that goral in Doi Mon Jong area utilized at least 14 forages plant species from 6 families. Age ratio between adult and infant indicating that the population trend was, at least, in steady state. There are two main behavioral types, concerning its own affair and communal herd. The former includes feeding, walking, standing, resting, ruminating, drinking, defecating and urinating, running, climbing, scratching and licking, body twisting, and mutting. The latter includes territorial defending, aggressive attacking, horn rubbing and scent marking, surrenderring, communicating, rutting and taking care infant. The relationships between gorals and other animal species consist of three types. The first type is food competition with other ungulates, i.e., serow, barking deer and domestic cattle. The second type is protocooperation with two bird species, i.e. the lesser coucal and the white-headed bulbul. Finally, gorals are prey of tiger. The observed relationship between gorals and human is composed of both ways, the positive way by being supported and the negative way by being hunted. The negative relationship making the goral population is, at present, on the verge of critically endangered, thus, appropriate conservation measures are highly needed to extend survival of their population.