Impacts of human activity on wild mammal detection rates and diel activity patterns in Endau-Rompin National Park, Malaysia

Kobayashi, S. and Takagi, E. and Hassan, N. and Hashim, M. and Numata, S. (2024) Impacts of human activity on wild mammal detection rates and diel activity patterns in Endau-Rompin National Park, Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Forest Science (JTFS) (Malaysia), 36 (1). pp. 80-90. ISSN 0128-1283

Nonlethal wildlife tourism has potential to support the sustainable use of protected rainforests; however, activities associated with tourism may negatively affect ecology and wildlife behaviour. Abundance and diel activity pattern of wildlife is crucial to understand how they respond to environmental factors. In the present study, we examined whether human activities impact the spatiotemporal patterns of wild mammal communities in a tourist area of Endau-Rompin (Peta) National Park, Malaysia. Using video camera traps, we assessed the detection rates and diel activity patterns of wild mammals along roads in an area near tourist lodgings and a remote area. During a 250-day camera trapping survey, we identified at least 21 species of medium and large mammal. Although the volume of car and motorcycle traffic was significantly higher in the visitor area than the remote area, there were no significant differences in the detection rates of most mammals between the two areas. The diel activity patterns of four species did not differ between the two areas. However, Tragulus species showed different diel activity patterns in the visitor and remote areas, possibly a response to predators, as large carnivores were not observed in the visitor area. These findings emphasise the importance of considering not only direct human impacts but also indirect impacts through interspecific interactions.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://jtfs.frim.gov.my/jtfs/article/view/2625/19...

Abstract

Nonlethal wildlife tourism has potential to support the sustainable use of protected rainforests; however, activities associated with tourism may negatively affect ecology and wildlife behaviour. Abundance and diel activity pattern of wildlife is crucial to understand how they respond to environmental factors. In the present study, we examined whether human activities impact the spatiotemporal patterns of wild mammal communities in a tourist area of Endau-Rompin (Peta) National Park, Malaysia. Using video camera traps, we assessed the detection rates and diel activity patterns of wild mammals along roads in an area near tourist lodgings and a remote area. During a 250-day camera trapping survey, we identified at least 21 species of medium and large mammal. Although the volume of car and motorcycle traffic was significantly higher in the visitor area than the remote area, there were no significant differences in the detection rates of most mammals between the two areas. The diel activity patterns of four species did not differ between the two areas. However, Tragulus species showed different diel activity patterns in the visitor and remote areas, possibly a response to predators, as large carnivores were not observed in the visitor area. These findings emphasise the importance of considering not only direct human impacts but also indirect impacts through interspecific interactions.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	protected areas
AGROVOC Term:	carnivores
AGROVOC Term:	ungulates
AGROVOC Term:	camera trapping
AGROVOC Term:	traffic
AGROVOC Term:	ecotourism
AGROVOC Term:	wildlife management
AGROVOC Term:	animal behaviour
AGROVOC Term:	biodiversity conservation
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Mammal community, park management, protected area, road, tourism, vehicle, video-camera trap, visitor
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	21 Apr 2026 07:15
Last Modified:	21 Apr 2026 07:15
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2960

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