The conservation of tigers and other wildlife in oil palm plantations

Relative abundance within the plantation concession
To compare the plantation concession with the forest concession in more detail,
camera-traps were set up in random and non-random positions either side of the
border. Trapping rates were then calculated according to the species; if possible,
random cameras were used. However, some species, such as tigers, were never
recorded on randomly located cameras and therefore results were taken from cameras
set up at good camera-trapping points (such as on logging roads and junctions). The
results (Table 7, Figure 17) show that whilst tapir, leopard cat and sambar were all
evident within the plantation concession, they were actually photographed more
frequently outside the concession in the logging forest, although differences were
only really clear for tapir and leopard cats. On the other hand, both species of pigs and
also people were photographed far more frequently within the plantation concession.
However, several species of note showed little difference in preferences – tigers and
dhole were actually photographed more frequently within the plantation concession
than outside in the forest concession. Muntjac, pig-tailed macaque and even sun bear
also showed little difference between trapping rates inside and outside the plantation
concession, demonstrating that the plantation concession still contained valuable
habitat for a range of species.
Table 7 - Comparison of trapping rates (photos per trap nights) inside and outside the
plantation concession
Species Forest Plantation Survey method
Person (unknown) 0.25 0.12 Non random
Wild pig 0.03 0.33 Random
Pig-tailed macaque 0.04 0.05 Random
Leopard cat 0.06 0.02 Random
Bearded pig 0.01 0.05 Random
Tiger 0.02 0.02 Non random
Muntjac 0.02 0.02 Random
Tapir 0.03 0.01 Non random
Sun bear 0.01 0.00 Non random
Sambar 0.01 0.00 Non random
Dhole 0.00 0.01 Non random
Figure 17 – Photo-trapping rates (photos/trap night) for key species inside and outside the
plantation concession
Wildlife conservation in oil palm plantations 29