CONTACT: Julie Navejar

kajam03@tamuk.edu or 361-593-2590

WILDCAT STUDY IN ASIAN JUNGLE WILL

PROVIDE INFORMATION ON LOCAL SPECIES

KINGSVILLE (August 10, 1999) -- Adventure movies often popularize the notion of wild cats inhabiting the exotic jungles of the world. There are 37 species of wild cats world-wide and five of these live in the jungles of central Thailand. These jungles are where researchers Dr. Mike Tewes of Odem, and doctoral student Sean Austin of Virginia, both from the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, are looking for wild cats.

Tewes and his student began studying the small wild cats in the jungles of Thailand in fall of 1997. The project is due to be completed in late November.

"There are many species of endangered small cats that have never been studied in the wild like the marbled cat, Asiatic golden cat, clouded leopard, fishing cat and leopard cat," Tewes said. "Studies are needed to monitor their status and overall ecology in order to head-off some of the problems experienced by similar cat populations in other parts of the world."

This is one of the farthest places from Texas that Tewes has studied wild cats. Most of his studies have focused on ocelots, jaguarundis, mountain lions and bobcats in his native South Texas and in northern Mexico.

Tewes draws some parallels to cats in Texas and those on the other side of the world. "The ways cats adapt or fail to adapt to changes in habitat caused by increasing human populations and changing land-use patterns are universal. Learning about wild cats in Thailand allows us to better understand cat ecology in Texas," Tewes said.

"We have to have an ethic that it is necessary to research and study an unknown animal before we can hope to make any specific conservation strategies," Austin said. "We must first learn with certainty where these animals are through surveys and interviews and follow up with more intensive biological and behavioral studies.

After obtaining natural history information, researchers can begin to educate the public about these animals, eliminating any falsehoods and teach why these cats are important. It is not only a phenomenon of developing countries that there is an abundance of misinformation about carnivores and predators.

"With thorough research and study, we can learn and subsequently convey to landowners and

tenants the inherent value of maintaining healthy populations of carnivores, particularly cats," Austin said. "This is where the parallel of Texas and Thailand is closest. It is the principal of first learning about an animal before trying to conserve it and teach about it."

Dr. Fred Bryant, director of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, believes Tewes' experience with wild cats can be a substantial benefit to countries interested wild cat conservation. "Mike is a world renowned specialist in wild cats. His expertise and experience will be a tremendous asset in helping these countries develop wild cat conservation plans," Bryant said.

Tewes has established two study areas, one in Khao Yai National Park, 150 miles northeast of Bangkok, and the other in the Phue Kieo Wildlife Sanctuary in the far north Isaan Region near the Laos border. Cats are being captured live, radio-collared and released in both areas. Austin is stationed in the Khao Yai National Park.

The data collected from a cat-in-the-hand, such as age, weight and body condition, are very important as some of these cats, like the golden cat and clouded leopard, have never been captured for research purposes.

Since the cats are radio-collared, they can be tracked every couple of days using a radio telemetry receiver that monitors the ultrasonic signal emanating from the collar. This information is needed to learn about spatial-use patterns, habitat needs, activity patterns and social organization within the cat community.

"Besides trapping operations, we are using remote cameras to monitor cat paths through the jungle to see just what species are living in the study areas," Tewes said. To date, the researchers have captured and radio-collared 10 leopard cats, one golden cat and two rarely seen clouded leopards.

The clouded leopard is one of the most elusive cats in the world and Austin has made a name for himself as the only researcher to have caught not one but two of the sly animals. "Although many other studies have tried, these are the first clouded leopards to be caught, collared and tracked in their own habitat. All the information on this incredible animal is completely new. I am hearing from zoo and wildlife researchers around the world concerning the clouded leopard. It is really ground breaking."

Austin's counterpart in the Phou Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in northern Thailand, Lon Grassman, caught a golden cat, which are just as crafty as the clouded leopard.

Austin has caught nearly 100 animals in his tracking so far including porcupines, mongooses, wild chickens, baby bears and large pythons in addition to the wild cats he is after.

He has collared 10 leopard cats, had three recaptures and caught three juveniles that were too small to collar.

The cameras placed along cat trails also have "caught" several tigers on film roaming the grounds of Khao Yai National Park.

"By describing the role cats play in this tropical ecosystem, we can develop a better understanding of cat community ecology," Tewes said. "The information obtained in this study will be necessary to develop sound management and conservation strategies for wild cats throughout southeast Asia."

-TAMUK-