Data from: An adaptable but threatened big cat: density, diet and prey selection of the Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri) in eastern Cambodia

We studied the Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri) in eastern
Cambodia, in one of the few potentially remaining viable populations in
Southeast Asia. The aims were to determine the: (i) current leopard
density in Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) and (ii) diet, prey selection
and predation impact of leopard in SWS. The density, estimated using
spatially explicit capture–recapture models, was 1.0 leopard/100 km2, 72%
lower than an estimate from 2009 at the same site, and one of the lowest
densities ever reported in Asia. Dietary analysis of 73 DNA confirmed
scats showed leopard consumed 13 prey species, although ungulates
comprised 87% of the biomass consumed (BC). The overall main prey (42% BC)
was banteng (Bos javanicus), making this the only known leopard population
whose main prey had adult weight greater than 500 kg. Consumption of wild
pig (Sus scrofa) was also one of the highest ever reported (22% BC),
indicating leopard consistently predated on ungulates with some of the
largest adult weights in SWS. There were important differences in diet and
prey selection between sexes, as males consumed mostly banteng (62% BC) in
proportion to availability, but few muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis; 7% BC),
whereas females selectively consumed muntjac (56% BC) and avoided banteng
(less than 1% BC). Predation impact was low (0.5–3.2% of populations) for
the three ungulate species consumed. We conclude that the Indochinese
leopard is an important apex predator in SWS, but this unique population
is declining at an alarming rate and will soon be eradicated unless
effective protection is provided.