Camera trap data of mammals from Baluran National Park

Dholes (Cuon alpinus) are endangered large carnivores found in scattered
populations in Asia. One of the main threats to dholes is the decreasing
prey availability throughout their distribution range. In the present
study we used camera trap data collected over six years to investigate the
temporal activity patterns of dholes and their putative prey species in
Baluran National Park in Java, Indonesia. We also explored the overlap in
activity between dholes and the park’s other remaining large carnivore the
Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas), as well as humans. Furthermore, we
investigated potential differences in activity patterns between dholes in
packs and dholes roaming in pairs or alone. We found a high temporal
overlap between dholes and their wild ungulate prey species (ranging from
D=0.66–0.90), with the lowest overlap observed between dholes and bantengs
(Bos javanicus) (D=0.66), and the highest between dholes and muntjacs
(Muntiacus muntjak) (D=0.90). A very low overlap was found between dholes
and domestic cattle (Bos indicus) (D=0.27) whereas a moderately high
overlap was found between dholes and leopards (D=0.70) and dholes and
humans (D=0.62). We found a significant difference in activity patterns
between dholes in packs and dholes roaming alone or in pairs (D=0.78,
p=0.01). Single/pairs of dholes were more active both during the day and
at night, whereas packs were predominantly active around sunrise and
sunset. The high overlap with humans potentially has a negative effect on
dhole activity, particularly for dispersing individuals, and the low
overlap with domestic species questions the extent to which dholes are
considered to predate on them.