Roadkill incidents of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in the exterior wildlife reserved: A selected plantation area case
Mohd Zahid Laton, Ahmad Azhar Mohammed and Harlina Yunus
The leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis (P. bengalensis) is a family of Felinae and prominently found in the Southeast Asian countries. This species is protected under the wildlife act; Act 716, Akta Pemuliharaan hidupan Liar 2010 by the Malaysian government. P. bengalensis species were found victimized in the roadkill incidents especially on the tar-roadways but not gravelled roadways that are commonly used by the motorcar, truck, and other vehicles that pass through the plantation, buffer zones, and wildlife corridors. Until recently, studies on the roadkill incidents of P. bengalensis in the exterior part of the wildlife reserve are still rare in Malaysia. Since they mostly live in the wild and plantation areas, the study of this species in the roadkill is very few, particularly in the plantation zone, especially in the Jengka territory located in the central of the Pahang state. This study disclosed the roadkill incidents involving the species outside the wildlife reserve to provide a clearer understanding of the circumstance. For the research methodology, the data was recorded using a simple form while the photos were taken using a smartphone model SM-G530H Android version 4.4.4 with 8-megapixel cameras. The data then was transferred to the desktop for analysis. The result showed that 12 dead bodies of the species were found between April 2014 and January 2017. Most of the cases occurred in the mixed area (oil palm plantation, rubber plantation and bush/secondary forests) while more than half of the cases happened between January and March (the first quarter of the year). The authorized body is suggested to build an alternative route for the wildlife species that are living in the study site to preserve this species from being victims in the roadkill incidents in the future.
Mohd Zahid Laton, Ahmad Azhar Mohammed, Harlina Yunus. Roadkill incidents of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in the exterior wildlife reserved: A selected plantation area case. J Entomol Zool Stud 2017;5(4):1507-1513.