On May 14th we launched a second phase of trapping by setting cage traps at three locations within our Tung Pak Chee focal study area. We were hopeful of getting an adult male to begin to balance our sample of cats for the project's intensive telemetry and biological sampling program. To our surprise and excitement, not only did we get the male we had hoped to, but two additional adult animals (one adult male and one adult female). The telemetry component of the project has now been propelled into high gear as we begin to get a close look at five individuals' movements and how they interact  in space and time.

We set two of the traps near an area that we call "Uncle Pia's fish pond". Much of this area has been converted into fish ponds and shrimp farms but behind these are thick patches of reed grass--the daytime sanctuary that fishing cats in this area seem to prefer.  This is also near the range of Namchaa-- one of the cats collared in the first phase of trapping. The cats clearly enjoy the plentiful fish provided by Uncle Pia's ponds and, to his credit--Uncle Pia seems very happy that his property provides important resources to this globally threatened carnivore.

 

In keeping with our sugar and caffeine-fueled nocturnal telemetry efforts, we have named the male captured here "Cocoa" (top right photo) and the female "O-liang" (Thai for black, sweetened coffee (left, upper photo)). We estimate that Cocoa is about 4 years old (weight 7.1 kilograms) and O-liang is one or two years old (weight 8.2 kilograms).

The other animal was captured about two kilometers from this area (left, lower photo). Named "Pepsi', this adult male weighed in at 8.7 kilogramswe and we estimate his age to be about three years old. This cat had appeared often on our camera traps that we set up in this area earlier this year and he had even managed to escape from a trap during the first phase of trapping.  Welcome back, Pepsi!

In preparation for this trapping period, and part of our ongoing remote camera and video sampling program, we continue to document previously collared cats in our cameras (appearing to the right is Namchaa--an adult female captured during the first collaring phase). Using individual identification based on coat patterns and ear tags, these data are proving extremely valuable in terms of rounding out our telemetry-based locations. We look forward to reporting on home-range sizes, overlap, and other insights over the coming year.