Picture capture rate index of small carnivore in state land forest, Merapoh, Pahang

A recent camera trapping survey was conducted at State Land Forest, Merapoh, Pahang. Sampling period was during August 2019 until October 2019. The main objective of this study was to identify small of carnivorous species using camera trapping method and calculate picture capture rate index for it abundance. 13 camera traps were randomly installed based on random systematic sampling (RSS). Each camera differ 2km distance with each other station. These camera were placed for approximately 2 month in 13 different location. In total, 18 independent photo of small carnivores were recorded comprising of 8 species. With effort of 513 traps night, this research was able to capture species of Otter civet (Cynogale bennettii) which quite rare to be found in Merapoh. Species that manage to detect with PCRI value are Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis (0.19), Common palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (0.39), Large Indian civet Viverra zibetha (1.95), Banded linsang Prionodon linsang (0.19), Asian golden cat Catopuma temminckii (0.19), Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa (0.19), Otter civet Cynogale bennettii (0.19) and Dhole Cuon alpinus (0.19). All this data provided new information about species of small carnivores in Sate Land Forest. Large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha) shown the highest PCRI value which indicate species richness. This also indicate that area of State Land Forest have abundance species of small carnivores. Further study is needed for this research to obtain more data due to sampling period was too short and limitation of resources.