Wildlife and Plant Research Centre, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Phathom, 73170, Nakhon Phathom Province, Thailand.
Mahidol University, Kanchanaburi Campus, Sai Yok District, 71150, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.
Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 8;11(1):3281. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82858-1.
The presence of gaur (Bos gaurus) at the border of Khao Yai National Park (KYNP) in Thailand has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of individuals' crop feeding. This study examines the feeding adaptations of gaur at the edge of the protected area and assesses whether gaur response to increased nutrient availability in crop plants compared to natural forage. During the day, gaur mostly utilized forest areas in KYNP and entered the agricultural areas at night. Gaur ate 43 natural forage species. Natural forage species contain high levels of crude protein and lipid, but they are found in small quantities and scattered areas when compared to crop plants, especially Zea mays L., that are available in large quantity and are heavily foraged on by gaur. However, greater understanding of the electivity index and nutrition of forage species along the edge of the protected area can be used to reduce the gaur-human conflict by keeping gaur in KYNP. Reducing the large monoculture areas that is the food sources of gaur along the edge may reduce or prevent gaur leaving the park and can be applied to advance conservation actions.
在泰国考艾国家公园（KYNP）边界有野牛（Bos gaurus）的存在，导致了野牛数量的急剧增加。本研究考察了保护区边缘野牛的取食适应，并评估了野牛对作物中增加的营养物质的反应是否与天然草料相比。白天，野牛主要利用 KYNP 的森林区域，晚上则进入农业区域。野牛吃了 43 种天然草料。天然草料含有高水平的粗蛋白和脂质，但与作物相比，它们的数量较少且分布分散，尤其是玉米（Zea mays L.），它们的数量很大，并且受到野牛的大量采食。然而，通过了解保护边缘地带草料的选择性指数和营养成分，可以减少野牛和人类之间的冲突，使野牛留在 KYNP 中。减少野牛在保护边缘地带的大型单一栽培区域的食物来源，可能会减少或防止野牛离开公园，并可应用于推进保护行动。
