Research Information System
Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, vol.18, no.4, pp.5873-5890, 2020 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Although the jungle cat (Felis chaus) has been listed as a species of Least Concern – (LC status) by IUCN data, there are many threats endangering the population of the jungle cat in Turkey. Currently, relatively little is known about their population status and ecology. Our study aims to determine the jungle cat's population density, interactions among humans and other wild animals, and the diel activity patterns. This research was carried out in the northern part of Eğirdir Lake within the borders of Isparta province between March 2016 and July 2017. Presence absence studies were carried out and evaluated using 15 camera traps, placed in 193 stations based on the opportunist method in areas where trail-marks of the jungle cat were detected. Throughout the study 83 camera trap data belonging to jungle cats over 4403 camera trapping days were obtained from 193 stations. This study provides the 1st robust estimation of the jungle cat population size and spatiotemporal interactions of humans and other wildlife species in Turkey. As a result of this study, it was concluded that human activity affects wildlife behavior and that wild animals are haivng to adjust their living and feeding behaviors according to human activity. How human activity affects wildlife behavior. Our study underlines the need to consider activity patterns of wildlife for conservation and environmental management planning.