NOTES ON THE BEHAVIOR AND MOVEMENTS OF LEOPARD CATS, FELIS-BENGALENSIS, IN A DRY TROPICAL FOREST MOSAIC IN THAILAND

Three males and one female leopard cat were radio-collared and followed for periods of 1-13 months in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. The cats had overall home ranges from 1.5-7.5 km2 with core areas of 0.7-2 km2. A female leopard cat utilized an area of 6.6 km2 over 13 months while a male leopard cat, who shifted ranges, used 7.5 km2 over 3.5 months. Cats followed for longer periods of time generally showed larger overall ranges. The cats were active 50 percent of the time and displayed arrhythmic activity patterns. Leopard cats followed for at least several months showed seasonal variation in movement and ranging patterns. Fourteen prey items were identified in the feces of leopard cats, with small mammals, particularly Maxomys surifer, dominating the prey. Leopard cats preferred resting and moving on the ground, utilizing dry decidous dipterocarp forest proportionally less than dry evergreen or mixed decidous forest. Annual fires that help maintain the dry decidous dipterocarp forest in the study area may affect both short and long term survival of leopard cats.