Snaring devastates terrestrial ungulates whilst sparing arboreal primates in Cambodia's Eastern Plains Landscape

Abstract

Snaring poses a significant threat to terrestrial animals in many parts of Southeast Asia. However, long-term population monitoring data to determine the impact of snaring on wildlife populations is limited. We used distance sampling to estimate wildlife densities and population trends and data collected from ranger patrols to assess snare numbers across two protected areas in Cambodia's Eastern Plains Landscape. We found that the populations of three ungulate species, including the globally endangered banteng (Bos javanicus), steeply declined as snare numbers appeared to increase. In the same time period, the populations of two globally threatened arboreal primates remained similar or increased. Our findings indicate that snaring likely impacts ground-dwelling ungulates whilst sparing arboreal primates. Current ungulate densities are at critically low levels with several species at the brink of extirpation in our study area. We recommend urgent and comprehensive conservation actions to restrict snaring and prevent irreversible wildlife population collapses in this landscape and across the broader region.