Abstract:

The Camera-trapping Platform for Felid Species in China (Felid Monitoring Platform) was established in 2007 to evaluate the conservation status of the 12 native felid species in China and promote their conservation. The platform was initiated by the China Felid Conservation Alliance (CFCA), with collaborations from academic institutions, conservation organizations, government agencies, and protected area administrators. Monitoring using a grid-based or transect-based survey protocol has been conducted in 28 protected areas constituting nature reserves, scenic spots, civic protected areas, timberlands, unprotected areas, and other conservation areas spanning 10 provinces/autonomous regions. A camera trapping database is managed by CFCA and shared with protected area managers. By December 2019, the Felid Monitoring Platform has generated approximately 250,000 images with wildlife observations and 164,262 independent detections (not including additional data with ca. 50,000 unprocessed images) from 939 survey stations, with a sampling effort of 283,239 camera-days. To date, 91 wild mammal species (belonging to 7 orders and 24 families) and 102 wild bird species (belonging to 9 orders and 23 families) have been identified. Up to 25 species of those identified are listed as Class-I National Key Protected Species, and 55 species are listed as Class-II National Key Protected Species. Ten felid species were detected from 6,507 independent detections in 23 sites, including 3,196 (50.7%) detections of leopard (Panthera pardus) and 2,817 (44.7%) detections of leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). In the future, the platform aims to improve CFCA staff capacity of camera data analysis, assess the conservation status for focal endangered felid species, and maintain volunteer working groups.

Key words: felid species, Hu Line, biodiversity monitoring, camera trapping, citizen science