v8i1.210

Submitted date: 3 November 2015
Accepted date: 3 March 2016
Published date: 26 March 2016
Pp. 10–20.

FEEDING HABITS OF PACK LIVING DHOLE (Cuon alpinus) IN A DRY DECIDUOUS FOREST OF EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

Sandy Nurvianto*, Rury Eprilurahman, Muhammad Ali Imron & Sven Herzog
*Corresponding author. E-mail: sandy_nurvi@yahoo.com

Abstract
We conducted a study on the feeding habits of dholes in the Baluran National Park, Indonesia. Scat analysis was employed to identify the prey consumed. In total, 54 scats were collected across the park during the dry season of 2013 and analyzed to identify the prey of this species; at least 20 prey species were identified. Ungulates are the most important prey, estimated to contribute more than 95 % of the biomass consumed by dholes in BNP. Efforts to ensure availability of ungulates and to secure habitat will be the key to the dhole’s conservation in Java.

Key words : Baluran National Park, conservation, food, predator, prey, scat analysis, ungulates

Section Editor: Colin Groves