Observations on Vertebrates at Padang Chong Forest Reserve, Perak

Abstract

Observations on wildlife especially on arboreal and nocturnal species can generate important information especially in a forest reserve. Therefore, observations using binoculars (daytime) and torchlight (night) at Padang Chong Forest Reserve (PCFR) were carried out during five sessions in the months of June until November 2022. These activities were carried out at two sites namely P1 (500m from the forest edge) and P2 (500m up to 1000m from the forest edge). As a result, 65 species from 41 families were recorded. Of these, avifauna recorded 42 species from 23 families, mammals (nine species, seven families), amphibians (five species, five families), and reptiles (nine species, six families). Of these, there are 11 species had been classified as threatened species, where mammals with six threatened species followed by avifauna with four threatened species and herpetofauna with single threatened species. This study also shows that forest interior harbor the higher species richness of vertebrates with 91% (of the total species recorded) compare to forest edge that only consist of 11% (of the total species recorded) This information does not represent the whole wildlife community in PCFR. However, with this information, further monitoring can be carried out to better understand the wildlife communities in PCFR. Therefore, actions and strategies can be formulated to conserve this habitat for wildlife and future generations.