King cobra use of human dominated landscapes in Nakhon Ratchasima

Colin Strine, Cameron Hodges, SurachitWaengsothorn,Pongthep Suwanwaree, Matt Goode

King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

Vulnerable species IUCN red list

Introduction: King Cobras

iucnredlist.org

Introduction: King Cobras

• May not truly be monotypic

• Venom composition varies greatly between populations

• Likely many small isolated populations throughout distribution and thus deserve higher listing than “vulnerable”

Introduction: Many threats—Anthropogenic

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Sakaerat Environmental Research Station (SERS)

Introduction: Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve

Sakaerat is here!

SERS cover 80 Square Kilometers

Dominated by Dry Evergreen (60%), Dry Dipterocarp (18%) forest types, and plantation

regrowth (18%)

How we get the kings: Surveys

Opportunistic captures

Drift fence traps

Notifications

Rescue teams

Methods: Finding individuals

Methods: Finding individuals

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Methods: Processing and surgery

Radio Transmitter Insertion Into Ceolomic Cavity

Triangulate and record the locations 3 or 4 times per day on each snake.

Habitat, and shelter site selection

recorded

Camera trap placement on shelter sites

Methods: Collecting the data

Adult Male Home Ranges

Results: Movement data

• Mean MCP area = 954.8 ha

• Mean distance moved = 241.5 m

• Mean daily displacement = 238 m

Adult Male Home Range

Results: Movement data

OPHA006

• 99% activity kernel area = 933.49 ha

• 50% core kernel area = 113.41 ha

• MCP area = 1,070.03 ha

>30% outsideprotected area

Adult Male Home Ranges

Results: Movement data

OPHA018

• 99% activity kernel area = 851.38 ha

• 50% core kernel area = 94.53 ha

• MCP area = 831.06 ha

>30% outsideprotected area

Adult Male Home Ranges

Results: Movement data

OPHA015

• 99% activity kernel area = 1,010.08 ha

• 50% core kernel area = 140.61 ha

• MCP area = 1,172.93 ha

>60% outsideprotected area

Female Home Ranges

• Predominately use irrigation canals and steam-beds

• Similar home range size to sub-adult males

Results: Movement data

• Mean MCP area = 274.2 ha

Non-Nesting100% outsideprotected area

Sub-adult Home Ranges

Results: Movement data

• Mean sub-adult male MCP 663 ha smaller than adult male MCP

• Mean MCP area = 291.6 ha

• Mean distance moved = 161.7 m

• Mean daily displacement = 145.1 m

50-100% outsideof protected area

Snakes Tracked at SERS in 2015 & 2016

Results: Movement data

Thirteen individuals were tracked within a two year period

Adult male king cobra (N=4) movement data:

• Mean MCP area = 954.8 ha

• Mean distance moved = 241.5 m

• Mean daily displacement = 238 m

Some individuals used exclusively outside protected area boundaries

Elapid Snakes MCP ComparisonsSpecies Mean MCP Home Range

(ha)Maximum MCP Home Range (ha)

King Cobra (Ophiophagushannah)

954.8 1,172.93

Monocled Cobra (Najakaouthia)

248 454.29

Indochinese Spitting Cobra (Naja siamensis)

14.32 16.66

Tiger Snakes (Notechisscutatus)

3.88 13.5

Australian Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus)

9.6 46.0

Australian Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

5.8 43.8

Results: Movement data

Sources: SCSET, Unpublished Data, Bartosz Nadolski, Unpublished Data, H. Butler, B. Malone, and N. Clemann, 2005, Richard Shine, 1987, P. Whitaker and R. Shine, 2003

Conflicts with humans often lead to snake mortalities (even within the SBR)

Conclusions: Mortality in Biosphere Reserve

Having Protected Forests is Not Enough They spend a lot of time near humans settlements

Humans need to learn how to live with them (mitigation)

Conclusions: Conservation

Female 17 killed returning to home range

• Nested from June 06-15

• Began return to active season home range on 16th

• Killed between 17th-18th

• Discovered dead on 19th with evident decay in plastic bag

Conclusions: Major mortalities

2017 Nest site

Non-Nesting100% outsideprotected area

Conclusions: A new hope 2017 nest construction

Conclusions: A new hope 2017 nest completion

Community outreach

If they have a snake in their house.

Calls

Conclusions: Outreach

Rescue Team Trainings We hope to establish independent

local snake rescuers that can pass down their knowledge and practices

Conclusions: Rescues

Widespread outreach and education is key to changing

peoples’ perceptions of snakes and threatened

wildlife

Conclusions: Conservation

How can we aid king cobras?