Determining the density trends of a guild of species can help illuminate their
interactions, and the impacts that humans might have on them. We estimated
the density trends from 2013 to 2017 of the clouded leopard Neofelis
nebulosa, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis and marbled cat Pardofelis
marmorata in Nam Et—Phou Louey National Park (NEPL), Laos, using
camera trap data and spatial capture-recapture models. Mean (± SD) density
estimates (individuals/100 km ) for all years were 1.77 ± 0.30 for clouded
leopard, 1.50 ± 0.30 for leopard cat, and 3.80 ± 0.70 for marbled cat. There
was a declining trend in density across the study years for all three species,
with a ≥ 90% probability of decline for clouded leopard and leopard cat and an
83% probability of decline for marbled cat. There was no evidence that
mesopredator release occurred as a result of tiger (Panthera tigris) and
leopard (P. pardus) extirpations. We believe that snaring, the factor that led to
the extirpation of tiger and leopard in NEPL, is now contributing to the
decline of smaller felids, to an extent that over-rides any potential effects of
mesopredator release on their densities and interactions. We recommend that
the NEPL managers implement a more systematic and intensified snare
removal program, in concert with extensive community outreach and
engagement of local people to prevent the setting of snares. These actions
might be the only hope for saving the remaining members of the felid
community in NEPL
