Monitoring the ungulate prey of the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis : distance sampling or faecal counts?

A study comparing faecal counts and distance sampling found that faecal counts are more effective for monitoring low-density ungulate populations, which are key prey for the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) in Komodo National Park. The research estimated densities of rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa), ranging from 2.5 to 165.5 deer/km² and 0.0 to 25.2 pigs/km², respectively, with high variability. Faecal counts provided a practical alternative when densities were too low for accurate distance sampling estimates. The study also revealed nonlinear relationships between faecal and population densities for rusa deer, while feral pig data supported both linear and nonlinear models. Given the importance of ungulate density in Komodo dragon population dynamics, the authors recommend combining both methods for annual monitoring in the park.

Ariefiandy, A., Purwandana, D., Coulson, G., Forsyth, D. M., & Jessop, T. S. (2013). Monitoring the ungulate prey of the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis : distance sampling or faecal counts? Wildlife Biology, 19(2), 126–137. Portico. https://doi.org/10.2981/11-098