Density trends of the endangered large-spotted civet and sympatric civet species in Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, Eastern Cambodia

Chanratana Pin; Jan F. KAMLER; Dusit Ngoprasert; Tommaso Savini; Susana Rostro-García; Milou Groenenberg; David W. Macdonald; George A. Gale

doi:10.1071/pc25061

journal article Mar 31, 2026

Density trends of the endangered large-spotted civet and sympatric civet species in Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, Eastern Cambodia

Chanratana Pin

Jan F. KAMLER Dusit Ngoprasert

Tommaso Savini Susana Rostro-García

Milou Groenenberg

David W. Macdonald George A. Gale

Pacific Conservation Biology Vol. 32 No. 2 · CSIRO Publishing

View at Publisher Save 10.1071/pc25061

Abstract

Background
The large-spotted civet (Viverra megaspila) has experienced a sharp decline in abundance and distribution over the past century. Despite its Endangered status, data on this species are limited, and its density has never been estimated.

Aims
This study addresses this gap by analyzing long-term camera-trap data to provide the first density estimate, population trends, and population viability analysis for the large-spotted civet.

Methods
These analyses were focused on Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia, one of the last potential strongholds for the species. We also examined the density and abundance of other sympatric civet species to contextualize the conservation status of the large-spotted civet within the civet community.

Key results
Our results show a decline of at least 75–95% in large-spotted civet density, from approximately 9.40 individuals/100 km2 to 0.51 individual/100 km2 between 2009 and 2019. In contrast, the density of the large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha) increased from 2.41 individuals/100 km2 to 7.24 individuals/100 km2 over the same period. The common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and the small Indian civet (Viverricula indica) showed no trend in abundance. Our population viability analysis models projected that within the next decade, the large-spotted civet will likely become extinct in Srepok, whereas the large Indian civet population is projected to grow.

Conclusions
The sharp decline in large-spotted civet numbers raises significant conservation concerns, with the species nearing extinction in one of its last global strongholds.

Implications
Urgent conservation actions are needed for the large-spotted civet, including reducing illegal poaching, community engagement, research on reproductive ecology and long-term population monitoring.

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Published: Mar 31, 2026
Vol/Issue: 32(2)
License: View

Authors

C

Chanratana Pin

AConservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.; BMinistry of Environment, Morodok Techo Building, Lot 503, Tonle Bassac, Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

J

Jan F. KAMLER

CWildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, Life and Mind Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3EL, UK.

D

Dusit Ngoprasert

AConservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.

T

Tommaso Savini

AConservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.

S

Susana Rostro-García

CWildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, Life and Mind Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3EL, UK.; DPanthera, 8 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018, USA.

M

Milou Groenenberg

EWWF-Cambodia, #21, Street 322, Boeung Keng Kang I, Boeung Keng Kang, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

D

David W. Macdonald

CWildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, Life and Mind Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3EL, UK.

G

George A. Gale

AConservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.

Cite This Article

Chanratana Pin, Jan F. KAMLER, Dusit Ngoprasert, et al. (2026). Density trends of the endangered large-spotted civet and sympatric civet species in Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, Eastern Cambodia. Pacific Conservation Biology, 32(2). https://doi.org/10.1071/pc25061

Density trends of the endangered large-spotted civet and sympatric civet species in Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, Eastern Cambodia

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