ThaiNGO

Assessment of Leopard and Clouded Leopard Recovery Potential in Thailand

Supervised by: WWF Thailand Conservation Director

Duration: 15 February 2023 – 15 August, 2023

1. Background of Consultancy Assignment/Project:

Hosting eight species, Thailand is a global center of wild cat diversity. Benefiting from the past few decades of concentrated government and non-government conservation action, it retains stable if modest tiger populations, a species  extirpated in most neighboring nations. Ongoing tiger recovery actions are well-defined, funded, and backed by substantial research.

Two of Asia’s other “big” cats – Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri) and Mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) – do not enjoy this level of conservation attention. Extant in Thailand, populations of both species are either extirpated or severely diminished in adjoining nations. Even in Thailand, numerous subpopulations have been extirpated and the species’ status remain poorly understood in many protected areas. Leopard populations, in particular, may be only slightly larger than those of tiger, placing them in a critically endangered condition. 

While a few range-wide assessments of these species have been conducted in the past decade, these investigations have not been designed to provide geographically explicit, actionable conservation recommendations. The goal of this project is to develop concrete options for future recovery programme implementation, in partnership with the Government of Thailand and other stakeholders.

2. Objective:

The objectives of this consultancy are to 1) summarize leopard and Mainland clouded leopard status and range in Thailand and 2) identify and prioritise locations and actionable steps for recovering populations of both species in both historic and current range.

3. Methodology:

The consultant will identify assessment methods and data sources, including peer reviewed and grey literature, existing geographically-explicit models (such as Tiger Conservation Landscape 3.0), SMART data (if available), NGO camera trap records, and  interviews with government, academic, and NGO experts (Government interactions will require prior approval). Based on collected data the consultant will score/rank the suitability of protected areas and landscapes within Thailand for leopard and Mainland clouded leopard recovery based on biological, habitat, prey, land management and tenure, and threat attributes. 

After scoring, the consultant will conduct site visits to the 3 highest ranked protected areas/landscapes for both species to validate desk review findings through additional discussions with local authorities and personal observations. This assignment will not include biological data gathering; the assessment report will identify future field activities.  

4. Deliverables:

Key deliverables: 

a) Assessment methods and work plan

b) Mid-term report (English)

c) Final report (80-100 pages, including maps; English with Thai Executive Summary)

d) A summary PowerPoint presentation of results.

5. Required Profile:

For this evaluation, WWF Thailand welcomes applications from one or more senior consultant(s) (international or national), with proven experience in carnivore recovery assessment and implementation.

The consultant team should have strong fluency in spoken and written Thai and English and broad understanding of Thailand protected areas, natural resource agencies, laws, and policies.

6. Instructions to Applicants:

The interested Consulting firm/Individual Consultant/Academic Institution’s proposal should include:

• A clear description of the proposed assessment methodology and a time schedule for the assignment;

• A detail budget, including staff cost, travel, and per diem;

• The profile/CV of the consultant which clearly demonstrates experience and qualification to carry out the assignment. If the consultant plans to engage any team members, their profiles/CVs should be submitted as well;

• Contact details for two (2) professional referees who we can contact for quality assurance of the consultant’s work;

• The start date for this work will be on the contract signature date;

• Proposal deadline is February 1, 2023.

7. Period of Performance:

The final report shall be delivered six months from contract signing.

8. Suggested Components of Final Report (to be refined during proposal development):

Overview of Leopard and Clouded Leopard Recovery Actions in Asia

Thailand – Species Status - Extant Populations:

• Present Range/Status (by Protected Area)

• Size of protected habitats

• Prey/habitat status

• Distance to existing or potential leopard and/or clouded leopard populations

• Current population trajectory

• Threats (poaching, infrastructure development, prey potential, other)

Thailand -- Extirpated Populations:

• Size of protected habitats

• Prey/habitat status

• Distance to existing or potential leopard and/or Clouded leopard populations

• Available information on historic populations and reason(s) for extirpation

• Threats (poaching, infrastructure development, prey status)

Enabling Conditions and Limitations: 

• Biological (source populations, captive populations, habitat, prey, habitat connectivity)

• Human Dimensions (local communities – social carrying capacity)Human Dimensions (Thai public

support)

• Human injury /mitigations

• Livestock conflict

• Logistical

• Political

• Agency interest/capacity/resources

• Law enforcement

Ranking of Protected Areas/Complexes for Recovery Based on Selected Criteria (Maps required)

• Ranking should group protected areas or landscapes into tiers based on current status of leopard and clouded leopard and opportunities for recovery, e.g. i] relatively large viable populations; ii] small populations requiring more intensive recovery actions; iii] extirpated sites with potential for restoration.

Opportunities for Conservation Action:

• Prey recovery

• Improved habitat connectivity

• Enhanced law enforcement

• Community outreach

• Protected area designation

• Translocation or reintroduction from wild to wild and/or captive facilities, including genetic  considerations and impact on source populations.

• Other

Science-Based and Realistic Recovery Goals (near-/middle/long-term):

• Number of populations/number of individuals, timeframe

• Projected recovery cost over a 10 year period