Spatio-temporal relationship between free-roaming dogs and the critically endangered Chinese pangolin

Abstract

The rapid growth of human populations and urban expansion has led to habitat destruction, fragmentation, and heightened threats to biodiversity. Protected areas are essential for conservation, yet their effectiveness is increasingly challenged by invasive non-native carnivores, particularly domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), which pose growing concerns for wildlife near urban settings. The critically endangered Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) faces significant threats, including habitat loss and injuries caused by dogs, but the specific impacts of dogs on their distribution and behavior remain poorly understood. Our study explored the spatial and temporal interactions between dogs and the Chinese pangolins in Yangmingshan National Park, situated within the Taipei-Keelung metropolis in northern Taiwan. From June 2018 to November 2019, we detected dogs at 50 camera sites whereas pangolins at 43 sites, and recorded 465 burrows. The habitat uses of dogs and pangolins showed partial overlap, with dogs present in more than one third of the areas where pangolins occurred. Presence of dogs declined with increasing distance from hot springs, areas tied to human activities and food subsidies, while pangolin site use was negatively linked to elevation and positively associated with distance from hot springs. The co-occurrence estimate between dogs and pangolins was −0.51, indicating a reduced likelihood of pangolin site use in areas with dogs. Low diel activity overlap (0.20) indicated limited temporal interaction. This study sheds light on the interactions between free-roaming dogs and the Chinese pangolins, illustrating how human-associated factors and invasive species affect wildlife in protected areas.