Page 23 - WIS

4.3 SMALL MAMMALS 4.3.2 Field Study Design

Small mammals are defined as Selecting the appropriate
mammal species weighing less than 3 kg as methodology according to the prescribed
adults. More than 360 species of mammals activities of a development project is
have been recorded in Malaysia, important to ensure data collection is reliable
approximately 80% are defined as small before preparing the Wildlife Impact Study
mammals and 30 species are endemic. Small Report. A detailed field method for surveying

mammals can be categorised into volant and non-volant and volant small mammals are
non-volant species. Volant species are described in Table 4.3. A survey must cover as
capable of flight and usually refer to bats many available wildlife habitats as possible
(Chiroptera), while non-volant species include and represent mixed wildlife habitats.
terrestrial and arboreal species (rats, Sampling plots need to be drawn in a
squirrels). These species live in various topographic map with observations tracklog
habitats, from ground to canopy level, and or point transect locations. All installed traps
from lowland to highland (Table 4.2). must be dismantled or removed after the
sampling period.
Table 4.2. Category of small
mammals and type of habitats. Table 4.3. Field study design in surveying
small mammals.
Habitat/Order
Arboreal Tree - emergent and canopy layer; e.g., Method Category Criteria
rodentia, primates (coucang), etc
category/Habit Terrestrial Ground - forest floor and understorey, ▪ ▪ No. of cage trap depend
on suitability of wildlife
habitat.
bushes; e.g., rats, ground-squirrel, etc.
Consultant can propose
Cage
plan to install.
Volant Understorey (branches), caves; e.g., trapping Terrestrial ▪ number of cage trap they
of
Minimum
3
bats (Chiroptera)
consecutive
sampling
days per trap.
4.3.1 Field Methods Arboreal ▪ See Table 4. 1; medium -
large-sized
and
Observation mammals’ methodology.
As each small mammal species has
▪ See Table 4. 1;
specific habits and variety of habitats, a Terrestrial medium-and large-sized
Camera mammals’ methodology.
census or study of these species must be trapping
specifically designed to suit the needs of the ▪ < 100 ha = 2 harp traps
▪ > 100 ha = consultant can
study subjects. Two standard field methods propose number of harp
trap they plan to install
commonly used to study non-volant small Harp Volant ▪ Minimum of 3
trapping consecutive sampling
mammals include cage trapping and volant days per trap
small mammals (bats), which includes mist
netting and harp trapping. Other methods can ▪ ▪ < 100 ha = 5 nets
> 100 ha = consultant can
be used as additional data such as propose number of mist
net they plan to install.
Volant
observation, camera trapping and pitfall ▪ Minimum of 3
Mist Net consecutive sampling
trapping. days per trap

GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON WILDLIFE 19
IMPACT STUDY FOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)