Browsing by Author "Gopi, G.V."

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A rapid field survey of tigers and prey in Dibang Valley district, Arunachal Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Gopi, G.V.; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Y.V.
The Dibang valley district is the largest district of Arunachal Pradesh with an area of 9129 sq km and is also the least populated district of the country with approximately 1 person/sq km. The district shares international borders in the north, North West and Eastern sides with Tibet (China), the South Western region is bound by Upper Siang district and the Southern Side is bound by lower Dibang Valley district. This district was chosen to survey for tigers and their prey due to the recent rescue of tiger cubs from the district in Angrim valley during december 2012. Our survey confirms the occurrence of tigers in the district. We camera trapped the first ever image of an adult tiger from the Dibang valley Wildlife Sanctuary. We also observed 10 pubmarks and collected 11 scats in and around the WLS. All the 24 people whom we informally interviewed confirmed the presence of tigers in the WLS and reported either having had a direct sighting, observed indirect evidences or heard about livestock depredation incidents by the tigers. Preliminary assessment of prey suggest that the WLS holds a good diversity and abundance of prey like Takin Budorcis taxicolor taxicolor, wild pig Sus crofa, Goral Naemorhaedus goral, Musk deer Moschus fuscus, Barking deer Muntiacus muntjak, Himalayan Serow Capricornis thar and Mithun Bos frontalis which can sustain a good population of tigers in the DWLS. The DWLS has the potential of becoming a tiger reserve in future as it may harbour a very important source population of tigers in this region, However the next immediate priority must be to ensure that this vital tiger population is protected and continuously monitored. This can be achieved by a collaborative effort between NTCA, WII, GoAP and most importantly the local people by conducting long term research to establish robust ecological and genetic baselines that can aid in long term conservation and monitoring of tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitats in this unique landscape that in part of a global biodiversity hotspot.
Artificial Canopy Bridges installed in Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Jha, Rohit R.S.; Kumar, Nandha; Gopi, G.V.
Aspects of ecology of large carnivores and their prey in and around Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Adhikarimayum, Aisho Sharma; Gopi, G.V.
The conservation of large mammalian carnivore is prioritized as it acts as keystone species across diverse zones of habitat around the globe. They play an important role in regulating and maintaining the abundance of ungulates, in turn influencing the functioning of the ecosystem. In the last few decades, large carnivore’s population have been declining due to anthropogenic activities such as habitat destructions creating forest patch, illegal trade and hunting on wildlife. These threats posed a challenge in the conservation and management of large mammalian carnivores. The co-existence of large carnivores is occurring in many places in the wild due to the availability of less prey base, habitat fragmentation and high human interferences. Thus, the understanding of ecology of large carnivore and their prey species particularly on habitat selection, prey-predators’ relations in aspects of distribution and abundance, such ecological data can be useful to evaluate not only their habitat requirement but will also aid in long term management of wildlife and conservation of their habitats. So, efficient conservation and monitoring of large carnivores such as tiger and wild dog (dhole) is required for the assessment of complex mix of ecological, ethical and symbolic inter-relationships. The study was conducted at Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary; it covers an area of 4149 km2 and situated in Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh. The tiger is culturally considered as a brother by the local Idu Mishmi community who live in the Dibang Valley district in Arunachal Pradesh. Though the local community has long been claiming about the presence of tigers in the region, unfortunately, no efforts were made by the line departments, academicians, or conservationists to assess and monitor the tigers, their prey, and habitat in Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary. This preliminary study was carried out after the rescue of tiger cubs from the district in Angrim Valley during December 2012. The rescued tiger cubs were the first-ever record of a tiger from the sanctuary. The primary objectives for the aspects of ecology of large carnivores and their prey in and around Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary are: a) To estimate the abundance of large carnivores in and around the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, b) Assess the abundance of wild prey in and around the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, c) Assess the food habits and prey selectivity of large carnivores in and around the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, and d) To quantify the extent of human-wildlife interaction in and around the protected area. An intensive camera trapping exercise was carried out during October 2015 to June 2017 in the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining landscapes to monitor large carnivores and their prey species. Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary and its adjoining landscape harbors sizable population of large carnivores such as tiger and wild dogs. The study has reported the first photographic evidence of tiger presence from the community forest of Mishmi hills range in Dibang Valley District at an altitude of 3630 m amsl and it is the highest record from the Indian part of the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity hotspot. This study has generated baseline information on tiger, wild dog and prey species in Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining landscape. Tigers do not necessarily use only the protected areas; they use the community forests outside the protected area as well.
Assessing the distribution and density of the Fishing Cat in Bhitarkanika mangroves of eastern India by
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Ashik, C.S.; Mukherjee, Shomita; Gopi, G.V.; Pandav, Bivash
Identifying the areas of occurrence, population, and the factors affecting the species distribution is critical in conservation and management. The Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), a smaller feline native to South and Southeast Asia, is globally vulnerable and adapted to wetland habitats, with a diet primarily consisting of fish. This makes Bhitarkanika, a mangrove ecosystem, an ideal habitat for the Fishing Cat. This study was conducted to estimate the species density, determine the factors affecting its distribution, and assess the effect of lunar illumination and tidal fluctuation on Fishing Cat activity. Despite known occurrences of Fishing Cats in this area, there has been no proper assessment of their population or other ecological studies. Camera traps were deployed in 109 grids, each covering 1km², across a total of 145 km², for 2878 trap nights. Camera trap locations are unbaited, with two cameras used to capture both flanks. Spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) was used to estimate the density, resulting in 0.6 ± 0.1 individuals per km². The abundance was also calculated, with an estimate of 99 ± 16 individuals. These density estimates from this study are close to recent high-density estimates for the species. The canopy cover, the width of the creek, canopy cover and the distance to the aquaculture farms significantly influenced the Fishing Cat habitat use, indicating the need for the conservation of natural mangrove habitats and regulation of aquafarms present near the forest. In contrast, the presence of Saltwater Crocodile showed a negative effect on the distribution of Fishing Cats. The Fishing Cats were more active during the brighter nights of the moon phase (μ= 266.783, r= 0.051, p< 0.01) due to better visual detection. The activity was influenced both by the tidal fluctuations in terms of food resources from waterbodies and it is further enhanced by the lunar illumination during the night. Pairwise non-parametric tests showed that the probability distributions of Fishing Cat activity under lunar illumination and tide fluctuation (D= 0.125, p-value = 0.9885 and D= 0.125, p-value= 0.9899) were similar, indicating minimal differences between each probability distribution. This study underscores the importance of protecting the mangrove habitat and controlling aquaculture expansion to ensure Fishing Cat survival in the Bhitarkanika National Park.
Assessing the Efficacy of Select Physical Barriers in Mitigating Human-Elephant Conflict in the Human-Elephant Shared Landscape of Golaghat District, Assam
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Das, Gitima; Gopi, G.V.
Human-Elephant Conflict (hereafter “HEC”) is one of the most challenging issues both for elephant conservation and people’s wellbeing in the elephant landscapes. Management of which becomes extremely difficult without the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures. Physical barriers, like solar fences, elephant-proof trenches, stone, or rubble walls are installed as mitigation measures in all elephant-occupied habitats at the edge of the forest and human-use areas, globally. However, installations of the same without a proper scientific rationale and assessing and analysing their site-specific efficacy in reducing elephant incursion in the human settlement areas often fail in doing its intended objectives. It is important to note that humans are also a crucial component of conflict, hence research focusing on social aspects are essential for finding solutions. Keeping such concepts in mind, an assessment to determine the efficiency of two types of physical barriers, viz., solar fence and elephant-proof trench (EPT) was carried out in one of the prime elephant habitats of north-eastern India, in Golaghat district of Assam. Located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra and home to Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on the west and Nambor-Doigurung Wildlife Sanctuary (NDWLS) in the south, Golaghat offers an ideal site for such study. It is realized that even after the presence of barriers in various areas of the district, conflict cases in the form of crop-raiding, human mortalities and human deaths continue to be reported. Handful studies on barriers and their effectiveness were done recently on the northern bank of Brahmaputra. However, no such appraisal on efficiency of barriers has been done in this landscape, where conflict levels are high. Hence, this study attempted to fill these existing research gaps.
Assessing the Patterns of Human-Wildlife Compensation Around Pakke Tiger Reserve Arunachal Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Langlang, Luxmi; Das, Abjijit; Gopi, G.V.
Of all the types of interactions between humans and wildlife, human-wildlife conflict (hereafter HWC) poses a significant challenge to conservation efforts and species survival. This conflict may be manifested with a range of interactions with more negative actions being killing and injury to wildlife and humans while more neutral actions being internalizing costs of living with wildlife. People living in and around protected areas interact closely with wildlife. The negative interaction may be in the form of crop raiding, livestock depredation, property damage or death and injury to human. Thus, such interactions may result in economic loss to people and may create animosity against conservation through reduced public support and retaliatory killing. Further peoples’ perceptions towards HWC may vary by species, especially as large and potentially dangerous animals such as tigers and elephants are seen as a threat to farmers’ livelihoods. In this context, I assessed the patterns of HWC around Pakke Tiger Reserve to identify conflict species and hotspots of conflict. I tried to understand the constraints about compensation in terms of the gap between self-reported conflict and conflict reported to forest department. I also focussed on understanding the perception of people towards commonly found wildlife in the reserve with the help of attitude score. My study was carried out in 41 villages where I interviewed 327 households around Pakke Tiger Reserve. I used a semi-structured questionnaire and open-ended questions to understand the pattern of conflict, compensation issues, attitude towards different species and mitigation strategies most commonly used. Perception data was also collected. Crop damage (mostly by wild pigs, macaques and rodents) was reported as the most prevalent type of conflict around PTR followed by livestock depredation (mainly by wild dogs, tigers and leopards). Property damage and human death and injuries were reported to a lesser extent. Twelve different mitigation strategies were commonly used against crop raiding and livestock depredation. Night patrols and sound were used to keep animals away from fields. Livestock’s were mostly grazed in the forest, and hunting of predators was the most common mitigation strategy against livestock depredation.
Assessment of habitat use by black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) and eflows of Nyamjang Chu Hydroelectric Project in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Gopi, G.V.; Johnson, J.A.; Adhikari, B.S.; Bhattacharya, M.; Wattham, T.; Sivakumar, K.
Nyamjang Chu River flowing in Zemithang valley of Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh is on e of the only two known Black-necked crane wintering sites in India. In 2006, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh awarded the development of a hydropower project in the Nymjang Chu River at Zemithang valley to Bhilwara Energy Limited. On behalf of BEL WAPCOS ltd and RS Envirolink technologies pvt. limited carried out the EIA and EMP were strongly opposed and challenged by many scientific as well as social institutions. Citing flaws in the methods adopted for floral and faunal studies the baseline setting for the ecological aspects and prediciton of impacts on wildlife habitat and environment of the region. Recently the honorable National Green Tribunal (NGT) observed gross errors in the EIA and EMP such as omission of key, rare and threatened species such as omission of key, rare and threatened species such as the Black-necked crane in the report and ordererd that the WII to conduct a detailed study in this regard. The primary scope of the WII study was to assess the habitat requirements of the Black-necked crane and Assess the environmental flows requirement for protection and conservation of Black-necked crane habitats at the proposed Nyamjang Chu Hydroelectric project site in Zemithang valley
Assessment of habitat use by Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) and elflows of Nyamjang Chu Hydroelectric project in Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh.
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Gopi, G.V.; Johnson, J.A.; Adhikari, B.S.; Bhattacharya, M.; Wattham, T.; Sivakumar, K.
Avian Responses to Varying Landscape Parameters in Mangrove Forests of Coastal Gujarat
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Kulkadia, Devanshi; Talukdar, G.; Gopi, G.V.; Sivakumar, K.
Mangrove systems are the most productive ecosystems on the earth. The mangrove environment provides living space for dependent biota of more than two thousand species of flora and fauna of resident, semi-resident or migratory wildlife. The conversion of large contiguous tracts of the tropical mangrove forests to smaller patches embedded in a landscape matrix surrounded by human-altered habitats is one of the most serious concerns as it would affect their associated species such as birds, fishes, etc. In this context, this study was carried out aiming at discerning the responses shown by avifauna to varying landscape parameters like the mangrove patch characteristics, the level of disturbance and the structure of mangrove vegetation. Therefore, the abundance and diversity of the avifauna in mangrove forests at twenty selected sites on the coasts of Gujarat were investigated using point count surveys for a period of five months (December 2014-April2015). 2. A total of 98 points were laid across the twenty patches o(mangroves and surveyed twice during winter and summer seasons, respectively. Data were collected from the four replicates of each point during the entire study period. The total area surveyed during the study at these twenty mangrove patches was 47.97sq.km. These patches were ranging from various size classes with the smallest patch of the size of 0.125sq.km to the largest patch size was of 10.49 sq.km and were distributed throughout the coastline of 1650 km long. Habitat correlates such as structural and floristic characteristics of mangroves were quantified for each patch to establish their relationship with avifaunal abundances. 3. Despite recording only 7 species of mangroves in the twenty patches, a wide variety of birds totaling to 119 species were recorded from the mangroves during the two seasons, i.e. winter and summer during the study. 4. From the data collected by the variable-width point counts, the mean density of birds from the patches were calculated to be 6.485/ha in winter and 4.898/ha in summer. The diversity of birds varied across the seasons. A total of 104 species of birds were recorded during the summer season as compared to 117 species of birds in winter season. 5. Large contiguous patches of mangroves were found to be supporting fewer species of birds than the smaller patches. The avian species richness of the smaller fragments were largely governed by the adjoining environment settings (matrix) of the patch. Therefore, the study found that the diversity of the birds was not found to be getting influenced by the area of the patch as the species richness was found to be increasing with the number of the surrounding matrix. 6. It was found that the structural composition of mangroves especially the canopy cover was found influence the bird density and diversity greatly as with the increase in the canopy cover, the bird species diversity and density also increased in a patch. 7. The bird assemblages in the mangroves showed a significant response towards the disturbance. The disturbed patches contained an overlapping mixed composition of the forest birds and open country birds in an equal proportion, whereas the undisturbed patches showed less number of open country birds. 8. Based on the study, it is suggested that the larger sized mangroves patches are important for their ineffable ecological services, therefore, these patches should be protected and conserved. Similarly, the smaller and fragment of mangroves patches are also equally important as they hold a good number of avifauna! species and hence, we have to adopt some strategies to conserve all the remaining – large contiguous and small fragmented patches of the mangroves from further degradation.
Cornered & Broken – Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is a Litmus Test for India's Conservation Philosophy
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Jha, Rohit R.S.; Gopi, G.V.
Density Distribution and Factors Influencing Sea Stars in Selected Islands of Lakshadweep India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Jayaram, Sharmila; Hussain, S.A.; Gopi, G.V.; Apte, Deepak
Coral reefs are the most fragile, complex and diverse ecosystem on earth. But recently, they arc under severe threat due to both natural (climate change, storms and disease outbreaks) and anthropogenic factors (overexploitation, coastal developmental activities and pollution). As evident from earlier studies, a major factor causing degradation of coral reefs is due to an asteroid species belonging to phylum Echinodermata which is considered second to storm damage. Thus to analyze the condition in Lakshadweep Islands I assessed the density of asteroids in four Islands of Lakshadweep. It was found that the five species detected belonging to three families (Oreasteridae, Linckiidae and Acanthasteridae) were having varied density across the four islands. Overall density estimates of the asteroids ranged from 0.05(S.E = 0.02) to 0.80(S.E = 0.09) per 250 square meter. The asteroid density was highest in the uninhabited Island named Bangaram. Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that major gradients in environmental variables influenced asteroid species distribution. Sample scores on ordination ' axis 1 were strongly correlated with water pH, water depth and dead coral. Out of the three strongly correlated environmental variables pH was found to be the most ecologically important variable that affects the asteroid distribution. Corallivorous asteroid population outbreaks are becoming a boon to the coral reef ecosystem all over the world and contribution of water pH variation of this outbreaks are being studied well. Thus management strategies in Lakshadweep Islands that 'accounts the variation of water pH are required to conserve the coral reef ecosystem.
Ecological and Conservation Interferences fron monitoring a Mixed-species Waterbird breeding Colony in Bhirtarkanika Conservation area , India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Gopi, G.V.; Pandav, Bivash
Ecology of leopard Panthera pardus in relation to prey abundance and land use pattern in Kashmir Valley
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Habib, Bilal; Gopi, G.V.; Noor, Athar; Mir, Zaffar Rais
Globally, leopard (Panthera pardus) is the most widely distributed and persecuted cat amongst large cat species. In India, it largely coexists with other feline species like the tiger (Panthera tigris) across much of its distribution range and with lion (Panthera leo) and clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) in certain areas of its distribution range. Owing to its very high adaptability for surviving in varieties of habitats and opportunistic feeding behavior, it is often found to be at the center of the human-wildlife conflict. Retaliatory persecution, poaching, habitat loss and declining natural prey are some of the factors which lead to its population decline, despite being accorded protection through national and international legislations. In Kashmir Himalayas it is at the top of the food chain and an apex predator that aids in regulating prey populations. However, there has been an increase in the human-leopard conflicts in the valley which, if left unnoticed, will worsen the conservation prospects of this threatened felid. Hence, this long term study was initiated to address two major issues: 1. Conservation and management planning of the leopards in the valley is impeded by the paucity of reliable empirical ecological information and 2. Current threat levels will have to be assessed to understand and predict the impacts of anthropogenic pressure on leopards. The objectives of the study were to estimate leopard population and prey abundance, to study the leopard feeding habits and to determine the ranging behavior of leopards. Dachigam National Park was selected to undertake ecological studies on leopards. Only the lower Dachigam was chosen as an intensive study area as the upper reaches of Dachigam are mostly high alpine areas where leopards do not inhabit. In order to study prey abundance, line transect methodology was adopted. Transects (n = 13) were laid and monitored in the study area to obtain seasonal prey abundance. In order to estimate smaller prey (rodents) abundance, Sherman traps (n = 49) were used to estimate density. Feeding habits of the leopards were studied by collecting leopard scats (n = 714) which were later analysed using standard protocols. The population of leopard in the study area was estimated using camera traps (n = 12 pairs), deployed in 2x2 km grids in the study area to individually identify leopards with their unique coat patterns. The ranging pattern of leopards was studied by tracking the leopards (n = 3) fitted with Vectronics GPS collars. Amongst large prey, Himalayan grey langur and Hangul were sighted with enough records to be amenable to analysis in program DISTANCE version 6.0. In total 170 groups of langur comprising of 2679 individuals and 206 groups of hangul comprising of 829 individuals were sighted across different seasons in the study area. Overall density (±SE) of langur was estimated to be 16.32 ± 1.87 km ² and of hangul 5.11 ± 0.51 km-² in the study area. Langur density was highest (22.05 ± 5.12/km²) in winter season and lowest (9.35 ± 3.03/km²) in summer season whereas, Hangul density was found to be highest (9.51 ± 1.71/km²) in spring season and lowest (2.31 ± 0.51/km²) in summer season. In case of rodents, the density was found to be highest during summer season (2014 ± 830.71/km²) and lowest during winter season (1172.6 ± 442.74/km²). In case of dietary spectrum of leopard in Dachigam, small rodents contributed the maximum (48.05%) in terms of percent frequency of occurrence followed by langur (14.04%). Hangul contributed 2.05% while Himalayan serow contributed only 0.20% and rhesus macaque contributed the least (0.10%) to the diet of leopard. Minimum sample size required to study food habits of leopard varied from 66 to 86 scat samples in different seasons. Jacobs' index calculated from biomass availability and biomass consumption indicates that small rodents and langur were preferred in all the four seasons. Preference of hangul was slightly higher (-0.79) during winter season as compared to summer season (-0.90). A total of 396 trap nights resulted in a total of 14 leopard photographs with 3 individual leopards. Amongst the three individuals, 2 males and 1 female was photo-captured. Although, the Null (M ) model 0 was selected based on highest criterion score, we selected the Heterogeneity (M ) model because h leopards are territorial animals and it accounts for heterogeneous capture pobabilities between individuals. The density estimate produced by average home range radius (HHR) was 2.11 ± 1.06 2 individuals per 100 km which was found best as density of the leopard in the study area. The relative abundance index of the leopard in the sampling duration turned out to be 3.5 per 100 trap nights. The maximum home range (100% MCP) of the 2 female F74 was ~ 74 km which was recorded during summer season. The summer home range (100% MCP) of the male was 1.96 times larger than the female leopard. The least home range (~ 41.4 2 km ; 100% MCP) came up during the winter season. The increasing trend represented by the ranges (100% MCPs) of this female was winter < spring 2 2 (48.42 km ) < autumn (67.9 km ) < summer. The leopards showed large variation in daily distances moved during the lean season of summer. Daily displacements of the leopards were not normally distributed Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test) for the male: M73 (D = 0.119, df = 105, p = 0.001), female: F71 (D = 0.191, df = 105, p = 0.000) and female: F74 (D = 0.092, df = 105, p = 0.029). Daily displacement was longer for the male leopard (median displacement = 588 m) than the female leopard (median displacement = 367.44 m). The total distance travelled by the male leopard (398.71 km) was greater than the female leopards: F74 (374.16 km) and F71 (62.91 km). In case of female leopard F74, the median daily distance travelled was highest during the winter season (0.664 km) followed by autumn (0.528 km), spring (0.506 km) and summer (0.367 km) Findings of this study indicate that leopards are facing prey scarcity in the area, thus making them to rely upon suboptimal prey and occupy home ranges larger than other studies in the subcontinent. Leopards being opportunistic feeders have also started feeding on domestic prey in absence of sufficient wild prey, thereby elevating the human - leopard conflict in the region. Human - animal conflict being the major threat to large carnivores all across their distribution range is a big impediment in leopard conservation in he study area as well. 1. Estimation of prey density across different sites and developing a relationship between density of prey base and leopard abundance. 2. Study variation of food habits across different sites and seasons in Kashmir valley. 3. Estimate density, abundance and distribution of leopard across different study sites. 4. Study movement pattern, home range size and social organization of leopards across different sites
Effect of habitat characteristics on waterbird diversity along river ganga in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2017) Kumar, Ankit; Gopi, G.V.; Hussain, S.A.
Riverine floodplains are a mosaic of different habitat available in the riverine area. It is extensively used by an array of flora and fauna. It supports a huge biodiversity by providing habitat as a resource to various taxa. Many waterbird species are directly and indirectly dependent on the riverine floodplains and use riverine habitat at a certain stage in their life cycle. The area also supports a high diversity of wintering waterbirds. Migratory bird takes refuge in the area during the severe winter in their native habitat. Habitat-specific species use different types of habitat present in the riverine floodplain. The riverine system also has an intricate relationship with the humans. Since a long time, these habitats are subjected to overexploitation that affects the natural ecological processes and the functioning of river. Degradations of floodplains of the major rivers of the world by alteration of water flow, encroachment in river islands and collection river bed materials, discharge of urban and industrial effluents, are threatening the biodiversity of rivers and their associated wetlands. The effect due to different levels of the disturbance is unknown on the diversity and abundance of waterbirds. On these lines, I conducted my study focused on identifying what are the habitat characteristics which is affecting the abundance and diversity of waterbirds and what are the anthropogenic factors affecting its diversity and abundance. The study was carried out in Allahabad District of Uttar Pradesh. It is known for the confluence of two major rivers of India, river Ganga, and its tributary river Yamuna
Effect of land use change on the habitat and abundance of Grizzled giant squirrel in and around Srivilliputhur-Meghamalai Tiger reserve, Srivilliputhur Division, Tamil Nadu
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Bevoor, Shilpa; Gopi, G.V.; Kher, Varun; Goyal, S.P.
Human activities, especially energy extraction and food production, have drastically altered the global environment, impacting many wild species. Since 1990, around 420 million hectares of forests have been lost mainly due to agricultural conversion, significantly affecting biodiversity. In biodiversity hotspots like India's Western Ghats, agricultural expansion, monoculture plantations (tea, coffee, rubber), and non-timber forest product harvesting have fragmented protected areas, altered plant communities, disrupted nutrient cycles, and reduced carbon sequestration. While monoculture plantations reduce biodiversity, they can still provide habitats for some threatened species. Wildlife such as nilgai, blackbuck, elephants, and giant squirrels in India have adapted to these altered landscapes for food, water, and shelter, demonstrating resilience amidst habitat changes. This study focuses on the impact of converting barren lands into mango and coconut plantations around the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve in southern India on the grizzled giant squirrel population and habitat. Over the past three decades, these changes have enhanced connectivity between natural forests and agricultural areas, offering energy-rich fruits that attract wildlife, including GGS. This shift has altered ecological dynamics, making wildlife more reliant on cultivated foods and affecting their movement patterns. Density estimates reveal higher concentrations of GGS and nesting sites (dreys) in plantations compared to protected areas, with mixed plantations showing the highest densities due to the availability of nesting sites and year-round fruiting trees. Seasonal variations in GGS distribution highlight preferences for specific tree species based on fruit availability and habitat characteristics. The study also examines drey site preferences, noting GGS preference for mango trees in plantations over coconut trees due to structural attributes that provide better support and protection. These findings underscore the species' adaptation to plantation environments while emphasizing the critical role of specific habitat features for nesting and overall habitat suitability. Local farmers report conflicts with GGS due to crop damage, particularly affecting coconut, mango, tamarind, and other fruit-bearing trees. Perceived economic losses from GGS feeding habits often exceed actual damage levels, emphasizing the need for accurate assessment and targeted mitigation strategies to reduce conflict. Conservation implications stress the importance of maintaining critical habitats within protected areas, establishing buffer zones between plantations and natural forests, and promoting biodiversity-friendly practices in monoculture plantations. Community-based conservation efforts and adaptive management strategies are essential for mitigating human-wildlife conflicts and ensuring the sustainable coexistence of GGS and agricultural livelihoods in this biodiversity hotspot
Effects of Land Use Practices on Diversity and Abundance of Honey Bee Forage Plants in Senapati District, Manipur
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Ziipoa, Benjamin; Rawat, G.S.; Talukdar, G,S.; Gopi, G.V.
North-east India, a global biodiversity hotspot, ·is also known for diverse socio-cultural and land use practices. One of the important cultural practices in a few pocket-s is bee keeping and honey production as a means of livelihood. However, there is a growing concern that with shortening of shifting cultivation cycle and frequent forest fire the diversity of bee forage plants· as well as honey production is declining in the region. Therefore, a study on the diversity of bee forage plants and bee keeping practices was conducted across various land use practices in Purul subdivision of Manipur, North-east India. The objectives of the study were: (i) To quantify the diversity and abundance bee forage plants in different land use land cover types, (ii) To document the honey bee abundance with respect to forage plant availability, bee keeping practices and traditional knowledge among the local bee keepers pertaining to bee keeping. The study was conducted during December April 2015 in Purul and Paomata subdivision of senapati, district, Manipur. The study area was stratified into five land use and land cover (LULC) types: (i) Semi-evergreen (primary) Forests above 1800 m asl; (ii) Moist Deciduous (Open Mixed) Forests between 1200- 1800 m asl; (iii) Secondary forests (Old Thurn Fallows between 1000 - 170q m; (iv) Secondary scrub (Young Thurn Fallows); and (v) Home Gardens and Agricultural Fields. Six trails of 2 km each were laid in various strata. AIthough each trail ten m radius plots were laid to quantify tree species abundance; concentric 5 m radius plots for shrubs and climbers; and four 0.5 m radius circular plots for herbaceous species. Direct and indirect signs of bee nests and locations of bee boxes were recorded. 30 professional bee keepers were interviewed for their knowledge on bee keeping and bee forage plants. Data were analysed following standard phytosociological techniques. Relationship between bee forage plants and bee abundance were established using R3.02 Generalized Linear Model (GLM). A total of 272 species of bee forage plants belonging to 105 genera and 92 families were recorded in the study area. Of these, 84 species were flowering during winter season. The number of flowering bee forage plants increased to 112 during spring season. It was noted that at least 25 species of flowering plants flower almost during all the seasons providing either nectar or pollens to the bees and other insect pollinators. Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae and Malvaceae were the most dominant species available as bee forage plants, especially in and ar01md home gardens, backyards and cultivable waste. These species were very low in abundance in natural forests. However, Rosaceae and Fabaceae were more Common in Secondary Forests and Old Jhum Fields. Very few species of bee forage plants were flowering in Semi-evergreen Forests during winter seasons. Highest diversity of trees was recorded in semi-evergreen forests followed by Moist Deciduous Forest, Old Jhum Fallow and Young Jhum Fallow. However, overall density was highest in Moist Deciduous Forest. Budleja asiatica, Rubus ellipticus, Pyrlls pahsia, Engelhardtia spicata, Prunus cerasioides, Docynai india were the most widely available flowering species during winter and spring. These species were mostly found in open (Moist Deciduous), Old Jhum Fallows and closer to human habitation. Their frequency, density and distribution pattern has been compared across various land uses. The results revealed that settled agriculture with adequate cover of primary and secondary forests in vicinity coupled with plenty of ornamental plants and vegetables are best land use practices for honey production as well as enriching the pollinator diversity in the area. Short Jhum cycles and resultant frequent fires are detrimental to bees as well as bee forage plants. Pattern of bee distribution, local knowledge on bee keeping and conservation practices in relation to land use practices have been presented and discussed.
Establishment of knowledge management system for East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem (EGREE) Andhra Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2017) Sivakumar, K. ; Johnson, J.A.; Gopi, G.V.; Lal, Panna; Rajashekhar, P.V.; Bhadury, P.; Kumar, Ritesh; Rao, Tulsi K.; Kathula, Tarun; Malla, Giridhar; Ray, Paromita; Bagaria, Priyamvada; Anand, Dipak; Prasad, Leela
Global warming has already affected the marine and coastal ecosystems at greater extent. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sea levels in India are expected to rise at the rate of 2.4 mm a year; in 2050, the total increase will be 38 cm. 2. East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem (EGREE) encompassing the Godavari mangroves is the second largest area of mangroves along the east coast of India. The area is rich in floral and faunal diversity, and generates significant ecological and economic benefits such as shoreline protection, sustaining livelihoods and carbon sink services. 3. It is situated at the confluence of Godavari River with Bay of Bengal in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The geographical scope of this study lies between 16°59'23" N, 82°18'16" E and 16°34'57" N, 82°18'38" E. 4. EGREE encompasses the vast delta of Godavari River along with other coastal habitats such as mangroves, river channel, floodplains, natural levees, bay, mudflats, tidal creeks, sand spits, beaches etc. 5. Presence of a 17 km-long spit, called Hope Island provides natural shelter to the coast and city of Kakinada. It has allowed the establishment of a major fishing harbor and the Kakinada Port, thereby accruing high economic values to the region. 6. In recognition of its national and global biodiversity significance, the northern part is also protected as Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS), which encompasses around 235.70 sq.km of mangrove forests. 7. The main production sectors currently operating in EGREE are fisheries, aquaculture, salt pans, tourism and manufacturing activities such as, oil and gas exploration, fertilizers, edible oil, rice products. Kakinada, a city located in EGREE is also one of the important ports of Andhra Pradesh and is being developed further into a ‘Smart City’. 8. These activities are impacting the overall ecological integrity of EGREE particularly the mangrove ecosystems, with associated impacts on the livelihoods of local communities. 9. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the Government of Andhra Pradesh with support from UNDP and GEF initiated the project 'Mainstreaming Coastal and Marine Biodiversity into Production Sectors in the East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem, Andhra Pradesh'. 10. In order to advice and monitor the implementation of this GOI-UNDP-GEF Project in EGREE, a National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) was constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests (now Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change). The 1st meeting of the National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) of the project was held on 28th June 2011 in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi. In the meeting, it was decided that Wildlife Institute of India (WII) would establish a Knowledge Management System envisioned under the project and co-ordinate all activities related therein. 11. Main goal of the project was to establish a Knowledge Management System (KMS) for East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh. It had four objectives viz. identifying research gaps, study the impacts of climate change, identify and assess the ecosystem services, and conducting a national workshop on mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into production sectors in EGREE.
Evolution of Coloniality in Waterbirds : Prespectives and Waterbirds
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Borah, Joli; Gopi, G.V.
Factors Influencing Small Carnivore Community Structure in Chandoli National Park Northern Western Ghats
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Lad, Himanshu C.; Gopi, G.V.
The current study was conducted on small carnivores in Chandoli National Park of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve from December 2018 to April 2019. The main objectives was to understand drivers of spatial distribution and temporal variation amongst sympatric small carnivores present in the study area. This study provided information on local small carnivore distribution, dietary pattern of palm civet and time activity patterns of small carnivores in Chandoli national park
Floral and Faunal Biodiversity of WII Campus
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Adhikari, B.S.; Gopi, G.V.