Browsing by Author "Habib, Bilal"

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A Checklist of Waterbirds of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), Maharashtra, India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Chattrjee,Nilanjan; Habib, Bilal; Davate, Madhura; Dashahre, Anil; Nigam, Parag; Trivedi, Mukul; Garad, G.P.; Sinha, Vinay K.
A Conservation Translocation Success Story: Gaur Supplementation in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Kumar, Gorati Arun; Vishwakarma, Ritesh; Bhadari, Bhaskar; Sharma, Gurudatt; Nanda, Rakhi; Verma, Prakash Kumar; Sahay, Anoop; Krishnamoorthy, L.; Sen, S.; Habib, Bilal; Mondol, Samrat; Nigam, Parag
A Whistle Amongst Growls : Dholes in a Multi Predator System in Dry Deciduous Forests of India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Ghaskadbi, Pallavi; Habib, Bilal; Qureshi, Qamar
A significant amount of research has proved that there is a positive correlation between habitat heterogeneity/diversity and animal 'species diversity owing to the availability of more exploitable niches (Tews et al. 2004). On a spatial scale for free ranging large carnivores, a place like the Tadoba- Andhari Tiger Reserve has a low habitat heterogeneity, however, it shows a variety of species of both predators and prey in a small area. Studying the prey- predator interactions in such a system would lead to a better insight into large carnivore ecology. In contrast with the African Wild dog which enjoys much more attention of researchers and biologists, the Dhole has clearly not been a favourite. Being a social carnivore, there is a complex and dynamic fission and fusion of packs amongst Dholes. However, there is a grave lack of information on the pack dynamics of the Dhole. I attempted to conduct experiments to study one of the fundamental factors of social behaviour which is individual recognition.
Assessing the Impacts of Road Network on Wildlife Corridors and Mitigation Measures in Assam : Transportation Against Animal Corridor
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Borgohain, Roshme; Habib, Bilal; Ramesh, C.
Protected Area Networks (PA) and Conservation Areas (CA) are very essential for ensuring the conservation of wildlife. However, the connectivity among these protected areas is much more important to ensure the viable population of species. Furthermore, the increase in infrastructural development and human encroachment leading to the fragmentation of forests and the natural habitat of wildlife species. The wildlife corridors are the essential structures to connect the fragmented areas, ensure the viability of the isolated population, restores the genetic variations, corridors also increases the habitat diversity in the two habitat patches that it connects, it provides a passage for migration and also acts as an escape route in cases of fire in one patch. Overall wildlife corridors are structures that are important for conservation. Although these protected areas were not well connected the corridor structures help to maintain the continuity of the area. The state falls under North-East India Biogeographic zones under the Province North-East-East-Brahmaputra Valley (9B), (Rodgers and Panwar 1998). In Assam, there are seven National Parks and twenty Wildlife Sanctuaries occupying the area of 3925+ sq. km, where two are designated as World Heritage site (WHS) which is the highest designation given to the protected area. Out of twenty-seven protected area in Assam, fifteen were bifurcated by road networks and there are total eleven corridors, connects the protected areas, eight corridors were cut at multiple places by roads. These connections of the corridors are essential to maintain the contiguous landscape, which is further essential for maintaining the integrity of the WHS. In this study, I have tried to look at the current status of the wildlife corridor portion bifurcated by the road networks in Assam. The objective of the study is 1) What is the extent of different types of road networks concerning PAs and corridors in the State of Assam? 2) What is the land use pattern near the corridor bifurcated by the road? 3) Characterize the current status of the corridor sites impacted by the road network.
Assessment of impacts of National Highway 715 (Earlier NH 37) on Wildlife passing through Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020) Habib, Bilal; Saxena, Akansha; Bhanupriya, R.; Jhala, Y.V.; Rajvanshi, A.
As part of the project funded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi, three sites were chosen for study- the Central Indian tiger landscape including major roads cutting across the animal corridors in the landscape, the National Highway 37 (now 715) cutting through the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape in Assam, and the State Highway 33 passing through the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. At Kaziranga National Park, we intended to quantify the characteristics of mortality of animals due to wildlife-vehicle collisions, and to assess the responses of wild ungulates to road-related disturbances in terms of changes in group size and composition, and habitat use patterns. Result shows that highways have adverse effects on the population of wildlife including endangered species of mammals and reptiles. Seasonal or monthly changes are the factors that influenced probability of roadkill numbers as it increased with the onset of summer and decreased towards winter. Annual monsoon floods in Kaziranga National Park from adjacent Brahmaputra River was found to be the main factor influencing large mammal mortality in wildlife-vehicle collisions. Apart from the direct impacts of roads on wildlife the indirect impacts like noise and disturbances associated with them impact significantly on the species that require an undisturbed or interior habitat. Similarly, present study exhibits variation in the group size composition of ungulates relative to distance from road. Group-size increased with respect to distance which indicates that anthropogenic effects of roads can lead to the habitat fragmentation of such species affecting population distribution. However, numbers and factors of wildlife-vehicle collisions may vary with site and condition
Assessment of impacts of State highway 33 on flora and fauna of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020) Habib, Bilal
As part of the project funded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi, three sites were chosen for study- the Central Indian tiger landscape including major roads cutting across the animal corridors in the landscape, the National Highway 37 (now 715) cutting through the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape in Assam, and the State Highway 33 passing through the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. At Nagarhole Tiger reserve, we intended to study the difference in the impacts of the SH 33 along its two stretches – one that is completely closed to traffic (decommissioned segment) and the other stretch that is closed for night time traffic (night traffic closed segment). We compared the floral (tree species composition and richness), and faunal (ungulate group size and composition, habitat use and activity patterns) characteristics along the two road stretches. We found that tree and sapling species richness was found to be higher in the decommissioned road segment as compared to the night traffic closed road segment, both of which comprised predominantly of native vegetation. On the other hand, shrubs and herbs had higher species richness in the night traffic closed road segment. We found higher species richness and cover of grasses, shrubs and herbs in the night traffic closed road segment, which can be attributed to the edge effect. Even though both the segments of the highway under study are homogenous in respect of rainfall regime, forest type and are managed as part of national park under the same management objectives (Gubbi et al. 2012), results of shrub and sapling study indicate that there exists some distinguishing factors along the two segments so as to favor different species. A further detailed study is required to point out the factors responsible. Contrary to the general understanding, invasive species cover for two of the common invasive species (Lantana camara and Eupatorium odoratum) was higher in the area devoid of traffic as compared to the night traffic closed road segment. This can be attributed to increased light intensity on the forest floor due to lower canopy cover in the decommissioned road segment and higher animal activity, who acts as seed dispersers. Lower canopy cover in decommissioned road segment can be the result of breakage of canopy and crushing of new regeneration by higher presence and more frequent activity of large mammals, like elephants. Mean group size of chital was found to be higher in the night traffic closed road segment, whereas mean crowding was higher in the decommissioned road segment. Higher presence of chital in the night traffic closed road segment can be because of availability of more fodder species and less risk of predation. In the decommissioned road segment, chital and wild pig’s habitat use is not affected by the distance from the state highway, whereas, sambar and elephant’s habitat choice is determined by distance from the highway. There has been a 16% increase in the traffic volume from 553 vehicles /day in the last 9 years as reported by Gubbi et al. (2012), to 659 ± 139.70 as reported in our study. However, though there has been an increase in the traffic volume, it is at a slower rate as compared to the increase from 2003 to 2010 level. The average speed of vehicles ranged from 27.5 MPH to 35.4 MPH. We found that in the night traffic closed road segment, animals have modified their activity periods to avoid the vehicular traffic. Most of the mammals are either active in the early morning hours before the road is opened for vehicular movement or late evenings after the road is closed. This suggests that there is a difference in activity pattern of these mammals along both the road segments, in order to understand which a further detailed study about behavior modification of mammals in relation to traffic and other road related disturbances needs to be carried out.
Cheetah landscape in India
(NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Qureshi, Qamar; Bipin, C.M.; Rautela, Nupor; Jain, Dhruv; Habib, Bilal; Sharma, Uttam K.; Bhardwaj, G.S.; Mallick, Amit; Yadav, S.P.; Gopal, Rajesh; Shrivastav, Aseem; Sen, Subharanjan; Krishnamoorthy, L.; Gupta, Rajesh; Upadhyay, Pawan K.; Tiwari, Virendra R.
Based on data collected during the All India Tiger estimation conducted in 2022 information on human disturbances and the presence of invasive species in the forest divisions and protected areas were collated for the landscape along with the human footprint index and mapped to identify the areas that require management as well as planning for prioritizing actions.
Ecological impacts of roads on mammals and integrity of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Saxena, Akansha; Habib, Bilal; Rajvanshi, Asha
Road networks are increasing at an alarming pace worldwide, but most rapidly in developing countries like India. The drivers of road building in such countries include the need to make the benefits of development accessible to citizens in the remotest corners. However, road building in ecologically rich and sensitive regions can have severe repercussions for the wildlife in these regions. Road construction leads to destruction of habitats and physically disconnects previously contiguous landscapes. Traffic on roads directly cause wild animal mortality, cause changes in behaviour of wildlife by altering patterns of space use, and in the long-term can cause populations to diminish through either loss due to mortality, or by isolation of neighbouring populations by creating a barrier to their movement. Through this study, I aimed to understand the responses of a large mammal community to road-related disturbance through different methods, and form a basis for identifying and prioritising road stretches for mitigation of impacts on the large mammal community. The study was based in the central Indian tiger landscape which has one of the greatest potentials for long-term tiger conservation in the country, and at the same time is also facing incremental rates of road infrastructure development. The focal study species included the tiger, its co-predators and primary prey. The study is the first long-term research on the ecological impacts of roads conducted in an important tiger conservation landscape. It has direct management implications for understanding varied species responses to roads, mitigation requirements at different road types and forest protection types, and for landscape-scale prioritisation of sites for mitigating barrier and collision risk.
Ecology of clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) in an East Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot - Carnivore Co-existence in Manas National Park, Assam, India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Lyngdoh, Salvador; Habib, Bilal; Bhatt, Urjit
Sympatric species occupying similar niche can result in competitive exclusion of subordinate species. However, species are able to avoid interspecific competition through morphological, physiological, or behavioural trade-offs, which in turn leads to differences in resource use. A guild of wild species of Felidae comprising various combinations of up to eight species is distributed across South-east Asia, with species ranging in size from the tiger (Panthera tigris) to the flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps). Little is known of the ecology of most of these species, and less of their guilds. Large felids such as tigers and leopards coexist in most of their ranges. The sympatric association of such large cats has been studied and debated in most tropical forests of India. The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), a potent ambassador species for conservation, is among the least known. The clouded leopard is the smallest of the large felids and is least studied due to its secretive nature and nocturnal behaviour. The species is an umbrella species for the Asian forest ecosystem and can be found along the foothills of the Himalayas through Nepal, Bhutan, and India to South China down to Peninsular Malaysia, and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The clouded leopard is vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and faces a global decline in population and contraction in its geographic range. The species occupies areas undergoing some of the most rapid deforestations and is threatened by poaching and wildlife trafficking. Clouded leopards are apex predators in many Southeast Asian rainforests, although they cooccur with larger predators such as tigers, leopards, dholes; their density, activity, and habitat use may vary. Although there have been discoveries regarding the felid guilds and habitat use of the Sunda clouded leopard, and the threat to the species from habitat loss, little is known for the mainland clouded leopard and the felids with which it is sympatric. Despite the fact that tropical rainforests are known for its high biodiversity and species richness, the scarcity and/or the cryptic behaviour of some of the species have resulted in the scarcity of information about these species. The tendency of many rainforest species to avoid humans on existing tracks (where most transect surveys are done) is well known. These conventional methods include surveys on the footprints, dung, calls, live-trapping, den counts and direct observation. All these surveys are usually performed along transects, and in the past, they were the preferred method in various countries. However, walking along transects to observe terrestrial mammals in tropical rainforests can be extremely challenging. The observers' different abilities to detect and recognize the species may lead to a bias during data collection, increasing the likelihood of animals fleeing unobserved. Presence-absence survey using transects lines or logging tracks may not yield substantial evidence of species diversity. Thus, if any survey were to be conducted without considering these factors, most wildlife surveys could expect a biased trend. In a dense tropical rainforest, camera-traps are useful to detect cryptic species, estimating species diversity, movement, interactions, habitat associations, abundances using individual recognition and, recently, without individual recognition in various countries. A good image from the camera trap is indisputable regarding a certain species' presence compared to an interview or conventional survey methods. The utilization of camera-traps has revealed the presence of secretive rainforest dwelling species, which have been overlooked by applying the traditional transect surveys. In India, this method has been used in estimating densities and abundances of various carnivore species in several protected areas, but few attempts have so far been made in the dense forests of tropical evergreen habitats of the north-eastern part. The use of camera trapping rate as an index of abundance is both promising and cost-effective for the rapid assessment of animal abundance in remote areas or where alternative methods are unfeasible.The study was conducted in tropical semi-evergreen forests of Manas National Park (MNP), Assam, India. The objectives of the study were to (1) estimate the status of clouded leopard and other carnivores, (2) assess prey status and feeding ecology of clouded leopard, and (3) determine the factors governing coexistence of carnivores.
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 Inter-Habitat Matrix on Tropical Evergreen Forest Remnants : An Emprical Test of Matris-Tolerrance Hypothesis on Butterflies
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Kumar, Deepak C.; Talukdar, Gautam; Habib, Bilal; Kunte, Krushnamegh
Recent studies on habitat fragmentation has highlighted the importance of inter-habitat matrix and the need for a shift from traditional binary perspective to a 'matrix composition' ·perspective for understanding species diversity patterns in human modified landscapes . Matrix-tolerance model provides a simple framework for understanding the sensitivity of species to fragmentation by simultaneous study of native forest patches and surrounding matrix. According to this model, abundance of a species in the matrix is inversely proportional to its vulnerability to fragmentation. This study tested the matrix-tolerance hypothesis on butterflies of tropical evergreen forest remnants, surrounded by a matrix of coffee plantation and paddy field in Kodagu region of Western Ghats. Western Ghats is rich in butterfly fauna represented by 333 species of which 33 are endemic to the biogeographic region. The region is also characteristic in having human modified habitats with relatively large proportion of native forest patches which calls for a landscape level approach for conservation. In order to test the matrix tolerance hypothesis sampling was carried out in 16 sites which included 7 in fragments (sacred groves), 7 in matrix (5 in coffee plantations, 2 in paddy field) and 2 in large contiguous forest (Reserve Forest). For abundance estimation of butterflies, time constrained surveys were carried out 3 times in each site between January 10 and April 8, 2013. An index related to fragmentation vulnerability was generated for each species using abundance data obtained from time-constrained surveys. The Fragmentation Vulnerability Index, FVI was defined as the ratio between average abundance of the species in the fragments and average abundance in the continuous patch. Spearma'n's rank correlation was then used to test the association between rank FVI and rank matrix abundance. Various microclimatic and habitat variables were measured in matrix sites and Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) were constructed to test their association with estimated species richness. Analyses were carried out using SPSS 16 and R (version 3.0.1, R core team 2013) software. The present study shows that the relation between abundance of species in the inter-habitat matrix and its vulnerability to fragmentation is positive and significant (rs= 0.514, p = 0.001, N = 37). Species which are capable of tolerating the matrix are found to be less vulnerable to fragmentation. Some species deviate from the expected model in their response to habitat fragmentation which could possibly be explained by examining species specific traits. Fragment size didn't have a significant effect on relation between matrix abundance and fragmentation vulnerability index (F=0.758, p=0.387, df=l), unlike expected from previous studies. This could either be due to smaller range of fragment sizes in the present study or due to confounding factors like patch isolation and patch quality which can mask the effect of patch size. Among various habitat 'and microclimatic variables, canopy cover was found to be 'important predictor of ciliated species richness in matrix sites (weight = 0.8, ~ = 0.8, P = 0.008). Coffee plantations generally have a moderate level of canopy cover which is favorable for most butterfly species. But compared to paddy field~ the canopy cover is higher in coffee plantations and this could be the reason for increase in species richness with increasing canopy cover in matrix sites.
Evaluating landscape connectivity and bottle-necks for tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in Tadoba-Andhari landscape complex, Maharashtra, India.
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Mondal, Indranil; Talukdar, Goutam; Habib, Bilal
The theory of meta-population dynamics as proposed by Richard Levins in 1969 becomes more evident every day with wild animal populations being compartmentalized into far flung isolated habitats. Everyday animal populations are being driven into several isolated populations, and they face the risk of extinction as a consequence of demographic stochasticity which rises from the probable chance of inbreeding depression in smaller populations. The current study has identified 7555.28 km2 of area outside PAs that arei crucial for-the dispersal and movement of tigers in the Eastern Vidarbha Landscape 2481.23 km2 (32.84%) fall inside notified forest lands. Tiger movement data was analyzed and pockets were identified in the landscape outside PAs where they were spending a considerable amount of time while dispersing or exploring. The eco-geographical characteristics of these pockets were extracted and based on this information we extrapolated it to other areas of the landscape using a MaxEnt model. By extrapolation, the study aimed at identifying patches potentially similar to the ones indicated by the tracking data, which may provide refuge to the dispersing or exploring tigers. Radio collar data from two sub-adult males (514 and 363 days), one adult male (75 days) and three adult females (78, 66 and 422 days) totaling 14,448 GPS fixes was used to calculate Linear Time Density (LTD) Home Range in 500 X 500 m grids across the landscape.
Evaluating the use of Camera-Traps for population estimation of unmarked individuals using spatially explicit models in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Chatterjee, Nilanjan; Habib, Bilal
Wildlife monitoring is of fundamental importance to establish baseline information, measure population changes and extinction risk. Motion-triggered camera traps are an increasingly popular tool for monitoring terrestrial species over large landscapes. Over the years, the application of camera traps has increased exponentially but studies aiming at fundamental information about sampling design and protocols are still limited to simulation studies. In this dissertation, we have used occupancy as an indicator of effective species monitoring. Occupancy has become a robust and unbiased state variable to monitor species worldwide. However, the optimal sampling design required for robust estimations of occupancy is lacking for many species.The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is situated in the Chandrapur district in the the Vidharbha Landscape of Maharashtra state, between 204’53” to 2025’51’’ N and 7913’13” to 79 33’34” E (Figure 6). The TATR is distributed over an area of 1700 sq. km which consists of Tadoba national park and Andhari wildlife sanctuary.
Field sampling protocol- mammalian fauna in Trans-Himalayan landscape, Uttarakhand, India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Habib, Bilal; Shrotriya, Shivam; Mahar, N.; Lyngdoh, S.; Rawat, G.S.; Mohan, D.; Mondal, Indranil
How Disturbed are the Disturbed Ones ? Impacts of Anthropogenic Stressors on the Socio-Ecological Interactions of Terai Gray Langur (Semnopithecus hector) in Shivalik Hills
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Dwivedi, Divya; Habib, Bilal; Qureshi, Qamar
Animals respond to the changes in their habitats numerically and behaviourally. Alterations caused by anthropogenic stresses, like habitat degradation, fragmentation, urbanisation, changes in land use patterns, etc., changes the ecology of most species. Understanding the patterns adopted by these species to successfully survive and reproduce in such habitats is of utmost importance. This study tried to understand the impacts of human disturbance on the socio-ecology of Terai Gray langurs in Shivalik landscape, by comparing the ecology of langur troops inside the protected forest with the troops in disturbed forest. Four troops of Terai Gray langur, of comparable sizes, two in each treatment were selected.
Impacts of Road Related Disturbances on Mammalian and Vegetational Assemblages : A Case Study of SH-33 Passing Through Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Siva, R.; Habib, Bilal; Gubbi, Sanjay
Upcoming economies such as India need to strengthen their road network for the socioeconomic development of the country. While roads are important to the country, they are a threat to wildlife when they pass through the protected areas and other ecologically sensitive areas. Multiple impacts of roads on wildlife range from habitat loss, edge effects, vehicular traffic, pollution, animal mortality, barrier effect to invasion by alien flora and fauna. This project revealed the impacts of road-related disturbances on mammals and vegetation in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. Mysore-Mananthavadi road (SH-33) is passing through the southern part of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve that has two segments in which one segment is decommissioned and another segment is closed for the vehicular traffic during the night. Here, I have compared the habitat use of mammals in these two segments using camera traps and assessed the impact of road-related disturbances on vegetation in this road by vegetation sampling. Vehicular density was estimated using the camera traps in these two segments.The study results revealed the avoidance of vehicular traffic segment by the mammals and activity pattern seems to be relatively unaffected by the vehicular traffic. It also shows the change in the vegetation composition and spread of invasive species due to road related disturbances.
Indian Grey wolves (Canis lupus pallipes) in Human dominated landscape; Movement, space use and foraging
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Khan, Shaheer; Habib, Bilal
The study presented a comprehensive investigation into the ecology of Indian wolves (Canis lupus pallipes) within human-dominated landscapes in Maharashtra, India. The study focused on movement patterns, den and rendezvous site selection, and food habits of Indian wolves to gain insights into their adaptation strategies and ecological interactions within changing environments. Seven adult wolves (three males and four females) and four subadult wolves (two males and two females) were captured using soft leghold traps from 2017 - 2021. Trapped wolves were held using a double-threaded nylon hockey net and immobilized using Ketamine–Xylazine by injecting intramuscularly on their hind leg and fitted with GPS collars. A total of ten wolves from seven different packs were fitted with GPS collars, and one male was fitted with a proximity collar. The GPS collars were programmed for the different intervals between positions ranging from 0.5-5 hours per fix (median=1 hour), depending on the time of year and type of individual. I then scaled the data to 1 hour per fix for movement analysis. This research underscores the importance of understanding wolf movement, denning ecology, and food habits for effective conservation strategies. As human populations and habitat alterations increase, studying wolf adaptation is crucial for species-specific conservation planning.
Influence of pastoral practices on wild ungulates in Upper Gori Valley, Western Himalaya.
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020) Bhattacharya, Ankita; Rawat, G.S.; Habib, Bilal
The alpine meadows of western Himalaya have been used for livestock grazing by a large number of agro-pastoral communities for several centuries (Tucker 1986). Five distinct pastoral practices are prevalent across the alpine landscape in the western Himalaya: nomadic, semi nomadic, nuclear transhumance, trans-migratory and sedentary (resident). Trans-migration (seasonal altitudinal movement by the entire family along with the livestock) is practiced mainly by the Bhotiya communities in various parts of Uttarakhand, such as Byans, Darma, Johar and the upper basins of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi
Journal of Wildlife Science: Pioneering a New Era in Wildlife Research
(Wildlife Institute of India, 2024-02-20) Singh, Mewa; Habib, Bilal; Kolipakam, Vishnupriya
In the ever-evolving landscape of wildlife research, the Journal of Wildlife Science emerges as a beacon of innovation and inclusivity. Over the past few decades, the field of wildlife research has undergone a transformative shift, evolving from mere descriptive accounts and natural history to becoming a hub for question oriented, hypothesis-driven inquiries. While earlier journals in India, such as the Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, Indian Forester, Indian Journal of Forestry, Journal of Threatened Taxa, and Current Science have done a commendable job publishing predominantly descriptive research, the need for a dedicated platform to cater to the growing demands of modern wildlife science has become increasingly evident.
Monitoring of animal underpasses on National Highway 44 (Earlier 7) passing through Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020) Habib, Bilal; Saxena, Akansha; Jhala, Y.V.; Rajvanshi, A.
As part of the project funded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi, three sites were chosen for study- the Central Indian tiger landscape including major roads cutting across the animal corridors in the landscape, the National Highway 37 (now 715) cutting through the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape in Assam, and the State Highway 33 passing through the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. As part of the project, we also monitored the animal underpasses constructed on the National Highway 44 passing through the Pench Tiger reserve, Maharashtra. We used camera traps to capture movement of animals under the nine crossing structures during March-December 2019. We found 18 species of wild animals that were using the crossing structures, with varying frequencies. Seven species of small mammals were found to use the structures. These included Indian hare and jungle cat, which are the most frequent users of the underpasses, and the rare rusty spotted cat. Among wild ungulates, the five major species viz., spotted deer, gaur, nilgai, sambar and wild pig were found to use the structures. Spotted deer and wild pig were the most frequent visitors to the underpasses. Tiger, leopard, wild dog, sloth bear and jackal, the major carnivore species in the landscape, were found using the structures with varying frequencies. Wild dogs were found to use the structures the most, followed by tigers. A total of 89 tiger crossings were recorded from six of the nine structures, by 11 individual tigers.