PhD Theses (WII)
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Item Management of habitat, its connectivity and human-large carnivore conflict in Western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Verma, Nishant; Pandav, Bivash; Mondol, SamratA wildlife corridor is an area of habitat that connects wildlife populations otherwise separated by human pressures such as roads, development or logging. Functionally corridors allows for the exchange of individuals between populations, reducing the negative effects of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity that often occur in isolated populations. The Western Part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) a region listed among the 200 globally important ecoregions for its rich assemblage of large mammals. Over time land modifications for agriculture and anthropogenic disturbances disrupted these connections. Despite this the TAK retains immense conservation value, sustaining two level I Tiger Conservation Units - Rajaji Corbett and Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki- alongside several level II Units. Recent assessment estimate that about 20,800 sq km of tiger habitat remains on the Indian side of the TAL. The study area of this doctoral research spans the Western Terai Arc landscape and centres around Rajaji National Park encompassing connected forest divisions in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh where it aims at (i) Evaluating corridor use by wildlife in Rajaji National Park and adjoining divisions (2) evaluating the extent and severity of human - large carnivores conflict in the Western TAL and (3) Evaluating existing management practices for large carnivore conservation. Towards evaluating the activity of wildlife and for assessing corridor functionality, systematic sign surveys were carried out in 2022–2023 to identify suitable sampling sites across all corridors, prior to camera-trapping. Transects were walked to record signs such as dung, pugmarks, hoof marks, and scrapes of large mammals. Further, a total of 87 camera traps were deployed in 2022 and 2025, yielding a total of 9,670 trap nights. Sign surveys revealed that leopards and elephants were the most frequently encountered species across both eastern and western corridors. Chillawali–Shiwalik showed extensive elephant signs, confirming its role as an elephant movement pathway. Camera traps recorded 17 species in the forest areas and nine in the corridors, with the highest species richness being recorded in Chillawali-Shiwalik, followed by Chilla-Motichur and Laltappar, and Teenpani. Chillawali-Shiwalik had the highest Relative Abundance Index (RAI) for chital (269.53), followed by Teenpani for wild pig (227.2) and sambar (123.31), whereas Chilla-Motichur and Laltappar exhibited lower RAIs for most species. In contrast, adjacent forest areas exhibited higher RAIs across all species, indicating a preference for less-disturbed habitats. Species exhibited distinct activity patterns between corridors and forest areas. Leopards were uniformly active throughout the day in the forest but showed slightly reduced daytime activity in corridors (Δ = 0.71). Elephants exhibited contrasting activity patterns, with a daytime activity peak in forest ranges and a nighttime peak in corridors (Δ = 0.48). These results highlight both the functionality and challenges of four key wildlife corridors in RNP in maintaining connectivity for species within fragmented habitats. Details of human-wildlife conflict incidents were collected from each of the Forest Divisions of the study area for 12 years (2012-2024). Of this, incident details of attacks on humans were available from 2018 to 2024, while livestock depredation incidents were available from 2003 to 2024. Of the collected data, large carnivore conflict incidents were compiled on the basis of the species of carnivore involved, and the incidents were categorised into attacks on humans and livestock depredation. Species-wise conflict points were extracted, and for each of the species, 5000 random points were then generated in QGIS to act as absence points in the study area. 65 incidents of attacks on humans were due to large carnivores – including tigers (n=29), leopards (n=19), and bears (n=17) (2018 to 2024), and 3,258 incidents of livestock depredation were attributed to large carnivores – including tigers (n=615) and leopards (n=2,635) (2003 to 2024). Human population densities were significantly different for locations of bear and tiger attacks on people and random points, whereas livestock population density was significantly different at locations of human-leopard conflict as compared to random locations. Similarly human population densities significantly varied between locations of livestock depredation by tigers & random non-conflict locations, while both human & livestock population densities were significantly different at locations of livestock depredation by leopards and random locations. Elevation gradient (p<0.01) in the study area was one of the major drivers of human conflict with bears and leopards on humans. Distance to linear infrastructure (p<0.01) and Human Footprint Index (p<0.05) majorly drive leopard attacks on people. Additionally, livestock and human population densities (p<0.05) influence bear and tiger attacks on people. Tiger attacks on humans were also driven by distances to linear infrastructure & Protected Area (p<0.01), and nightlight (p<0.01). Annual precipitation, terrain ruggedness & elevation, distances to linear infrastructure & water, human population density, and Human Footprint Index (p<0.001) are some of the factors that drive livestock depredation by leopards & tigers. The results of this study highlight the variations in trends and drivers of conflict with each large carnivore in the study area, with severe socio-economic and ecological consequences. The evaluation of management practices in the Western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) was carried out using the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) framework developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), that have been adapted for the Indian tiger reserves. This framework assesses management performance across six broad elements: context, planning, inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes, and provides a structured mechanism to identify strengths and gaps in conservation practice. Data was collected from (a) working plans and Tiger Conservation Plans, (b) field records and secondary data, and (c) primary evaluation and scoring. The site-specific scores were aggregated to generate comparative rankings across divisions, and grouped under five major elements (context, planning, input, process, and output). Selected critical indicators were examined individually to highlight specific areas of weakness. Additional parameters relating to habitat degradation, encroachment, invasive species status, and habitat recovery were also scored qualitatively. Scores ranged narrowly from 66.41 (Kalsi) to 68.97 (Dehradun), with Lansdowne (68.75), Rajaji (67.19), and Shivalik (67.17) occupying intermediate positions, indicating moderate but consistent levels of management. Disaggregated analysis revealed variation across the five evaluation elements. Planning (68.52) and Inputs (68.75) received relatively higher scores, reflecting the availability of documented management plans, budget allocations, and staffing provisions (Figure 4.2). By contrast, Processes (65.17) and Outputs (62.92) scored lower, indicating weaknesses in implementation and outcome delivery. Indicator-level analysis pointed to specific areas of weakness, specifically indicators related to control of biotic pressures, stakeholder participation, and conflict mitigation consistently received low scores. These findings reveal that management effectiveness in the western TAL is functional but fragile, characterized by strong planning frameworks but weaker implementation and ecological outcomes. The Western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) represents one of India’s most critical conservation frontiers where ecological connectivity, large mammal persistence, and human livelihoods intersect. This thesis generates crucial understanding of the interdependence between habitat connectivity, conflict mitigation, and management effectiveness. Fragmentation of corridors intensifies edge effects and human intrusion, which in turn elevates conflict frequency, further complicating management efforts. This study provides several actionable insights for strengthening conservation outcomes in the western TAL, including landscape integration, corridor restoration, conflict mitigation, participatory management, monitoring, and policy mainstreaming.Item Ecology and ranging behaviour of Elephants, Elephas maximus, and its implications for managing human-elephant conflict in Chhattisgarh, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Lakshminarayanan, N.; Pandav, BivashIn the East-central region of India that supports the smallest regional elephant (Elephas maximus) population, the elephant ranges have expanded in northern Chhattisgarh (erstwhile eastern Madhya Pradesh) since late 1980s. Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh during the year 2000, and thence, the State has been witnessing elephant range expansion and concomitant population growth resulting in acute human–elephant conflict. Over 60 human lives are lost every year due to human–elephant conflict, and the trend is only increasing. Chhattisgarh scenario represents challenges facing management of elephant populations undergoing environmental dispersals that typically result from saturated habitat conditions in the elephant home ranges. In response to the prevailing conflict situation, the study aimed to understand facets of elephant ecology and aspects of human–elephant conflict to generate management perspectives. Historic information available as fragments in literature indicates that elephant distribution in the whole of East-central region was marked by both range expansions and local extinctions during the last one century. In particular, the contemporary phenomenon of elephant range redistribution in the East-central region peaked after 1980s, and coincides with large-scale human-induced disturbances to the formerly intact elephant habitats in the region. There were also pull factors like creation of pseudo-habitats (providing only cover for elephants) through forestry operations that possibly attracted elephants to human–dominated areas perpetuating human-elephant conflict. In Chhattisgarh, the elephant distribution during the period 2012 to 2017 was reported from 16 Forest Divisions and four Protected Areas in the north and north-central regions of the state. The elephant population, as enumerated by Chhattisgarh Forest Department during 2021, ranged from 250 to 300.Item Landscape level modeling of Asian Elephant (Elephas Maximus) habitat, Its population and interaction with humans in Nepal(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Ram, Ashok Kumar; Pandav, Bivash; Mondon, Samrat; Subedi, Naresh; Ram, BabuThe nature and extent of human-elephant conflicts studied in Chitwan National Park and Parsa National Park complex (CNP & PNP) and its buffer zone in Nepal shows that crop damage and human casualties were more serious conflict issues among the other concerns of human–elephant conflict.Item Determinants of occurrence of snow leopard and its prey species in the Indian Greater and Trans Himalaya.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2017) Ghoshal, Abhishek; Pandav, Bivash; Bhatanagar, Yash veerUnderstanding patterns of species occurrences and how their distribution and abundance are affected by abiotic and biotic factors have been a major theme of ecological research. The range and changes in the distribution of a species are important parameters to assess conservation status. Robust assessment of factors affecting species distribution and abundance contribute to the identification of conservation issues, appropriate scale(s) for species conservation and key stakeholders. This study is attempted to understand how distribution and abundance of a large-ranging and difficult-to-sample carnivore and its primary wild-prey species are affected by topographic, vegetation and land-use variables, at wide and fine spatial scales. Study is focused on the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), the elusive, rare and endangered apex predator of the Central and South Asian mountain systems, and its main prey, blue sheep or bharal (Pseudois nayaur) and Asiatic ibex (Capra sibirica) for the work. I have utilized tools from quantitative ecology and social sciences through the thesis.Item Nesting ecology of colonial waterbirds at Bhitarkanika mangroves, Orissa(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2010) Gopi, G.V.; Pandav, BivashColonial nesting is an important feature among a majority of the members of Pelicaniformes and Ciconiiformes. The nesting colonies of these birds that represent spatial and temporal clumping of nests are popularly referred to as heronries. One of the largest heronries in India is located in the Bhitarkanika mangroves, along the east coast of India. Birds use five species of mangrove trees for nesting which include Excoecaria agallocha (Guan), Heritiera fomes (Bada Sundari), Cynometra iripa (Singada), Hibiscus tiliaceus (Bania), Tamarix troupii (Jagula) for nesting in the heronry. . The breeding birds in this mixed species colony are Asian Openbill, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Cormorant, Darter, and Black-headed Ibis. The heronry in Bhitarkanika is located in an island covered with mangrove vegetation. The availability of large number of nest trees in terms of the mangrove forest and foraging areas in terms of the wetlands inside the forest and the paddy fields surrounding the forest are believed to be the factors favouring such large congregation of breeding water birds in the heronryItem Occupancy and abundance of tigers and their prey in Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Karki, Jhamak Badur; Jhala, Y.V.; Pandav, BivashThe occupancy, distribution and tiger density are important information for management and conservation policy formulation. Realizing this need, this study was undertaken. The major wild prey species of tiger are spotted deer (Axis axis), wild pig (Sus scrofa), sambar (Rucervus unicolor), swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelli duvaucelli), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), hog deer (Heylaphus porcinus) and gaur (Bos gaurus) in Nepal. To evaluate the occupancy of tiger in Nepal's Terai Arc landscape (TAL), sign survey was conducted in 96 grids (area 225 Km2 ) in 14 districts, including PAs. To assess correlation of the tiger occupancy with the availability of wild prey, and the human disturbance with the habitat use by the tiger, the sign of human disturbances (fire, timber cut, fuel wood collection, sign of poaching) and prey presence were recorded during the winter season. To estimate the density of tigers wild prey in PAs of Nepal's TAL, distance sampling was conducted along the predefined line transects during the summer seasonItem Understanding aspects of demography and resource partitioning mechanisms of large felids among with abundance and spatial distribution of prey in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Rathore, Harshvardhan Singh; Pandav, Bivash; Jhala, Y.V.This study investigates the crucial aspect of coexistence for large predators like tigers and leopards sharing the same landscape and delves into the population dynamics of these animals by identifying the mechanisms of resource partitioning. By acting as a window into the inner workings of the ecosystem, the study reveals how tiger and leopard populations function alongside each other. Identifying the factors that influence their ability to share the resources successfully is vital for developing more effective conservation strategies. This knowledge ultimately contributes to ensuring the long-term survival of both tigers and leopards in this landscape. A precise assessment of several demographic parameters is necessary to make informed management decisions for their conservation within this unique habitat. These parameters include population density, sex structure, recruitment, and survival rates. With this background, the study comes with the following objectives. (1) To assess the abundance and spatial distribution of prey in STR.(2) To assess the various demographic parameters of large felids (tiger and leopard) in STR. (3) To determine the mechanisms of resource partitioning of the tiger and the leopard in STR. Similipal Tiger Reserve is located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, between86˚06' and 86˚36' East longitude and 21˚31' and 22˚02' North latitude. The study was carried out over three years (2019–2021) across eight ranges in the core area of STR: Chahala, Nawana North, Nawana South, and Pithabata South Wildlife in the northern core, and UBK, Jenabil, Bhanjabasa, and National Park in the southern core.