WII Technical Reports
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/314
Browse
17 results
Search Results
Item 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 RaisGlobally, 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 sitesItem Proposed mitigation measures for maintaining habitat contiguity and reducing wild animal mortality on NH6 and 7 in the Central Indian Landscape(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Habib, Bilal; Saxena, Akansha; Mondal, Indranil; Rajvanshi, Asha; Mathur, V.B.; Negi, H.S.Central India is considered to be the heart of India’s wildlife. It is home to some of India’s largest forest tracts, rich wildlife as well as indigenous people. It is also recognized by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Government of India as a region with one of the best potentials for long-term tiger conservation. It harbours about 688 numbers of tigers in 19 tiger reserves (Jhala et al., 2015). Other than the tiger (Panthera tigris), the faunal diversity includes some of the most charismatic and endangered species such as the leopard (Panthera pardus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), gaur (Bos gaurus) and the hard ground swamp deer (Cervus duvaucelli). The tiger reserves and protected areas are connected by wildlife corridors falling outside the Protected Area network. These corridors can provide crucial connectivity and allow the free movement of tigers and other wildlife from one forest area to another, thereby connecting ‘source’ populations and ensuring demographic and genetic viability. This connectivity is also important to maintain the habitat quality of these contiguous forests for the other faunal species of the landscape. Any infra-structure development in this landscape should therefore consider the importance of the need to maintain connectivity between these animal populations. To identify specific animal crossing zones on NH-7 (Maharashtra and MP) and NH-6 (Maharashtra) passing through vital wildlife corridors and to suggest feasible locations for making underpasses and their dimensions, and in the light of these findings, review the earlier proposed mitigation measures. ii. To evaluate the barrier effect on different animal species due to factors such as road type (2 and 4-lane), traffic heterogeneity, traffic volume, vehicle speed and species characteristics at current traffic volume .Item 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, IndranilItem Tiger corridors of the Eastern Vidarbha landscape(NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2016) Mondal, Indranil; Habib, Bilal; Nigam, Parag; Talukdar, GautamItem Movement of Radio-collared tigers in the Eastern Vidarbha Landscape, Maharashtra, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Habib, Bilal; Nigam, Parag; Hussain, Zehidul; Ghaskadbi, Pallavi SurendraTo understand the movement ecology of tigers in the Eastern Vidarbha Landscape, focusing on individual patterns of space use in general, utilization distribution in different areas and landscape, spatio-temporal activity and effect of environmental features on animal movement, the point-wise objectives are as follows: 1. To understand the movement of tigers that drives population connectivity on a landscape scale and effect of environmental features on dispersal. 2. To validate the modeled corridors and identify new functional corridor and habitats in a highly dynamic landscape. 3. Directly aiding effective conservation and management of tigers beyond the Protected Area (PA) system as a result of real-time data from radio-collars.Item Assessment of impacts of State highway 33 on flora and fauna of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020) Habib, BilalAs 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.Item 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 conditionItem 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.Item Status of Wildlife in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary - 2021(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Habib, Bilal; Noor, A.; Sharma, A.; Yadav, N.; Goyal, N.Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary (Sukhna WLS) is part of the Union Territory of Chandigarh and falls in the Great Indian Northern Plains near the foothills of the Shiwalik Hills. In process of continuing their effort of having scientific database and information on their wildlife populations and wildlife conservation, the Department of Forest and Wildlife, Union Territory of Chandigarh (DFW-CH), approached Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun (wide letter Nos. For/2021/50, dated: 06/04/21 and For/2020/0074, dated: 24/02/2020) to assist in capacity building of the field personnel in conducting wildlife surveys in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, the only Protected Area (PA) of the UT. Subsequently, WII prepared an outline for the wildlife surveys for which initial training of the field personnel was considered as a prerequisite to further the survey program. Following this, WII conducted a capacity building and training workshop to train the frontline staff so that they collect scientifically robust data and get acquainted with the methods to be employed during the execution of project activities. A day-long training workshop was then held at the Chandigarh Botanical Garden, on 22nd April 2021 in the presence of 17 attendees. The DFW-CH personnel were trained in employing different field techniques such as line transect sampling, sign surveys, point counts, and use of necessary equipment (e.g. GPS units, binoculars, range finders, etc.) required during the surveys. In-field exposure to the techniques and equipment was made before starting the main survey to validate the sampling techniques. Shri Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden (CCF&CWLW, DFW-CH), and Dr. Abdul Qayum, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests (DCF, DFW-CH) also presided over the training workshop. Subsequently, the primary data collection process for Sukhna WLS was conducted by the DFW-CH in a five-day programme beginning 5th May to 9th May 2021. A total of 10 line transects (2 km each) inside Sukhna WLS and an additional four transects outside Sukhna WLS were sampled with an overall effort of 88 km of transect walk (80 km walk effort was made inside Sukhna WLS and 8 km walk effort in forest patches outside the Sukhna WLS). This effort yielded a total of 223 direct observations (195 inside and 28 outside Sukhna WLS) consisting of 13 wildlife species that included four ungulates, two primates, two carnivore species, one rodent, and reptile species each, two bird species, and also free-ranging stray dogs Due to low sample size of observations, the density of species other than Sambar could not be estimated with robustness. The density and other parameters of other species were not calculated because of the very low sample sizes as n>40 were considered adequate for data analysis in Distance software. Thus, data from all 14 transects of Sukhna WLS (transects which were inside as well as those monitored outside the sanctuary) were pooled for density and other parameters estimation for Sambar. Observations of other species such as Nilgai, Wild boar and Hanuman langur were pooled to estimate global detection probability which then was used to estimate the density estimates for these species, assuming they have uniform detectability in the environment. Therefore, further conservation and management strategies should consider these findings with caution. Sambar had the highest density (number of individuals/km2) of 18.08±4.22, followed by Nilgai (2.01±0.57), and Wild boar (1.17±0.33) in Sukhna WLS during the survey. The mean group size of Wild boar was the highest with 4.28±0.89 (median = 4; range = 1–12) followed by Chital (3.5±0.5; median = 4; range = 2–5), and Nilgai (3.20±0.55; median = 2; range = 1–10). Sambar had the mean group size of 2.57±0.22 (median = 2; range = 1–16). Hanuman langur’s grouping tendency averaged at 2.54±0.72 (median = 1; range = 1–8) while the Indian peafowl had mean group size of 2.42±0.29 (median = 2; range = 1–5). The detection probability varied from lowest of 0.41 to 0.56 for Sambar and pooled prey species, respectively. The population estimates obtained through extrapolation of the density estimates on the area of the sanctuary puts Sambar as the dominant species with an estimated population of ca. 290–763 individuals. The population estimate of Sambar obtained during the current survey is more robust than the estimate obtained during the previous surveys owing to several reasons including more amount of effort and area coverage undertaken this time (80 km compared to 16 km previously), more number of observations (N=138) than previously (N=21) and lower CVs associated with the estimates. Indian peafowl’s population could not be estimated due to low number observations (N=14) although an estimate of population could be made during the previous survey. Population estimates of other species such as Nilgai could not be estimated due to low number of observations. A total of 10 trails or routes of variable length (average=5.05 km; 4–5.5 km) and totalling an effort of 50.5 km (with 34:54 man hours) were walked in 10 beats across Sukhna WLS during the wildlife survey period. A total of 286 observations of indirect signs such as droppings, scats, footprints/pugmarks, scratch marks, pellets, etc. were made based on which 13 species could be identified. Interestingly, presence of barking deer was ascertained by indirect evidence only and in case of carnivores, leopard pugmarks were also recorded which could not be confirmed based on direct observations. A total of 30 points for counting birds were sampled across the 10 transects (three point count stations at each transect with inter-station distance of 400 m) during the survey. The same points were used for broad characterisation of habitat and vegetation. A total effort of 60 point samplings were conducted yielding a total of 67 species of birds belonging to 32 families and 15 orders were identified in the point transects. Of these observed species, ca. 28% of the species had more than 10 observations. Indian peafowl was the most abundant (N=59) species recorded, followed by red-wattled lapwing (N=30) and the red junglefowl (N=26). Among the species recorded with less frequency 20 species were recorded only once. Conclusions and Recommendations 1. Despite being small in area, Sukhna WLS supports good biological diversity and has the potential to be considered as one of the important wildlife and biodiversity conservation area. Therefore, steps should be undertaken to have plans for regular monitoring and research programs targeting not only the sanctuary but also its surrounding forested areas. 2. Sambar is the most abundant ungulate species in the Sukhna WLS with the highest density similar to Rajaji TR. The estimated population of Sambar in the sanctuary stands at ca. 290–763Item Telemetry based tiger corridors of Vidarbha Landscape, Maharashtra India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Habib, Bilal; Nigam, P.; Mondal, I.; Hussain, Z.; Ghaskadbi, P.; Govekar, R.S.; Praveen, N.R.; Banerjee, J.; Ramanujam, R.M.; Ramagaonkar, J.The Vidarbha Landscape (VL) is very important as it harbours a population of about 331 tigers and forms the connecting link between the central and southern Indian tiger populations. It plays a pivotal role in exchange of individuals and thereby facilitates gene flow between these two populations increasing the viability of tiger populations in India. There are 8 protected areas or wildlife divisions where these tigers live, but these refuges are scattered like islands in a sea of human dominated landscape. Therefore, knowing the locations of tiger movement corridors and probable areas of human tiger conflict is especially important for a wildlife manager.