WII Technical Reports/Books/Manuals
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/314
Browse
33 results
Search Results
Item Ecology of tigers in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Sankar, K.; Qureshi, Q.; Jhala, Y.V.; Gopal, R.; Majumdar, Aniruddha; Basu, S.The present study aimed to map land use/land cover patterns and to assess spatial structure and configuration of landscape; structure and composition of vegetation types in landscape; and varies ecological aspects of tiger (Panthera tigris) in a tropical deciduous forest of Central India from 2005 to 2013. Prey species availability was estimated using line transect method in an intensive study areas of 410 sq km between January 2007 and June 2012.Item Demographic outcomes of diverse behavioural strategies assessed in resident and migratory population of black kites Milvus migrans Phase VI(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Kumar, Nishant; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Q.The Black Kite, an opportunist, facultative scavenger in the South Asian urban ecosystems,； is a highly successful bird of prey, adapting to various habitats from natural landscapes to bustling cities (Fig.1 ).This adaptability makes them one of the most hutnerous raptors globally (Ferguson- Lees & Christie, 2001). In the Old World, these kites are resourceful and opportunistic eaters, thriving on abundant food sources from human refuse and prey species like pigeons and rats in urban areas. They readily exploit human-generated waste, allowing them to maintain a healthy population and favourable conservation status (Galushin, 1971). In Indian cities like Delhi, they reign as the top avian predators within the urban ecosystem. Studies since the 1960s suggest their breeding density has remained stable. While most raptors require specific ecological conditions, Black Kites exhibit remarkable flexibility (Kumar et al., 2020a). They primarily nest in trees, indicating a need for green spaces within the city. However, a small portion (less than 5%) utilise man-made structures for nesting (Fig. 2). The ample availability of trees in Delhi provides suitable nesting grounds (Kumar, 2013; Kumar et al., 2019). The abundance of garbage in cities - often amassing in the form of large landfills - provides kites with a readily available food source. Additionally, the positive attitude of residents in South Asia towards these birds allows them to breed undisturbed near human settlements. This human tolerance translates to moderate breeding success, with around half of breeding Fig. 1. A typical congregation of Black Kites in Old Delhi responding to ritual tossing of meat by Muslims that follow Sufi traditions (Jama Masjid area). Photo Credit: Fabrizio Sergio 2 BlacK Kite Project - Phase - VI pairs raising chicks to fledging (Kumar et al.t 2014). The high density of Black Kites in southern Asian breeding grounds offers a unique opportunity for research. Scientists can compare these populations to European Black Kites, which have been extensively studied since the 1950s. Pioneering research in the 1990s on European populations focused on factors influencing chick survival, including hatching order, sibling competition, and food availability. These studies have become benchmarks for raptor biologists (Ferguson-Lees & Christie, 2001; Newton, 1979). A crucial finding from European studies is the link between food availability and brood reduction (where some chicks die in the nest). When food is scarce, chicks compete more intensely, and some may not survive (Vinuela, 1996). Black Kites in Delhi exhibit hatching asynchrony (chicks hatching at different times) and brood reduction, likely influenced by the varying food availability across the city's diverse urban landscapes. To capture these ecological nuances, researchers have been using trail cameras in nests across different urbanisation gradients to study relationships with urban variables. These data are further combined with observations to assess hatching patterns, chick survival, growth rates, and nesting behaviour. Delhi hosts two subspecies of black kites: the resident breeding Milvus migrans govinda (small Indian kite) and the migratory M. m. lineatus (black-eared kite) that arrives from Central Asia and Southern Siberia via the Central Asian Flyway across the Himalayas. GPS-tagging revealed that M. m. lineatus kites migrate 3300-4700 km from their breeding grounds in Russia, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang (China) and Mongolia to Delhi in 3-4 weeks, crossing the Himalayas at elevations up to 5000-6000 m (Kumar et al., 2020b).Item Status of the tigers and copredators in Central Indian landscape(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2007) Jhala, Y.V.; Gopal, Rajesh; Qureshi, QamarThe present report forms a part of the All India Tiger Monitoring exercise undertaken on the direction of the Ministry of Environment and Forests by the Wildlife Institute of India in association with National Tiger Conservation Authority, MoEF, Government of India, and the State Forest Departments. As a part of this process, preliminary findings on the status, and distribution of tigers, co-predators and prey in the States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa are presented. Tiger population estimates are provided for the States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh. For the remaining States of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Orissa tiger population estimation is in progress and estimates will be provided at a later date. The current monitoring system for tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitat transcends beyond generating mere numbers. It is a holistic approach which uses the tiger as an umbrella species to monitor some of the major components of forest systems where the tiger occurs in India. The data and inferences generated by the system would not only serve as a monitoring tool but also as an information base for decision making for land use planning. It provides an opportunity to incorporate conservation objectives supported with a sound database, on equal footing with economic, sociological, and other values in policy and decision making for the benefit of the society. After the Sariska debacle, this system with a few modifications was recommended as a monitoring tool for the entire country by the Tiger Task Force.Item Evaluating tiger habitat at the tehsil level(Project Tiger Directorate and Wildlife Institute of India, 2006) Qureshi, Q.; Gopal, R.; Kyatham, Shirish; Basu, S.; Mitra, A.; Jhala, Y.V.Item Social organization and dispersal of Asiatic lion and ecological monitoring of Gir(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2006) Jhala, Y.V.; Chellam, R.; Qureshi, Q.; Pathak, Bharat; Meena; Chauhan, K.S.; Dave, C.; Banerjee, K.Project titled ‘Social Organization and dispersal of Asiatic lion’ was initiated in 2002 by the Wildlife Institute of India in collaboration with the Gujarat Forest Department. Continuous record of lion demographic and population parameters, ungulate density and distribution, livestock-ungulate interaction and the study of male ranging patterns and resource utilization with the help of radio- telemetry have been some of the achievements of the project in the past five years. The project had established two research-bases at Sasan Gir (West Gir) and Tulsi Shyam (East Gir) respectively to meet the added project objective of project “Ecological monitoring of the Gir” in 2003. This component included studies on livestock-wild ungulate interaction, Maldhari-lion interaction, refinement of protocols for lion monitoring and mapping of peripheral areas of Gir which were considered important by the Gujarat Forest department and The Wildlife Institute of India.Item Monitoring of Gir : A technical consultancy report(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2004) Jhala, Y.V.This project would be a step towards capacity building of the PA management by acquisition of appropriate equipment and training in ecological, sociological and institutional monitoring. We believe that by undertaking this task in the above manner we would contribute more towards the long-term conservation of the Gir ecosystem which has been the ultimate objective of the India Eco-development project.Item A report on population and density estimation of leopards in Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Jhala, Y.V.; Basu, ArnabItem Assessment of the landscape between the Gir Protected Area and the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat for a potential lion habitat corridor(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Q.; Basu, P.; Banerjee, KaushikIn this report, assess the habitat characteristics, extent of fragmentation and its future trends, prey abundance and perception of the local communities towards lion conservation in the agro-pastoral landscape between the Gir PA and the Girnar forests to help in delineating the important dispersal corridor habitat between the Gir PA and the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, suggesting measures for its effective conservationItem Status, distribution and conservation perspectives of lesser florican in the North-Western India: a survey report(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Bhardwaj, G.S.; Sivakumar, K.; Jhala, Y.V.The Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica, a species endemic to the Indian subcontinent, is largely seen during the monsoon season in north-western India, where it breeds. Its population and range is believed to be decreasing at an alarming rate due to breeding habitat loss and threats in the non-breeding habitats, believed to be in south and south-east India. In this connection, to understand the present status and distribution of Lesser florican in the north-western India i.e. in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, a survey following an established protocol (Sankaran 2000) was carried out in the month of August 2010, which is a part of breeding season of this species, when most of males display in the grasslands. A total of 84 individual Lesser Floricans (83 male and 1 female) were sighted in three states of north-western India, which is 65% less than the sightings reported in 1999 by Dr. Sankaran. It was found significantly fewer sightings than reported in 1999 in all grasslands surveyed (t=2.81, df=14, p<0.05). Of the 169 potential grasslands available for floricans in the north-western India, 91 grasslands were surveyed, which include grasslands surveyed during 1999. Of the surveyed grasslands, Lesser Floricans were found in 24 grasslands as against 37 grasslands in 1999. Among the three states, more sightings of Lesser Florican were reported in the state of Gujarat (N=54) followed by Rajasthan (N=18) and Madhya Pradesh (N=12). But in 1999, more sightings of florican were reported in Gujarat (N=141) followed by Madhya Pradesh (N=63) and Rajasthan (N=34). More than 55% of grasslands in Gujarat that were reported with florican in 1999 (Sankaran 2000) were observed without florican in 2010. More or less similar situation was in Madhya Pradesh also. Population and habitat of Lesser Florican in the north-western India was observed to be continuously declining at an alarming rate. Lack of a National Policy on grassland management, habitat degradation, plantations, poor landuse planning, pesticide pollution, invasive species, inadequate coverage of florican habitats in the Wildlife Protected Area Network and lack of knowledge on the non-breeding habitats of this species are observed to be major threats to this species.Item Status of the Tigers, co-predators, and prey in India 2010(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2010) Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Qamar; Gopal, Rajesh; Sinha, P.R.This report synthesizes the results of the second countrywide assessment of the status of tigers, co-predators and their prey in India. The first assessment was done in 2006 and its results subsequently helped shape the current policy and management of tiger landscapes in India. The current report is based on data collected in 2009-2010 across all forested habitats of 17 tiger States of India with an unprecedented effort of about 477,000 man days by forest staff, and 37,000 man days by professional biologists. The results provide spatial occupancy, population limits, and abundance of tigers, habitat condition and connectivity (Fig E1). This information is crucial for incorporating conservation objectives into land use planning across landscapes so as to ensure the long term survival of free ranging tigers which serve as an umbrella species for the conservation of forest biodiversity. The study reports a countrywide increase of 20% in tiger numbers but a decline of 12.6% in tiger occupancy from connecting habitats. The methodology consisted of a double sampling approach wherein the State Forest Departments estimated occupancy and relative abundance of tigers, co-predators, and prey through sign and encounter rates in all forested areas (Phase I). Habitat characteristics were quantified using remotely sensed spatial and attribute data in a geographic information system (Phase II). A team of trained wildlife biologists then sampled a subset of these areas with approaches like mark-recapture and distance sampling to estimate absolute densities of tigers and their prey (Phase III), using the best modern technological tools (remote camera traps, GPS, laser range finders). A total effort of 81,409 trap nights yielded photo-captures of 635 unique tigers from a total camera trapped area of 11,192 km2 over 29 sites. The indices and covariate information (tiger signs, prey abundance indices, habitat characteristics) generated by Phase I & II were then calibrated against absolute densities using Generalized Linear Models (GLM) and the relationships were used for extrapolating tiger densities within landscapes. Tiger numbers were obtained for contiguous patches of occupied forests by using average densities for that population block. Numbers and densities were reported as adult tigers with a standard error range. Habitat suitability for tigers was used to model least cost pathways joining tiger populations in a GIS and alternative routes in Circuit scape. These were aligned on high-resolution satellite imagery to delineate potential habitat corridors