WII Technical Reports/Books/Manuals
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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 Monitoring tiger and its prey in Chilla range, Rajaji National Park, Uttaranchal, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2006) Harihar, Abhishek; Pandav, Bivash; Goyal, S.P.The Rajaji National Park along with the adjoining Corbett Tiger Reserve forms the north-western limit for the distribution of the Tiger and Elephant in the Indian Subcontinent. Most parts of this landscape are under anthropogenic influence. Following the notification of the earlier sanctuaries (Rajaji, Motichur & Chilla) to a National Park (Rajaji National Park) in 1983, voluntary relocation of human (Gujjar community) settlements is underway (since 2002). The Chilla Range of Rajaji National Park is presently void of human settlements (Gujjars) and is showing very healthy resurgence of vegetation indicating promising signs of recovery with respect to utilization of the area by wildlife. This study carried out across two years (2004- 2005 to 2005-2006) aimed at monitoring the tiger population within Chilla range following a human resettlement program. Photographic capture-recapture analysis (450 trap nights each year) was used to estimate the density of tigers. Ecological density of wild ungulate prey species was estimated using line transects in conjunction with distance sampling. A total of nine permanent transects were laid and sampled eight times each, every year (102.8 km of walk each year). Food habits of tiger were determined by analysing field collected scats. Our results indicated that Chilla range supports a high ungulate prey density (76.5 individuals km-2 in 2005; 70.98 individuals km-2 in 2006) and has the highest reported sambar density (25.67 individuals km-2 in 2005; 24.69 individuals km-2 in 2006). Though we photographed 12 different individuals during our study (2004-06), the tiger density was found to be low (3.01 tigers 100km-2 in 2005; 2.54 tigers 100km-2 in 2006). The current wild prey biomass off take by tigers was estimated to be 2.78%. However, a predicted ~14 tigers 100km-2 can be supported within Chilla range given a 10% biomass off take (following the model developed by Karanth et al., 2004b). Past anthropogenic pressures have probably caused a downward trend in the tiger densities. From the photographs obtained during this study, it is clear that tigers are breeding in Chilla range. Given adequate protection Chilla can serve as a major source population from where tigers will breed and disperse into neighbouring forests within the Shivalik landscape. A continuous monitoring program is envisaged to document this recovery of predators, prey and their habitatItem Impacts of Management Practices on Lion and Ungulate Habitats in Gir Protected Area(Wildlife Institute of India,Dehradun., 1990) Sharma, Diwakar; Johnsingh, A.J.T.study on the impacts of management practices on lion and ungulate habitat was conducted in Gir Protected Area (PA) from June 1991 to July 1994. The Gir PA includes Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. It is situated between 20° 55' to 21° 20N and 70° *25 to 71° 15' E in the Southern part of Kathiawar peninsula in western Giijarat. Gir PA (hereafter Gir) is located about 60km South of Junagadh. The area which was 3,107 sq km in 1877 (Joshi 1976) has been presently reduced to 1,412 sq km, of which about 259 sq km is national nark. The terrain is hilly, altitude ranging from about 100m above mean sea level to 528m above mean sea level. The hills run in all directions, have moderate slopes, and constitute an important catchment for Kathiawar peninsula. The rocks are volcanic in origin, consisting of Deccan traps and are the oldest exposed rocks in Gir (Patel 1992). As many as seven types of soils have been categorized based on their colours (Munsell colour chart) ranging from dark yellowish brown to very dark greyish Brown (Pandit et al. 1992). The climate is semi-arid with three distinct seasons; summer (March-mid June), monsoon (mid June - mid October) and winter (late October to February). Gir has dry deciduous forest - 5A/Clb (Champion & Seth 1968). West Gir has Tectona grandis dominated vegetation. In eastern Gir Anogeissus pendula replaces Tectona grandis but the vegetation is dominated by thorny species such as Acacia and Zizyphus. Gir is the last refuge of the wild Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) and long term conservation of the Asiatic lion is an overriding management objective of Gir. In order to improve habitat conditions in Gir, the park authorities, over the last 20-25 years have made some management interventions such as relocation of some maldharis (local graziers), reduction in livestock grazing (especially migrant livestock during the rainy season) and fire control. These measures have led to vegetational improvement and increase in wild ungulate and lion populations. Understanding this vegetational improvement was thought to be crucial to determine the extent of management intervention required. The objectives of this study were: 1. to investigate the impact of maldharis on vegetation; 2. to investigate the habitat utilization by wild ungulates; and 3. to find out the impact of management practices (such as use of fire, creation of water holes, grass harvesting, maldhari relocation and creating of national park). iii The vegetation study was conducted in 211 plots of 20m X 20m each. Vegetation data included counts and measurement of trees, seedling, and shrubs. Status of trees and seedlings in terms of lopped, cut, dead or intact was recorded to study the effect of anthropogenic factors. Data on environmental variables i.e. slope and soil parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, potash, phosphorus, organic carbon, texture, moisture and water retaining capacity and colour) was collected to study their impact on the vegetation. Habitat utilization by ungulates was investigated through direct and indirect evidence. Indirect evidence included pellet group count and browse consumption. Pellets groups of chital (Cervus axis), sambar (Cervus unicolor), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), chinkara (Gazella gazelld), chowsingha (Tetracerus quadricomis) and wild pig (sus scrqfa) were counted from ten 10m X 2m belt transects in and around 100 vegetation plots. Direct count of ungulates was carried out using vehicle transects at twelve routes all over Gir in the summers of 1992, 1993 and 1994. Data on cover and animal evidence was collected in summer (April-May) and winter (December- January) of 1991,1992, and 1993. Browse consumption by ungulates was estimated on trial for few major browse species. The browse production and consumption was estimated through diameter weight relationship of twings based on linear regression. Habitat factors included were cover at 0.5m, 1.0m and 1.75m height, canopy, tree species diversity, browse availability, grass cover, leaf litter, distance from nes (hamlet), distance from water, slope and grazing by livestock. Cover was measured from five, fixed Im X lm quadrats in the 100 vegetation plots. Relationship of vegetation associations with environmental factors and ungulate abundance with habitat factors were investigated using multivariate analysis. Fifteen vegetation associations were categorized based on two way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) computer programme. These were: 1. Acacia catechu - Zizyphus nummularia - Aristida adscensionis 2. Apluda mutica - Themeda quadrivalvis - Sehima nervosum 3. Anogeissus latifblia-Acaciacatechu- erminaliacrenulata 4. Anogeissus latifblia - Acacia catechu 5. Acacia spp. - Zizyphus mauritiana 6. Zizyphus mauritiana 7. Acacia nilotica - Zizyphus mauritiana 8. Tectona grandis - Acacia catechu - Zizyphus mauritiana 9. Tectona grandis - Acacia catechu - Terminalia crenulata 10. Tectona grandis 11. Acacia catechu - Lannea coromandelica - Boswellia serrata 12. Tectona grandis - Acacia spp. - Wrightia tinctoria 13. Tectona grandis mixed 14. Mixed and 15. Syzygium ubicundum - Pongamiapinnata associations. iv Tree density and diversity were all maximum in Mixed association while seedling density and shrub volume were maximum in Syzygium rubicundum - Pongamia pinnata association. Soil pH, moisture and potash were important environmental factors which determined the vegetation distribution (Canonical correspondence analysis-CANOCO; P=.O5). However, different vegetation associations were governed by various environmental variables separately and just one or a combination of some variables could not explain the distribution of vegetation associations. Twelve habitat types were classified based on similarity in the vegetation associations and TWINSPAN analysis. These habitats were given a simple name and a name that represented the habitats. The following twelve habitats were categorized: 1. Scrubland 2. Savanna 3. Anogeissus - Acacia - Terminalia 4. Anogeissus - Acacia 5. Thom forest 6. Teak - Acacia - Zizyphus 7. Teak forest 8. Teak - Acacia - Boswellia 9. Teak - Acacia - Wrightia 10. Teak mixed 11. Mixed forest 12. Riverine Mixed habitat was more diverse while riverine was most dense in terms of cover. Thom forest provided maximum browse to the ungulates. Chital (Cervus axis) showed high use of Thom forest habitat while sambar (Cervus unicolor) used more Mixed, Riverine and Teak - Acacia - Zizyphus habitat. Data on other ungulates was not sufficient for statistical analysis. CANOCO showed that human disturbance governed the wild ungulate abundance in summer while ground cover and human disturbance were decisive factors in winter. Sambar and nilgai were away from disturbance while chital were relatively unaffected by disturbance, in both summer and winter. Chinkara was observed mostly in the east Gir, a place with conditions like savanna and with more human disturbance. Impacts of management practices was investigated in vegetation plots and pellet transects, and by comparing them at varying distances from nes and water points, between national paric and wildlife sanctuary, burnt and unbumt areas and between harvested and unharvested localities. Late serai stages of vegetation succession (Thomy - with Acacia and Zizyphus) were reached after 10 yrs of nes relocation and such stages were utilized more by ungulates. Impact of current neses on vegetation was severe only up to 500 m. Chital evidence were maximum, whereas sambar least, nearest a nes. The overall variation was significant only for chital both in summer and winter. There was significant variation in both summer and winter in chital evidence, not sambar, found at various distances from water holes. Maximum chital evidence were nearest the water holes whereas sambar were 1-2 km away from water. Controlled and cool fires did not change the vegetation composition and tree density significantly. Grass harvested areas produced more grass (1701±179 kg/ha) than unharvested ones (377±249 kg/ha). National park had significantly more tree density (500/ha), and less chital evidence (80 pellet groups/ha) than in wildlife sanctuary (480/ha, and 140/ha respectively). Teak thinning on an experimental basis is recommended to promote chital abundance. Water management by reviving disused wells in riverine tract, removal of at least 30 neses in a phased manner is suggested. Grass harvesting for local people and cool season rotational burning in unharvested areas are recommended.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 corridorsItem Field guide: Monitoring tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitats(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Qamar; Gopal, Rajesh; Amin, R.Item The status of tigers, copredators and prey in India 2014(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and National Tiger Conservation Authority, 2014) Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Qamar; Gopal, R.The tiger is an icon for conservation across forested systems of Asia. The Government of India has used the charismatic nature of the tiger to promote on conservation of biodiversity, ecosystem functions, goods and services by launching Project Tiger in 1972 and subsequently using legislation to gazette tiger reserves and by allocating appropriate resources for their conservation. Since 2006 the status of tigers in India is being assessed every four years across all potential habitats in 18 Indian states within the distribution range of the tiger. This document reports the results of the third country wide assessment conducted in 2013-14. undisturbed forests with good prey populations. Tiger population (excluding < 1 year cubs) was estimated to be 2226 (SE range 1945 to 2491) in India (Table 2.1). Amongst tiger reserves Corbett had the largest tiger population estimated at 215 (range 169-261) tigers, four tiger reserves (including Bandipur, Nagarhole and Kaziranga) had over 100 tigers. Tiger Reserves accounted for over 70% of all the tigers in India (Table 2.2). Leopard population in India was estimated to be 7910 (SE range 6566 to 9181) (Table 2.3). The state of Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of leopards at 1817 followed by Karnataka at 1129 leopards. The leopard population was estimated only within forested habitats in tiger occupied states, therefore, it should be considered as a minimum number since leopards, unlike tigers, are also found outside forests. This is the first attempt to estimate leopard abundance at landscape scales. Distribution range and spatial extent of all major mammalian species are provided in the report. Tiger occupancy and abundance has substantially increased in the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains landscape, primarily due to improved status of tigers in the state of Uttrakhand. Rajaji-Corbett tiger population is now contiguous with Dudhwa-Pilibhit population since the intervening forests of Haldwani and Terai Divisions along with new protected areas like Nandhor Wildlife Sanctuary have tiger occupancy and reasonable tiger density. The landscape would benefit from supplementation of tigers in Western Rajaji that will assist in the occupancy of Shivalik forests in Uttar Pradesh and Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana. Maintaining and enhancing trans-boundary corridor connectivity between India and Nepal is an essential element of tiger, elephant and rhino conservation in this landscape. This connectivity is threatened by the new India-Nepal border road and special care is needed to ensure that proper mitigation measures are in place. Tiger status has improved within the Central Indian landscape with an increase in tiger occupancy and numbers. This increase is contributed primarily by the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh was assessed for the first time. Sampling was limited to accessible areas of Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand. Conservation efforts need to focus on tiger populations in Orissa (Simlipal-Satkosia tiger reserves), Palamau landscape and in Northern Andhra Pradesh (Kawal Tiger Reserve). Sanjay-Guru Gasidas-Palamau landscape holds promise for future expansion of tiger population provided planned conservation investment continues. Tiger populations in Central Indian landscape are highly fragmented and some are quite small in numbers, therefore, their survival is dependent on corridor connectivity. Corridors in this landscape are threatened by developmental activities like mining and infrastructure. Appropriate safeguards and mitigation measures need to be implemented for development projects in this region so as to ensure that corridor connectivity between tiger populations is not compromised. Madhya Pradesh has also taken initiative to provide resources for corridor restoration by implementing corridor specific management plans. Western Ghat Landscape has maintained its tiger status across all the three states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The world's largest tiger population (Nagarhole-Bandipur-Mudumalai-Wayanad- 2 Satyamangalam-BRT) has further increased to about 585 tigers covering 10,925 km . New Protected Areas declared by Karnataka on the boarder of Goa has assisted in tiger dispersal into Goa and their movement further north into Radhanagri and Sahayadri Tiger Reserve. This region needs more conservation focus as it viii STATUS OF TIGERS IN INDIA, 2014 holds great potential for tiger and biodiversity conservation. It would be timely to consider declaring inter-state tiger reserve between Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. There is loss in tiger occupancy in the intervening habitat between Kudremukh-Bhadra and Anshi-Dandeli, threatening to disrupt connectivity between these tiger populations. Populations south of the Palghat gap (Parambikulum-Anamalai, Periyar, and Kalakad Munduntherai) have improved; attention is needed to conserve forest connectivity between these three major populations.Only select areas were sampled in the North Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra Flood Plains landscape, therefore, tiger occupancy and numbers from this region are minimal estimates. The tiger population in Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-Paake-Nameri-Orang is the largest source in this landscape (about 163 tigers) and should be managed as a single metapopulation with strategies to address movement corridors between these populations. Dibang and Namdapha were assessed through Scat DNA and opportunistic camera traps and show good promise for tiger and biodiversity conservation but need more conservation investment. Manas-Buxa along with areas of Bhutan landscape have potential for sustaining higher number of tigers and are currently below their carrying capacity. Enhanced protection in this region will help build prey and subsequently tiger population in the long-term. However, the management focus for these Protected Areas should be for forest biodiversity and not become tiger centric, since tiger density in many of these close canopy forests would be inherently low. The entire Sundarban tiger reserve and parts of the Twenty Four Parganas were camera trapped in 2013-14. Tiger population of about 76 (62 to 92 tigers) has remained stable since 2010 and is likely to be near its carrying capacity. Sundarban tiger population is contiguous with that of Bangladesh and transboundary management including anti-poaching strategy and management of ship traffic in specific water channels needs to be implemented for long-term conservation of this unique tiger. Genetic analysis based on a panel of 11 micro-satellites of 158 tiger individuals from across India has shown that at the country scale the tiger population of the North-East is genetically different. The most unique genetic unit of tigers are from Odisha and these need high conservation priority as their population is on a declining trend. The western-arid zone tigers of Ranthambore-Sariska showed a different genetic composition from those of terai and central Indian tigers with some genetic contribution from both these regions. At the local scale the tiger populations south of the Palghat gap differed from the Northern Western Ghat population. The tigers from Sahyadri (northern Western Ghats) shared their genetic makeup with tigers from central India. This preliminary country scale genetic analysis shall assist in planning reintroduction and supplementation strategies for tigers in the future and to prioritize conservation investments to target unique gene pools. Reduction in tiger and prey poaching and in centivised-voluntary relocation of human settlements from core areas of tiger reserves have been the primary drivers for the improved tiger status in India. These schemes and activities need continuous resource allocation for ecosystem maintenance and restoration. The implementation of MSTrIPES, landscape scale tiger management plans inclusive of buffer and corridors, and use of green infrastructure for mitigating impacts of development especially on corridors, need to become the norm across India. Tigers are conservation dependent species, political will driven by public opinion to ensure proper resource allocation is essential for their continued survival.Item Status of tigers, copredator and prey in Bor Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India 2021(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Habib, Bilal ; Nigam, P.; Govekar, R.; Ramanujam, M.; Gawai, R.; Dabholkar, Y.; Bhowmick, I.SummaryThe Phase IV monitoring exercise as a part of the project “Long Term Monitoring of Tigers-predators and prey in tiger reserves and other bearing areas of Vidarbha, Maharashtra, for Bor Tiger Reserve was conducted from December 2020-May 2021. This exercise, having three main objectives, the status of prey, estimation of minimum tiger and leopard numbers, and capacity building among staff flagged off with a capacity-building workshop in December 2020. Line transects surveys aimed to estimate the density of prey species were carried out in two blocks with an effort of 7 days for each transect line. In the core area among all the prey species, the highest density was recorded for Chitals 7.14 (±4.44)/km2 followed by Sambar 6.45 (±2.26)/km. sq. and Nilgai 2.53(±0.67)/km2.In the buffer area, the highest density was recorded for wild pigs 5.75 (±1.26)/km2 among all the ungulate species. The density of other species includes Chital 0.81 (±0.22), Sambar 0.40 (±0.15), Nilgai 4.72 (±0.58), Peafowl 2.56 (±0.54), Langur 19.09 (±2.49).Camera trapping based on the spatial capture-recapture framework was conducted on the same locations of the same grids (2 km2) similar to the previous cycle (2020) which were selected based on a rigorous sign survey that provided sign encounters of tiger, leopard, and other co-predators. This year both core and buffer areas were covered in two blocks with 211 active camera trap stations during February 2021-May 2021. The effort resulted in 7572 trap nights. The number of individual tigers captured was 9 along with 46 leopards. Tiger density based on the Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture framework was 1.10(±0.37)/100km2 and the density of leopard was 6.68 (±0.80)/100km2. To study space use and activity patterns we have used camera-trapping data from both core and buffer areas of Pench Tiger Reserve. Higher activity overlap was recorded between tigers and leopards (Dhat1=0.88) among predators. Camera trap locations with the number of captures of each species were modeled in a GIS domain using IDW (Inverse distance weighted) interpolation technique to generate spatially explicit capture surfaces. The times recorded on camera trap photos provide information on the period during the day that a species is most active. Species active at the same periods may interact as predator and prey, or as competitors. Sensors that record active animals (e.g. camera traps) build up a record of the distribution of activity over the day. Records are more frequent when animals are more active and less frequent or absent when animals are inactive. The area under the distribution of records thus contains information on the overall level of activity in a sampled populationItem Status of tigers, co-predator and prey in Akola Wildlife Division, Maharasthra, India 2021(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Habib, Bilal ; Nigam, P.; Banerjee, J.; Reddy, M.S.; Nimje, A.; Khairnar, M.N.; Patil, J.; Ray, S.Phase IV monitoring for Akola Wildlife Division was conducted from February – May 2021 covering an area of 300 sq. km. as a part of the project “Long-term Monitoring of Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey in Tiger Reserves and other Tiger bearing areas of Vidarbha, Maharashtra”. The objective of the Phase IV Monitoring is to estimate the minimum number of tigers in the reserve using Capture-Recapture Sampling and density estimation of prey base using Distance Sampling. A total of 103 camera traps (pairs) were placed in the 4 wildlife sanctuaries (viz. Dnyanganga WLS, Katepurna WLS, Karanja-Sohol WLS and Lonar WLS) of Akola Wildlife Division following a sampling grid of 2 sq. km. In each wildlife sanctuary, camera traps were active for 25-30 days. During 90 days of camera trapping survey with a sampling effort of 3,090 trap nights, 42 adult individual leopards were photographed in Akola Wildlife Division. 28 adult individual leopards were photographed in Dnyanganga WLS and population size (N) based on the best fit (SECR Heterogeneity) model was 28 (SE ± 1.0). 9 adult individual leopards were photographed in Katepurna WLS and population size (N) based on the best fit (SECR Null) model was 10 (SE ± 1.27). 3 and 2 adult individual leopards were photographed in Karanja-Sohol WLS and Lonar WLS respectively. Leopard density per 100 sq. km. based on the Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture (SECR) model was 13.42 (SE ± 2.56) and 25.61 (SE ± 8.85) for Dnyanganga WLS and Katepurna WLS respectively. To estimate prey density in Dnyanganga WLS, 42 line transects were sampled times 6-7 during the sampling period, with a total walking effort of 513 km. Overall during the sampling, 336 animal/bird observations were made. The overall density of major prey species (Wild Boar 14.90/sq. km., Nilgai 12.51/sq. km., Peafowl 2.79/sq. km., Chinkara 1.40/sq. km. and Four Horned Antelope 1.33/sq. km.) as estimated using distance sampling was 24.19 /sq. km. A basic understanding of sympatric carnivore ecology with asymmetric competition enables us to hypothesize that to coexist and not just co-occur there must be niche segregation on at least one of the three axes: space, time, and/or diet. To understand how large sympatric predators co-occur in space and in time, camera trapping was carried out. Temporal activity overlaps were derived by using kernel density. Leopards were found in all 4 wildlife sanctuaries. There was a distinct difference in the space-use pattern observed for all three carnivores and a strong spatial segregation pattern found between Leopards, Hyenas and Dholes. It showed significant segregation and avoidance of each other’s space. While leopards show a strong, bimodal, nocturnal activity pattern, Hyenas have a strong, unimodal activity pattern in Dnyanganga WLS. In Katepurna WLS, leopards show a strong unimodal, nocturnal activity pattern and dholes show a bimodal, crepuscular activity pattern.Item Status of Tigers, Co-Predator and Prey in Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) 2021(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Maharashtra Forest Department, 2022) Habib, Bilal; Nigam, P.; Ramanujam, M.; Pathak, A.; Shukla, P.; Dabholkar, Y.; Bhowmick, I.The Phase IV monitoring exercise as a part of the project “Long Term Monitoring of Tigers-predators and prey in tiger reserves and other bearing areas of Vidarbha, Maharashtra, for Pench Tiger Reserve was conducted from January 2021-July 2021. This exercise, having three main objectives, the status of prey, estimation of minimum tiger and leopard numbers, and capacity building among staff flagged off with a capacity-building workshop in January 2021. Line transects surveys aimed to estimate the density of prey species were carried out in two blocks with an effort of 7 days for each transect line. Among all the prey species highest density was recorded for Chitals 24.28 (±4.83)/km2 in the core. The density of other species are as follows Sambar 6.08 (±0.98), and Gaur 1.56 (±0.39)/km2, Wild pig 4.31 (±0.90), Langur 17.02 (±3.56), Nilgai 1.91 (±0.41), Barking Deer 0.59 (±0.15), Hare 0.81 (±1.12), Peafowl 2.49 (±0.60). In the buffer area, the density of Chital was 8.63 (±4.15) and of Sambar was 1.36 (±0.40). Camera trapping based on the spatial capture-recapture framework was conducted on the same locations of the same grids (2 km2) similar to the previous cycle (2020) which were selected based on a rigorous sign survey that provided sign encounters of tiger, leopard, and other co-predators. This year the trapping was completed in a single block with 311 camera stations resulted in 8415 trap nights during May 2021-June 2021. The minimum number of individual tigers captured was 44 along with 60 leopards. Tiger density based on the Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture framework was 4.78(±0.7)/100km2 and the density of leopard was 7.55 (±1.02)/100km2. To study space use and activity patterns we have used camera-trapping data from both core and buffer areas of Pench Tiger Reserve. Higher activity overlap was recorded between tigers and leopards (Dhat1=0.88) among predators. Camera trap locations with the number of captures of each species were modeled in a GIS domain using IDW (Inverse distance weighted) interpolation technique to generate spatially explicit capture surfaces. The times recorded on camera trap photos provide information on the period during the day that a species is most active. Species active at the same periods may interact as predator and prey, or as competitors. Sensors that record active animals (e.g. camera traps) build up a record of the distribution of activity over the day. Records are more frequent when animals are more active and less frequent or absent when animals are inactive. The area under the distribution of records thus contains information on the overall level of activity in a sampled population.Item Status of Tigers, Co-Predator and Prey in Pandharkawada Forest Division (Territorial) 2021(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Maharashtra Forest Department, 2022) Habib, Bilal ; Ramarao, S.V.; Jagtap, K.P.; Nigam, P.; Koley, S.The Phase IV monitoring for the Pandharkawada Forest Division (Territorial) was conducted from March –April (2021) as part of the project “Long Term Monitoring of Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey species in Vidarbha Landscape, Maharashtra, India”. The exercise aimed to cover an area of 655.336 km2 of the forested area of the entire division. The objective of the Phase IV Monitoring is to estimate the minimum number of tigers in the Pandharkawada Forest Division using Spatially-Explicit-Capture-Recapture Sampling and density estimation of prey species using Line transect based Distance Sampling. 110 pairs of camera traps were placed in the forested area of Pandharkawada Forest Division following a sampling grid of 2 km2 in all four blocks. The camera traps were active for average 30 days in each block yielding a sampling effort 3508 of trap nights of data which is used for further analysis. From the camera trap photographs 11 tigers (unique to Pandharkawada Forest Division) and 10 leopards have been identified. Tiger density per 100 km2 based on the Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture (SECR) model was 2.356 (SE ± 0.727) in the forest division while that of leopards based on the same method was 2.99 (SE ±1.03). To estimate prey density, 84 line-transects were laid randomly all over the division and were sampled 7 times during the sampling period, with a total walking effort of 1176 km was invested. The observations include chital (Axis axis), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), chousingha (Tetracerus quadricornis), langur (Semnopithecus sp), wild boar (Sus scrofa), chinkara (Gazella bennetii), Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis) and peafowl (Pavo cristatus). As per the observations, Nilgai (n=278) is the most observed species followed by Wild boar (n=77), Peafowl (n= 54), Indian hare (n=45) and Chital (n=44). The overall prey density of Pandharkawada Forest Division is 10.977 (SE± 1.19). Due to very low observations (n<20) densities of chousingha and chinkara could not be estimated. To study the activity, we used the camera trap images. The times recorded on camera trap photos provide information on the period during the day that a species is most active. Species active at the same periods may interact as predator and prey, or as competitors. Sensors that record active animals (e.g. camera traps) build up a record of the distribution of activity over the day. Records are more frequent when animals are more active and less frequent or absent when animals are inactive. The area under the distribution of records thus contains information on the overall level of activity in a sampled population. We used IDW (Inverted distance weighted) to map the intensive area used by different animal species.