M Sc Dissertation(WII)

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Comparison of small carnivores detection rates between two different leopard density regimes in Kuno National Park
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2026) Namdev, Srajal; Kawlni, Lallianpuii; Kolipakam, Vishnupriya; Bipin, C.M.
The study assessed the detection patterns of small carnivores in Kuno National Park using a camera-trap survey conducted across two sampling areas, blocks representing contrasting leopard density regimes. Camera traps were deployed using a systematic 0.5 km² grid design with approximately 700 m spacing between stations to maximize detections of small carnivores while maintaining standardised sampling. A total of ten small carnivore species were targeted, and Relative Abundance Indices (RAI) were calculated to compare detection rates among species and sampling blocks. Another study design with trail cameras on the same blocks was used to investigate the small carnivore community in two blocks representing high and medium density areas to understand community composition between the two study areas, although some species differed in their relative abundance. Small Indian civet, leopard, and golden jackal were detected more frequently in the high-density block, while jungle cat was relatively more common in the medium-density block. Spatial and temporal analyses indicated that most small carnivore species shared the same habits and were active during similar periods of the day. However, some species delayed their visits after another carnivore had recently used the same location, suggesting that coexistence is maintained mainly through short-term temporal avoidance rather than by occupying different habitats. This study also evaluated the effect of camera-trap sampling scale (grid size) on Relative abundance Index (RAI) showed that common species which were detected consistently through out the camera trap with adequate sample size produced estimates with lower coefficient of variation comparative to rarely detected species which became increasingly variable as sampling scale increased. These findings highlight the importance of using finer camera-trap grids when monitoring smaller species with less movement or home ranges.
Assessing Habitat Use and Activity Pattern of Hoolock Gibbons (Hoolock hoolock) in the Mosaic Landscape of Garo Hills
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Passah, Betwonsaoo; Lyngdoh, Salvador; Kumara, H.N.
Primates react to environmental disruption in a variety of ways. Their home range and activity pattern are often linked with anthropogenic disturbance of the landscape. This study focuses on Hoolock Gibbons (Hoolock hoolock) in Garo Hills, Meghalaya, which is a highly arboreal primate and the only ape in India. Hoolock gibbon’s habitat in the Garo hills is being degraded due to the increase in the conversion of forest land into plantations. As most of these forests where the gibbons are located are managed by the community, these forests face overexploitation, which threatens the endangered Hoolock Gibbons habitat. This study aims to establish a baseline Hoolock Gibbon Ecology in the community-managed forest and protected area in the mosaic landscape of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, by examining their habitat use and activity pattern. The main objective is to determine the Gibbon's habitat use within its home range and examine their activity patterns in different forest types. The study is conducted in Daribokgre CR (a continuous forest patch adjoining Nokrek National Park), Dura Kalakgre CR (a small strip of CR which is surrounded by abandoned jhum and active jhum), and an Areca nut plantation which is located in Rensengre close to Selbalgre CR. In each area, one group is chosen and tracked for 20 days. Geo-coordinates and behavioural data were collected, with vegetation sampling and disturbances within a 1 ha cell size grid, which was overlaid on the location points. QGIS was used to map habitat use based on the geospatial data, and the Generalised Linear Model (GLM) was used to check the influencing factors. The activity budget was calculated to understand the behaviour patterns. Across the three studied groups, the habitat types were different group in Daribokgre (Forest group) is dominated by forest patches, the group in Dura Kalkgre (Jhum group) was dominated by abandoned jhum, and the group in Rensengre (Plantation group) was dominated by plantation, and their home range size were 24 hectares, 30 hectares, and 23 hectares, respectively. GLM reveals a significant effect only for the group in the disturbed habitat on the intensity of use. Overall, habitat use patterns and activity patterns varied across the groups, reflecting in behavioural and habitat preference.
Habitat Utilisation of Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) in and Around Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Rayen, W. Michael Isaac V.; Pandav, Bivash; Das, Abhijit
The water monitor lizard Varanus salvator is the largest of all lizards in India, and its distribution is restricted to certain pockets of the northeast, eastern coast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Despite being the largest lizard, only limited studies have been done on this species, especially on the movement pattern and home range. This study focuses on the space use pattern of Varanus salvator in the mangrove habitats of Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha. In total, five individuals were radio-tagged with VHF transmitters in the form of a backpack. All the tagged individuals were located twice in a day, and the location(coordinates), activity and other habitat variables were recorded. The data collected were analysed for their movement pattern, activity range and overlap between individuals and the human-dominated landscape was estimated using KDE. Along with the space use environmental variables (Ambient temperature, Relative humidity, vegetation species, canopy openness, etc) were analysed individually with behaviour to the relation between them using Fisher’s test. The results from this study add more information about its activity range, movement pattern and behavioural aspects in the mangrove landscape of India, which can be useful in the rescue, rehabilitation and management of the species.

M Sc Dissertation(WII)

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