Theses and Dissertations

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Ecology of Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) in the Trans-Himalayan region, Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Khan, Niazul Hassan; Pandav, Bivash
The Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) is among the rarest and most threatened large carnivores in South Asia, restricted to some of the most remote, rugged, and environmentally extreme high-altitude landscapes of the Indian Himalaya. Despite its status as a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and its ecological significance as a flagship carnivore, it remains one of the least studied mammals in India, owing to exceptionally low population densities, secretive behaviour, harsh climatic conditions, and the logistical challenges inherent to research in remote alpine and trans-Himalayan zones. Against this backdrop, the present thesis provides the first integrated, landscape-level scientific assessment of the species’ habitat ecology, dietary patterns, human-bear conflict dynamics, and management requirements across the Union Territory of Ladakh, with an intensive focus on the Kargil District. Synthesising extensive multi-year fieldwork, including more than 30,000 man-days of data collection, systematic occupancy surveys, remote sensing and species distribution modelling, molecular scat analysis, socioeconomic surveys, and spatial conflict mapping, this work fills critical knowledge gaps and establishes a comprehensive baseline essential for long-term conservation planning for the Himalayan brown bear in India. Ladakh, which constitutes the westernmost extension of the Tibetan Plateau, is characterised by cold-arid, high-elevation ecosystems where environmental conditions are severe and biological productivity is naturally low. The region exhibits dramatic elevational gradients, with valley floors starting around 2,500 m and peaks exceeding 7,700 m, generating a mosaic of ecological zones ranging from desert scrublands to alpine pastures. Human settlements are sparse but highly concentrated in narrow, fertile valleys sustained by glacial meltwater. Traditional agro-pastoralism is the dominant livelihood system, and extensive seasonal grazing across alpine rangelands creates strong spatial overlap between livestock, wild herbivores, and carnivores. In this socio-ecological setting, the Himalayan brown bear occupies some of the most productive pockets of western Ladakh, particularly in Kargil’s Suru, Drass, Shargole, and Zanskar valleys. These landscapes, however, are undergoing rapid change due to expanding road networks, military infrastructure, tourism growth, and energy installations, which are reshaping ecological processes and wildlife movement patterns. Within this complex backdrop, the thesis first examines, on an unprecedented landscape scale, the habitat ecology and spatial distribution of the Himalayan brown bear. Using MSTrIPES xvi digital data collection tools, the study systematically surveyed 10 × 10 km grid cells, which were further subdivided into 5 × 5 km sub-grid units, over a large geographic area and amassed 2,530 confirmed bear signs. Occupancy modelling pointed out that elevation, terrain ruggedness, distance to water, and the extent of alpine ranges are strong determinants of bear presence. Bears preferred rugged and moderately sloped areas between 3,300 m and 5,000 m, which also provided quick access to high-quality foraging grounds while also offering denning security. These findings are indicative of the habitat dependence of this species on very niche ecological conditions within an otherwise hostile landscape. Parallel habitat suitability modelling undertaken using MaxEnt showed that the core habitats of Himalayan brown bears in Ladakh are restricted to western districts and, more particularly, to the Suru-Drass-Zanskar belt. The highest suitability zones correspond to areas with productive alpine meadows, perennial water availability, and moderate temperatures, while marginal suitability is observed in the harsher eastern parts of Ladakh. Importantly, the modelling revealed that many such core habitats fall outside formal protected areas; hence, there is a need for community-based and landscape-level conservation measures. This thesis component was published in Scientific Reports (2025) with first detailed study on the habitat ecology of the Himalayan brown bear in the high-altitude region providing necessary information for future management and policy decisions. A second major component of the thesis relates to the dietary ecology of the species. Given the paucity of ecological studies in the Trans-Himalaya and the challenge of distinguishing carnivore scats in multi-carnivore landscapes, the study used non-invasive molecular techniques to confirm species identity prior to micro-histological diet analysis. Of 1,380 carnivore scats collected, 408 were identified as putative brown bear scats in the field, which was confirmed by DNA sequencing. This approach greatly enhances accuracy and secures the first molecularly verified dietary profile for the species in India. Results showed that, in the summer, Himalayan brown bears in Ladakh are predominantly herbivorous, with significant consumption of graminoids, forbs, roots, and a variety of alpine herbs, a feature of the short window of plant productivity during the brief growing season. With the approach of autumn and the senescence of natural vegetation, the proportion of animal matter increases in the diet, including marmots, small mammals, and carrion. Significantly, scats in areas with close proximity to settlements, army establishments, and tourist sites contained remains of livestock and anthropogenic garbage, notably plastic. Such dependence on human-derived food sources is a cause for concern, as this may lead to altered behaviour and increasingly conflictive situations. There was spatial variation in diets, where bears inhabiting high-quality rangelands predominantly depended on natural vegetation, whereas bears inhabiting human-dominated landscapes supplemented their diet with garbage, livestock, and stored items of food. These findings not only bring out the ecological constraints for the species but also indicate the importance of proper waste disposal and livestock management in mitigation of negative human-brown bear interactions.The third important element is the dynamics and drivers of human-brown bear conflict in Ladakh, particularly in Kargil, where the species' range overlaps considerably with human-use areas. Analysis of 22 years of official conflict records, from 2001 to 2022, indicates a sharp and sustained rise in conflict incidents: only two to four incidents were reported annually during the early 2000s, suggesting negligible interactions between humans and bears. However, incidents showed a gradual rise after 2008, increasing to 11-60 cases annually between 2010 and 2014, and crossing 90 cases annually after 2015. The number of incidents reached its peak of 112 in 2021. Livestock depredation has followed an equally disturbing upward trend, with negligible losses before 2005 but rising thereafter sharply to unprecedented levels in the years 2016-2018, when annual livestock losses reached between 447 and 737 animals. Cattle were the most frequently affected livestock species, followed by horses, goats, and sheep. Overall, estimated economic losses have ranged at over INR 9.3 lakh annually, affecting vulnerable agro-pastoral households disproportionately. Spatial analysis of incidents suggested a high clustering of hotspots, especially in Drass, Suru, and parts of Zanskar, with concentrated settlements, extensive livestock grazing, waste availability, and proximity to bear habitats. Most incidents occurred in summer and autumn months, coinciding with the peak activity season of bears and reduced availability of natural forage. Household surveys across multiple valleys revealed that while fear of bears is widespread, general attitudes toward the species are positive, with a large proportion of respondents supportive of its conservation. However, rising economic losses and property damage threaten to erode tolerance, and timely and focused interventions are critical for preserving coexistence. Guided by these ecological, dietary, and social insights, this thesis proposes an integrated set of evidence-based conservation and management recommendations tailored to the unique socio-ecological context of Ladakh. The conservation of the habitat needs to prioritise the core bear habitats in Drass, Suru, Rangdum, Shargole, and Zanskar, including their designation as Community Reserves, besides implementing effective ecological impact assessments for new infrastructure projects. Degraded alpine pastures and riparian zones need restoration. Connectivity needs to be maintained through landscape-level planning. Management of food resources should include strict protocols for carcass disposal, installation of bear-proof waste bins, and improved storage facilities for crops and fodder to reduce attractants. Mitigation of conflicts needs to include predator-proof corrals, solar deterrent systems, early-warning networks, rapid response teams, and streamlined compensation schemes that incentivise preventive measures. Besides all the above, there is a very high potential for community-based ecotourism to serve as an alternative livelihood and conservation incentive based on successful models from other Himalayan regions. Ultimately, the development of collaborative governance among wildlife authorities, local communities, panchayats, pastoral groups, and tourism stakeholders must strike a balance between the demands of development and ecological sustainability. Overall, the present thesis undertakes the most comprehensive and integrated ecological assessment of the Himalayan brown bear in India and provides a science-based platform for conserving this threatened species in one of the world’s most challenging and changing high-altitude landscape.
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, Samrat
A 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.
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.
Tigers in a multi-use forest: Prey, diet and conflict
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Chauhan, Aayush; Pandav, Bivash; Habib, Bilal
This study provides a comprehensive assessment of tiger prey, dietary dynamics, and human-wildlife interactions in the Ramnagar Forest Division, a critical area outside protected areas in the Western Terai Arc. Despite a notable increase in tiger numbers—from 39 adults in 2015 to 67 in 2022—density surface modeling revealed persistently low populations of key wild prey species such as chital and sambar, primarily due to habitat degradation from historical timber-focused management. Diet analysis of genetically confirmed tiger scats demonstrated a strong reliance on large-bodied prey, with sambar and livestock comprising a significant portion of tiger biomass intake, reflecting both prey scarcity and ecological stress. The detection of plastic in both sambar and tiger digestive tracts further highlights the emerging threat of environmental pollution in multi-use forests. Human-tiger conflict remains acute, with 353 livestock depredation events and 28 attacks on people recorded over recent years, concentrated near settlements where prey and livestock overlap are highest. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated conservation strategies that prioritize habitat restoration—such as grassland recovery—community-based conflict mitigation, improved waste management, and a shift in forest policy from timber production to biodiversity and coexistence. Only through such landscape-level, participatory approaches can the long-term viability of tigers and their prey be secured in shared, human-dominated areas like Ramnagar.
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, Bivash
In 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.
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, Babu
The 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.
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.
Subsidized Mammals: Understanding the mammalian interactions with garbage sites around Western- Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Nagarale, Shashank; Habib, Bilal; Shrotriya, Shivam; Pandav, Bivash
Anthropogenic food subsidies in the form of garbage dumps are widespread across the globe. When such sites are found around protected areas/wildlife habitats, wildlife is observed to exploit these subsidies as food resources. Foraging on such human-derived foods may have a negative or positive impact on individual to community/ecosystem levels. It becomes important to know the species associated with garbage dumps when found around protected areas and understand the interactions happening at the garbage dumps. This study was conducted aiming to know the animals at risk and also increase our understanding of these novel setups. I deployed 13 IR camera traps at total 10 garbage sites resulting in a cumulative effort of 437 trap nights at the garbage site. The camera trap data was processed using Megadetector & SpSeg packages in python. This data was used to get the Relative Abundance Index with respect to 437 trap nights. Sambar (RAI= 8.35) was the species with the highest visitations at the garbage site, followed by Indian crested porcupine (RAI= 2.70) and spotted deer (RAI= 2.15). Synanthropes like rhesus macaque (RAI= 1.78 ) and wild pig (RAI= 1.67) were the most visitors following spotted deer. I hypothesised that synanthropic species will have higher visitations because of distribution outside protected areas, followed by omnivores from the forest area as compared to herbivores and carnivores from the forest areas because of their ability to exploit larger variety of food resources. The data from this study rejected this hypothesis as forest dwelling species like sambar and Indian crested porcupine visited these sites more as compared to other synanthropes. Lesser visitations by omnivores like golden jackal, small indian civet, small indian mongoose; carnivore like common leopard along with scavenger striped hyena was a result of the less percentage of poultry waste (0.33% at only one site) in the garbage sites. I collected data on variables such as distance of the garbage site from the protected area, human infrastructure and waterbody, also quantified the size of the garbage site in terms of perimeter, NDVI difference between the protected area and garbage site as a surrogate of vegetation cover, relative abundance of each species in the adjoining protected area and calculated the composite RAI values of human, dogs/cats and livestock as a disturbance measure . I quantified the garbage in broader categories using a 1 m2 quadrat which was divided into smaller sets of 25x25 cm2. A total of 39 plots were laid for all the garbage site. The categories quantified were food wrappers & food disposables, food materials, religious offerings, agriculture discards, dung plates, sanitary waste, construction waste, carcass & poultry waste, pharmaceutical waste, cloths and plastic and others. The relation between relative abundances within protected area and visitations at the garbage site was assessed using Spearman correlation test along with Wilcoxon test p-values. With the available dataset I used ANOSIM using ‘vegan’ package in R program v4.1.2 to investigate the effect by considering the dissimilarity of the communities between sites based on the RAI values of the species for each garbage site. Relative abundance from protected area was not related to visitation of the species at the garbage site. Out of the selected variables, the ANOSIM values suggested the effect of ‘distance between garbage site and protected area’ on forest species and synanthropes. The effect of the ‘size of garbage site’ on the species could not be tested as there was not much variation in the sizes of the garbage sites. Human, dogs/cats and livestock presence affected the forest species, suggesting their sensitivity towards disturbances, while synanthropes were found to have affinity with the NDVI difference between protected area and garbage sites (vegetation cover at the garbage site) and the ‘percentage of food materials available in the garbage site’. To understand the co-occurrences at the garbage site, I modified the probabilistic models for co-occurrences (Veech, 2013) to get pair-wise associations at the temporal scale of one hour. A total 13 mammals avoided co-occurring with humans (and vehicle) while nine with livestock and dogs. Co-occurrences were found to be there between sambar and Indian crested porcupine at two out of three religious sites and at a household site, suggesting high tolerance levels to each other’s presence at the garbage site to exploit the resources. One of the sites was visited by barking deer with spotted deer group/herd. This association by solitary living barking deer can be for foraging effectively by reducing vigilance efforts in a group.
Assessing the distribution and density of the Fishing Cat in Bhitarkanika mangroves of eastern India by
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Ashik, C.S.; Mukherjee, Shomita; Gopi, G.V.; Pandav, Bivash
Identifying the areas of occurrence, population, and the factors affecting the species distribution is critical in conservation and management. The Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), a smaller feline native to South and Southeast Asia, is globally vulnerable and adapted to wetland habitats, with a diet primarily consisting of fish. This makes Bhitarkanika, a mangrove ecosystem, an ideal habitat for the Fishing Cat. This study was conducted to estimate the species density, determine the factors affecting its distribution, and assess the effect of lunar illumination and tidal fluctuation on Fishing Cat activity. Despite known occurrences of Fishing Cats in this area, there has been no proper assessment of their population or other ecological studies. Camera traps were deployed in 109 grids, each covering 1km², across a total of 145 km², for 2878 trap nights. Camera trap locations are unbaited, with two cameras used to capture both flanks. Spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) was used to estimate the density, resulting in 0.6 ± 0.1 individuals per km². The abundance was also calculated, with an estimate of 99 ± 16 individuals. These density estimates from this study are close to recent high-density estimates for the species. The canopy cover, the width of the creek, canopy cover and the distance to the aquaculture farms significantly influenced the Fishing Cat habitat use, indicating the need for the conservation of natural mangrove habitats and regulation of aquafarms present near the forest. In contrast, the presence of Saltwater Crocodile showed a negative effect on the distribution of Fishing Cats. The Fishing Cats were more active during the brighter nights of the moon phase (μ= 266.783, r= 0.051, p< 0.01) due to better visual detection. The activity was influenced both by the tidal fluctuations in terms of food resources from waterbodies and it is further enhanced by the lunar illumination during the night. Pairwise non-parametric tests showed that the probability distributions of Fishing Cat activity under lunar illumination and tide fluctuation (D= 0.125, p-value = 0.9885 and D= 0.125, p-value= 0.9899) were similar, indicating minimal differences between each probability distribution. This study underscores the importance of protecting the mangrove habitat and controlling aquaculture expansion to ensure Fishing Cat survival in the Bhitarkanika National Park.
Spatial Dynamics and Drivers of Nearshore Aggregations in Olive ridley Sea Turtles along the Gahirmatha Coast by
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Sarkar, Arnab Dey; Prabakaran, Nehru; Kumar, R.S.; Pandav, Bivash
Olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) exhibit a well-documented phenomenon known as nearshore aggregation during their breeding season. These aggregations, comprising large numbers of turtles in shallow coastal waters, are a common feature observed along most of the mass nesting beaches. The ecological benefits of such aggregations are multifaceted, potentially including enhanced predator avoidance and increased opportunities for mate encounter. The importance of studying these nearshore aggregations stems from their vulnerability during this period. Olive ridley turtles within these aggregations are susceptible to various threats, including bycatch mortality from fishing gear. Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of these aggregations is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies. The Gahirmatha nesting site presents a unique case due to the influence of the Brahmani-Baitarani River system. The substantial freshwater inflow and sediment discharge from this river system have resulted in a vast area of shallow seabed compared to other nesting grounds. This distinct ecological setting necessitates a dedicated investigation into the dynamics and influencing factors of nearshore aggregations specific to Gahirmatha. The study examined the distribution and density of olive ridley sea turtles near Gahirmatha, India, a critical nesting site, with a particular focus on how environmental factors influence the location of these nearshore aggregations. Surveys were conducted throughout the breeding season, recording turtle sightings and environmental data. The findings reveal that olive ridley turtles are not distributed randomly in the nearshore waters. Instead, they form concentrated aggregations in shallow depths (less than 5 km offshore and 5-15 meters deep) before nesting. The location and density of these aggregations were not static but shifted throughout the breeding season. During the pre-nesting season, turtles were more dispersed across a wider area. As the season progressed and nesting approached, the aggregation grew denser and shifted closer to the nesting beach. The study also identified distance from the coastline and the nesting beach as the key factors influencing the distribution of these nearshore aggregations. Additionally, the unique shallow seabed near Gahirmatha, created by the discharge from the Brahmani-Baitarani River, might influence the preferred depth range of turtles compared to other nesting sites. Understanding these dynamic aggregation patterns is crucial for effective conservation efforts. Protecting these areas is essential for the well-being of this globally significant olive ridley population. However, it's important to acknowledge that the exact locations of these aggregations can vary between years. This year's lower nesting numbers suggest fewer turtles arrived in the nearshore waters, potentially impacting the size and distribution of the observed aggregations. This study emphasizes the need for long-term studies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of these variations and the factors influencing them. The study suggests a targeted approach of focusing on areas with high turtle usage. By implementing stricter patrolling measures within these zones, the forest department can significantly reduce threats like bycatch mortality from fishing activities. This targeted approach would be more effective in safeguarding the turtles compared to focusing on reducing illegal fishing in the entire sanctuary, considering the limited resources available.

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