Theses and Dissertations
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Item Resource partitioning among sympatric ungulates in Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India.(wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Awasthi, Neha; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, QamarThis study explores the potential mechanisms of how the community of sympatric ungulates in Kanha might partition resources by evaluating i) habitat-specific seasonal densities and spatial co-occurrence of ungulates; ii) demographic parameters; iii) temporal activity and food habits of ungulates and; iv) factors affecting their group size. The study area was ~ 2074 km2 Kanha Tiger Reserve comprising inviolate Kanha National park (core zone; devoid of human settlements and use) and the multiple-use area (buffer zone; consisting of forest and xviii revenue land, used by rural communities for farming and livestock rearing). The study stresses the importance of human free core areas and the need for conservation investments for achieving high ungulate densities and biomass that are essential to sustain source populations of tigers and other endangered carnivores in this landscape.Item Behavioural patterns and food habits of re-introduced gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus) in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Manjrekar, Manas P.; Sankar, K.; Qureshi, QamarThe present study was designed to study the behavioural patterns and food habits of the reintroduced gaur population in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The study was carried out from March 2012 to February 2014. For the collection of data on the behavioural patterns of gaur the scan sampling technique was used and 13 distinct activities of gaur were identified viz. feeding, moving, resting, standing, autogrooming, allogrooming, sexual behaviour, aggressive behaviour, drinking, salt licking, vocalising, defecating/urinating and alert behaviour. In the present study the social interactions among the members of a gaur herd were classified as allogrooming, dominance-subordination interactions and sexual behaviour. Four types of dominance-subordination interactions were recorded among gaur during the study period in Bandhavgarh.Item Aspects of ecology of Hangul (Cervus elephas hanglu) in Dachigam National Park, Kashmir, India.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2006) Ahmad, Khursheed; Sathyakumar, S.; Qureshi, QamarThe Hangul or Kashmir Stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu) is a highly threatened species that has a restricted distribution confined to the Kashmir region. The Hangul is a one of the four eastern most subspecies of Red Deer of Europe (Cervus elaphus) and belongs to order Artiodactyla (even-toed animals) and family Cervidae or deer family. Compared to a very wide global distribution of Red deer, the Hangul has had a limited global distribution. Hangul were once distributed widely in the mountains of Kashmir in an arc of 40 Km extending from Karen in Kishenganga catchments in Bandipora over to Dorus in Lolab valley and Erin catchments in Bandipora to Chinab valley in Kishtwar. Some population of Hangul also occurred in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. However, during the recent past Hangul appears to have drastically declined from its past distribution range, possibly due to large scale biotic pressures owing to poaching, habitat fragmentation and degradation. At present the last surviving population of Hangul occurs only in 171 Km2 Dachigam National Park, although some relic populations also occur in the adjoining areas. The population of Hangul in Kashmir in 1900 was 3,000 and in 1947, there were 2,000 Hangul still surviving. But ten years later, the population got drastically reduced to about 400 individuals, and in 1970 Hangul population estimated was 140 - 170. The recent censuses carried out by the State Wildlife Protection Department in 2004 puts the Hangul population between 209-243 individuals. The most alarming threat to Hangul in Dachigam has been reported to be the excessive over grazing in the alpine meadows of Upper Dachigam by livestock including sheep and goat of the Government Sheep Breeding Farm located in Dachigam National Park. The past studies carried out in Dachigam National Park have shown that the range of Hangul In Dachigam National Park is restricted to Lower Dachigam with eastern boundaries at Gratnar, Waskhar and west of Dagwan. Keeping in view the given background and based on my preliminary surveys in in the first year of this study, the intensive study was carried out upto the above given boundaries of Lower Dachigam. There have been very little studies on Hangul compared to extensive studies carried out on its conspecifics Red Deer and Elk, and Himalayan Ungulates. There is still a lack of baseline information on the aspects of Hangul ecology prerequisite of its effective management and conservation planning. This stl1dy was as such initiated after a wildlife research gap of about 15 years in Kashmir valley in general and Dachigam in particular. This study was aimed at enhancing our scientific knowledge on the aspects of Hangul ecology such as population, habitat use and feeding ecology which are prerequisite of its effective long term management and conservation planning. During the study period (February 2001 to December 2004) a total of 693 surveys were carried out in these transects and survey blocks putting a total of 5668 km and 1839 hours effort, and a total of 326 Hangul sightings were recorded. All these Hangul sightings were recorded in lower Dachigam in an area of 41.20 km2 out of the total area of 171 Km2 of Dachigam National Park.Item Comparative Analysis of Abundance Estimation Methods for Ungulates Along with their Spatio-Temporal Interaction and Habitat use in Pakke Tiger Reserve, Anunachal Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Singh, Tarun; Kolipakam, Vishnupriya; Qureshi, Qamar; Sathyakumar, S.Abundance estimation and habitat utilization of species are critical for the conservation of any species. The forests of North-Eastern India are challenging due to the low abundance of ungulates, dense undergrowth, and logistic feasibility. In this study, we attempt to use camera trap-based methods (distance sampling and random encounter model) to estimate the abundance and habitat use of five ungulate species in the Pakke Tiger Reserve of western Arunachal Pradesh. This study was conducted from February 2021 to May 2021.This study provides crucial information on abundances and habitat use, which can be used for focussed conservation efforts for ungulates occurring in low densities.Item Interaction of Kiang (Equus kiang) with Livestok in Hanley Valley of Chanthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2009) Hussain, Asif; Qureshi, Qamar; Rawat, G.S.Hanley Valley «320 41' 27" N 790 04' 3.5") in Eastern Ladakh forms the western most extension of Tibetan plateau and has been recognized as an important biogeographic province in India (Indian Trans-Himalaya). This region harbors a rich array of wild and domestic ungulates. The area is also home to nomadic Changpa and Tibetan refugee herders. The political, social and ecological transformations have altered previous, well-established links between the pastoral population and their rangeland environment. Over the years, with growing integration of the local economy of Ladakh and with better development of cash markets, the pastoral community is fast losing its tolerance towards the kiang and it is increasingly seen as a competitor to livestock. The purpose of this study was to document this intensifying conflict between pastoralism and Kiang conservation, using resource selection functions. Data on habitat variables were collected on 4 fixed trails of varying length (3- 7 km) for kiang (with and without livestock presence) and livestock for use availability analysis. For food habits, micro-histological method in case of kiang and bite count method in case of livestock was used. Data on activity pattern of kiang was collected to examine change in response to livestock presence. Density and encounter rates were estimated using vehicle transects (n=5) of varying lengths (5-56 km). Livestock were followed (focal animal sampling) from dawn to dusk to estimate amount of forage removed. Availability of different habitat variables was estimated using ArcGIS 9.2. Total of 104 kiang groups before arrival of livestock and 187 kiang groups after livestock arrival to the area were recorded. Habitat use by kiang and livestock was significantly different (8 = 0.00016, P < 0.05). Habitat use by kiang before and after livestock arrival was found to be significantly different (8 = 0.013, P <0.05). Groups of kiang were observed (n=14) for time budget evaluation, 7 prior (640 min) and 7 (820 min) after livestock had come to the area. Activity pattern of kiang before and after livestock arrival was found to be significantly different (8 = 0.04, P <0.05). Food preference for kiang before and after livestock arrival was not found to be significantly different. Food preference for kiang and livestock was significantly different (6= 0.0000007, P < 0.05). Use-availability analysis suggested differential selection for food plants. Schoener's niche overlap for food items found moderate overlap between kiang, sheep and goat «60%) and high overlap between kiang and horse (>80%). Forage removed (kg) by sheep, goat and horse were 2.33 kg, 2.25 and 8.19 kg respectively. Total density and encounter rate for Hanley valley was 0.07 kiang/km2 and 0.45 kiang per km respectively. The difference in habitat use translated into Kiang using higher elevations while livestock used middle elevations more than available. Kiang used steep slopes whereas livestock used steep as well as gentle slopes more than available. Kiang used North-West aspect more than available. Kiang used vegetation communities dominated by graminoides while sheep-goat used communities dominated by shrub and forbs. Density and encounter estimates did not show considerable increase in kiang population compared to previous studies. Hence, the perception of people of kiang overstocking in the study area appears to be misplaced. Detailed perception studies should be carried out in the whole of Changthang and herder-centered participatory programmes need to be carried out on a large scale to ensure long term conservation of kiang in eastern Ladakh.