Theses and Dissertations

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Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.Gujarat

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    Land, lion and locals: Understanding the distribution of lions and large carnivore human interactions in the Greater Gir Landscape of Saurashtra
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Gogoi, Keshab; Jhala, Y.V.
    Apart from the Gir Protected Areas, Asiatic lions inhabit various coastal forest patches in Mangrol, Veraval, Kodinar, Mahua, and Rajula-Jafrabad areas. They also reside in Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and within human-dominated landscapes across Amreli, Junagadh, and Bhavnagar districts (Mitiyala WLS), as well as along the Shetrunji river, Hipavadli, Palitana, and Shihor. However, the presence of extensive townships, linear infrastructure, and urban development has led to the fragmentation of lion populations. This fragmentation restricts the efficient exchange of individuals across the matrix of multi-use human-dominated landscapes. Historical corridors that once connected hills, forests, and lion habitats, including protected and un-classed forests, have largely succumbed to agriculture and human settlements. To address this pressing issue, it is crucial to identify and conserve existing habitat corridors that connect these lion patches. Failure to do so could exacerbate repropuctive isolation, leading to genetic bottlenecks and reduced genetic diversity within lion populations. To tackle this challenge effectively, I utilized Circuitscape theory to model connectivity among habitat patches in the Saurashtra landscape at a scale of 1km². Additionally, I employed least-cost pathway tools to determine the shortest pathways with the least total costs. My analysis revealed varying levels of permeability among different lion habitats. For instance, the permeability between the coastal forests of Veraval-Sutrapada and Rajula with Gir PA was found to be high. Similarly, coastal patches around Mahua taluka exhibited high permeability with forest patches around Palitana. However, the permeability between Girnar and Gir Forest was moderate, indicating the need for interventions to maintain suitable lion movement. In the eastern part of the Gir protected area, there is notable connectivity between Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary and Gir, as well as other habitat patches along the Shetrunjay river. By prioritizing the identification and conservation of these critical habitat corridors, we can enhance connectivity among lion populations, mitigate the risk of genetic isolation, and safeguard the long-term survival of Asiatic lions in the Saurashtra landscape
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    Spatio-temporal abundance and resource selection of Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) and nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) with special reference to crop-depredation and people’s attitude in Little Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Barman, Bidyut Bikas; Chowdhury, Sushant; Shah, Nita; Qureshi, Qamar
    The harsh climatic condition and unpredictable resource availability like water is the nature of arid and semi-arid ecosystems which is epitomised by the Little Rann of Kachchh (LRK) landscape. Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur), a sub-species of Asiatic wild ass, idiosyncratically represent the LRK landscape which has been holding its last remaining population after it had become extinct from its previous home ranges. In my study, I emphasised on estimating population density of Khur and Nilgai, which is the other sympatric ungulate in the landscape using widely accepted and robust scientific method. Also, intensive monitoring was very challenging due to logistic limitations and large study area. I had designed my study focusing on the southern fringe of the sanctuary as the intensive study area (ISA) and conducted temporal replicates to see the density of Khur in both summer and winter. In this study, I have developed habitat suitability map of Khur and Nilgai. Apart from the resource rich areas, it is imperative to see how the habitat model suggesting potential sites based on selected environmental variables which actually shaping their distribution in the landscape. This study identified northern part of the sanctuary connected by a bottle neck with the Greater Rann of Kachchh as a potential site which demands management intervention at large scale involving other line departments ensuring a safe corridor between LRK and GRK for Khur and Nilgai. I have studied the perception and attitude of local farmers in the southern fringe towards crop-depredation. Although, with growing rural population and increase in intensive farming, the overall attitude of farmers were observed to be mixed with both positive and negative attitude reflected in their perspective towards crop-depredation by Khur