Theses and Dissertations

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Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.People dependency

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    Spatial and Temporal Overlap of Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and Cattle (Bos taurus) and Its Implications for Parasite Burden and Prevalence
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Singh, Surya Pratap; Kawlni, Lallianpui; Kolipakam, Vishnupriya; Sadhu, Ayan
    Humans have depended on domesticated animals and plants since the origin of agriculture, and forests and grasslands have provided essential resources such as grazing and forest products. But there is greater overlap today between livestock and wildlife as a result of greater deforestation and growing human activity, and this has implications for the transmission of disease at these interfaces. In this dissertation, the impacts of spatial overlap, environmental variables, and animal behavior are investigated for their influence on patterns and drivers of gastrointestinal parasite load in nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and cattle, a commensal wild ungulate of the Indian peninsula. During December 2024 to March 2025, the study was conducted in the Darra enclosure of Mukundra Hill National Park. In addition to spatial information regarding animal locations with respect to villages, water points, and livestock distribution, field measurements were collected on parasitic burden, which was expressed as eggs per gram (EPG) in fecal samples. The research attempted to determine the impacts of spatial overlap among livestock and wildlife and proximity to these attributes on parasite intensity and prevalence. Statistical tests revealed no substantial relationship between the parasitic load of cattle and their proximity to villages or water points, contrary to preliminary hypotheses. All individuals sampled carried high EPG values consistently, revealing an overall parasite burden. Widespread parasite exposure regardless of spatial gradients due to common grazing, minimal pasture rotation, and homogenous environmental conditions are most likely the primary reasons for such a pattern. The research explored whether temporal and spatial coincidences with livestock, in this case cattle, can be channels of parasite transmission for nilgai. The findings indicate that the impact of spatial proximity can be overcome by aggregating at shared resources and chronic exposure to soiled environments and that it consistently yields high infection rates in domestic and wild ungulates. These results underscore the importance of considering environmental context, grazing management, and animal behavior when designing parasite control strategies. Instead of simply considering physical distance to villages or water sources, interventions taking into account pasture management and resource allocation may be more effective. The research presents valuable information for the prevention of disease, management of wildlife, and conservation of India's domestic and wild ungulates.
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    Status, habitat use and factors affecting breeding waterbirds of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh (India).
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020) Mahar, Neeraj
    Tourism has evolved as an alternative livelihood for the local people and has reduced their direct dependencies on natural resources and perhaps indirectly contributed towards nature conservation. However, unregulated tourism activities have led to degradation of natural systems and increased the ecological vulnerabilities of local communities. Often, tourism and other developmental activities related disturbances collide with the peak season for several biological processes and affect the ability of natural system to revive and restore itself. In case of waterbirds these disturbance affect the breeding success. Other than anthropogenic activities, domestic dogs, apparently the most abundant carnivores in the world, pose a major threat to local wildlife. Recent studies have determined waterbirds as an important part of their diet. The existing literature clearly suggested that there was a huge information gap regarding Trans-Himalayan wetlands and their avifaunal characteristics. Previous studies were either site specific or species-specific, and thus, landscape level base line data was either scanty or unavailable. The Trans-Himalayan wetlands of India are increasingly under anthropogenic stress which is affecting their ecological structure and functions, especially the breeding birds. Blacknecked crane (BNC) is one of the flagship species of these wetlands. With the above background, I decided to study and understand their ecology and major threats faced by waterbirds and wetlands of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS). The objectives for this work were to (1) assess the population status and habitat use by waterbirds, (2)evaluate the factors affecting the breeding waterbirds, and (3) assess change in the wetland area.
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    Patterns of grazing, natural resources use by local community and their influence on wild ungulate (Ibex) habitats in Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Targe, Kalzang; Adhikari, B.S.; Salvador, Lyngdoh
    This study conducted for a comprehensive study in response to the imperative need for a deeper understanding of the impact of pastoralism on wildlife. The research is centered on the high-altitude rangelands of the Trans-Himalaya, which have a grazing history spanning millennia. The primary goal of this research is to analyse an agropastoral system and investigate its conflicts with wildlife, particularly in relation to the Himalayan ibex. The study is summarized into the following objectives. - To study the changing aspects of local and migratory herders in Pin Valley, - To study grazing patterns of livestock and wild ungulate (Ibex) in Pin Valley, and - To document the natural resource dependency of local agropastoral community in Pin Valley. The study on agropastoral practices and their influence on the wild ungulate ibex in the Trans-Himalaya area employed a variety of methodologies and data analysis techniques. The primary data collection took place between September, 2017 and December, 2019. The research conducted for social aspects in all thirteen villages but only villages dependent on National Park were considered for the analysis. Semi- structured interviews in thirteen villages ensuring representation from different strata, age groups, and genders. Additionally, two focused group discussions were organized in the villages that related with migratory herders with the aim of raising awareness about overstocking and over-grazing's impact on range land resources. To analyse changes in the traditional agropastoral system, data were collected for both the past (pre-2000, before green pea commercialization) and present (post-2017) periods. Informal discussions with local community members were held to understand trends in livestock numbers and composition. Data on agriculture practices were also recorded. The employed various methods to assess Ibex and livestock feeding habits, including direct and indirect observations, bite counts, and microhistological techniques. The findings of this thesis hold practical relevance for land use planning and conservation management strategies. The research findings contribute valuable insights into the interactions between agropastoral practices and wild ungulate Ibex in the Trans-Himalaya area, providing a foundation for guiding conservation and management implementations strategies in the region