Technical Reports

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/7

Browse

Author: search.filters.author.Dutta, S.

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Habitat improvement and conservation breeding of the Great Indian Bustard and integrated approach. Progress Report April 2019-March 2020
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020) Jhala, Y.V.; Dutta, S.; Karkarya, T.; Awasthi, A.; Bipin, C.M. and others
    The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is critically endangered with 100-150 individuals left, largely in Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) and very small populations in Kutch (Gujarat), Sholapur (Maharashtra), Ballari (Karnataka) and Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh). The species has suffered 90% reductions in number and range, over the last five decades, due to prevalent habitat loss and human induced mortalities compounded with its slow life history traits. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) formulated the National Bustard Recovery Plans in 2013 based on scientific consultation, and initiated the Project “Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of Great Indian Bustard” in 2016 with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) as the nodal agency along with State Forest Departments and partner NGOs as collaborators. This project aims at recovering the species from extinction through holistic approach of conservation breeding, applied research, outreach and pilot habitat management. This report presents the project activities undertaken between 2018-19. 1. The Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and Lesser Florican conservation breeding and research program was signed between MoEF&CC, Rajasthan Government and WII to operationalize conservation breeding of the GIB under the guidance of a Steering Committee, with facilitation of Rajasthan Government and funding of MoEF&CC. Based on the preliminary surveys carried out by the Project team, two sites – Sorsan, Baran District and Ramdevra, Jaisalmer District were finalized for establishing the Conservation Breeding Center in consultation with the concerned agencies and construction is under progress in Ramdevra. The project team was trained in husbandry practices and veterinary care at the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), Abu Dhabi. To utilize the GIB breeding season in 2019-20, as a fully functional pilot project the first GIB Conservation Breeding Center has been established at Sam, Jaisalmer that currently houses ten hand-reared GIB chicks from wild collected and artificially hatched eggs in close collaboration with Rajasthan Forest Department and technical support of International Fund for Houbara Conservation / Reneco. 2. Under the applied research component, three GIB females were radio tagged in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer for understanding bird movements, identifying critical habitats for conservation planning, prioritizing power lines for mitigation, and searching nesting sites for conservation breeding program. Birds have been transmitting data for months from Jaisalmer and Kachchh and providing hitherto unknown basic information on GIB space use and ranging patterns. The average travel distances were similar between the two tagged birds in Thar and almost double than that of Kachchh. Bird home ranges ranged between 76 km2 in Kachchh to 124 km2 in Jaisalmer. The core usages for birds ranged between 13–29 km2 in Jaisalmer and 15 km2 in Kachchh. Movements were located mostly within protected enclosures that corroborate the recommendation of National Bustard Recovery Plans that enclosures of 10-20 km2 can accommodate the birds’ ecological needs to a great extent, if they are managed scientifically. This action supplemented with power line mitigation in the areas surrounding enclosures is necessary to restore potential habitats across the species’ range, wherever feasible. The National Lesser Florican survey was jointly conducted by the project team with partner agencies in July - September 2018 that yielded an estimate of 426 (174–805 95% CI) male territories (conservatively 220 + 38) across the range; highlighting the critical status of this species for urgent conservation efforts. Investigation on patterns of bird community structure in relation to land-use driven habitat changes in the arid grasslands of Thar suggested that although primary 2 grassland habitat is essential to save the full spectrum of the regional species pool, low-impact land-uses can act as important secondary habitats for conservation of bird species. Assessment of factors that shape vegetation in the arid zone of India in Thar, Jaisalmer showed a 62% loss in the vegetation types to agriculture and settlements highlighting the need to delineate conservation areas based on requirements of faunal species of interest and its habitat requirements before a complete wipe-out of vegetation structure types occur. Molecular analysis of GIB biological samples revealed that genetic differentiation between GIB subpopulations was low to moderate and level of gene flow between Rajasthan and Gujarat subpopulations was high. From bird carcass surveys under power lines in Kachchh, we estimated carcass encounter rates of 0.27 (0.14 SE) and 0.25 (0.06 SE) per km per month for high- and low- tension power-lines and mortalities of ~22,000 birds (all species) annually in ~1100 km2 GIB habitat emphasizing the need for immediate power line mitigation measures. Preliminary investigation of soil and GIB food samples revealed presence of organophosphate pesticides in GIB habitat in and around Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh. 3. As part of social engagement, our team surveyed villages in Jaisalmer district to assess livelihood concerns and conservation attitude of the local population. We intend to involve the locals as stakeholders in GIB conservation to create goodwill, and these social surveys will help in developing outreach programs. Additionally, customized nature education programmes in 22 schools, skill development workshop for responsible nature tourism to local youth and forest department staff, awareness program to sensitize locals and tourists on grassland and GIB conservation at Desert festival, Jaisalmer were conducted. Publicity materials such as posters, tshirts, caps, books, bags, brochures for power agencies and other stakeholders were prepared and widely disseminated. The team met with representatives of various private and government power agencies as well as senior government officials, media and legal fraternity to sensitize them on the critical issue of power line mitigation for GIB conservation. We also conducted training workshops on population, habitat and threat surveys involving Forest Department staff and volunteers in bustard range states. 4. Under pilot habitat management, 801 dogs from 23 villages in/around DNP were sterilized in collaboration with Humane Society International (HSI)- India and Rajasthan Forest Department. Analysis of data collected from population surveys of dogs and other nest predators in/around DNP is under progress. Preliminary analysis showed that the proportion of unsterilized dogs is still very high in villages. Pigs and desert foxes were the most abundant nest predators in/around DNP. Preparations are underway to relocate nest predators from GIB breeding enclosures in DNP. Meetings with the local community to manage a portion of their land in GIB-friendly manner, and interactions with power agencies and bird diverter suppliers for marking critical power lines were held. More bird diverters for power lines have been procured for installation with the help of power agencies in Thar.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Status survey of Migratory birds and key wildlife in Bikarner district, Rajasthan
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Dutta, S.; Kher, V.; Uddin, M.; Supakar, S.; Karkaria, T.; Gupta, T.; Paul I; Verma, V.; Pandey, D.; Verma, V.; Phasalkar, P.; Khanra, A.; Jora, V.S.; Kataria, P.S.; Chhangani, A.K.; Bipin, C.M.; Jhala, Y.V.
    The Bikaner district of Rajasthan supports a wide variety of wildlife that has not been rigorously surveyed in the past. Robust status assessments with reproducible methods are vital for monitoring wildlife trends, particularly in regions like Bikaner that are undergoing large-scale land-use changes, which are potentially detrimental to native wildlife. Therefore, a large-scale survey was organised by the Wildlife Institute of India in collaboration with Rajasthan Forest Department, Government Dungar College and Maharaja Ganga Singh University to assess the status of key wildlife in the Bikaner district of Western Rajasthan. Notably, this survey was planned at the request of Bikaner district residents, who conveyed their wish to conduct a wildlife survey to the Hon’ble Member of Parliament, who invited the Wildlife Institute of India through the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and to execute the survey. Consequently, the data collection was conducted in a citizen science framework and involved active participation by a diverse group of researchers, frontline staff, University students and wildlife enthusiasts. The survey assessed the distribution and abundance status of key wildlife, particularly migratory, arid-adapted and raptorial species of birds, their habitat associations, potential threats in the landscape, and community perceptions towards conservation. The Bikaner parliamentary constituency was divided into four sampling blocks (Bikaner, Kolayat, Chattargarh and Mahajan) and overlaid with 144 km2 (12 x 12 km grid) cells. A total of 89 such cells covering 12,816 km2 area were extensively surveyed using vehicle transect method. In each cell, dirt-trails or unpaved roads of 16.2 ± 4.1km length were traversed using slow-moving vehicles and animals were recorded during peak activity periods (0700hrs-1300hrs and 1600hrs-1900hrs). Data on iconic native fauna (chinkara, foxes, bustards, cranes and raptors) and key neobiota (dog, pig and nilgai) was collected on these vehicle transects (1442 km total length). Information on small birds, habitat characteristics and anthropogenic disturbances was recorded at regularly placed transect stop-over points (802 points). Major avian congregations or 'hotspots' (carcass dump at Jodbeed, wetlands and lakes at Gajner, Lunkaransar, RD507 and RD750) were surveyed using simultaneous point-counts and line transects. Community perception towards conservation was assessed using structured questionnaires conducted in select households of randomly selected villages. Species' population estimates were obtained using analytical techniques such as distance sampling and simultaneous block counts. During the survey, 1,880 Chinkara individuals were detected in 684 herds with an encounter rate of 139.78±18.72 individuals per 100km. The estimated density of chinkara in the surveyed area was 4.27±0.65 individuals/km2, yield abundance of 54,745±8,392 individuals 12 in the surveyed area. Similarly, 112 desert foxes were seen during the survey and the density was estimated to be 0.58±0.11 foxes/km2, yielding abundance of 7,456±1,356 individuals. Other mammals recorded during the survey were Desert Cat (0.57±0.2 individuals/100km), Nilgai (14.39±2.91 individuals/100km), free-ranging Domestic Dogs (26.07±3.6 individuals/100km) and Indian Wolf (one sighting). Among large birds, the encounter rate of the Demoiselle Crane was estimated at 5.47±3.14 individuals/100km. The five most common raptor species (individuals per 100 km) were Griffon Vulture (16.44±6.94), Egyptian Vulture (8.73±2.35), Common Kestrel (7.39±0.88), Black-winged Kite (5.35±0.89) and Long-legged Buzzard (5.13±0.69). Among small birds, 2,859 individuals from 103 species were recorded on point counts. The most abundant species were Common Babbler, Eurasian collared Dove, House Sparrow, White-eared Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Greater short-toed Lark and Variable Wheatear. The total density of small birds, excluding birds in flight and rare species, was estimated at 997±58 individuals/km2. A total of 24,674 individual birds belonging to 95 species across 36 families were recorded during hotspot surveys. RD750 had the highest number of individuals and species (15,666 individuals of 76 species), followed by RD507 (6,501 individuals of 34 species), Lunkaransar lake (1,749 individuals of 25 species) and Gajner lake (758 individuals of 38 species). Common Coot, Demoiselle Crane, Common Pochard, Common Teal and Gadwall were the most abundant species that were recorded. Two Endangered (Egyptian Vulture and Steppe Eagle), two Vulnerable (Common Pochard and River Tern), and six Near-Threatened species (Black-headed Ibis, Dalmatian Pelican, Eurasian Curlew, Ferruginous Duck, Northern Lapwing, and Painted Stork) were recorded during the hotspot survey. The habitat was characterised by flat and mildly undulating terrain, dominated by scrublands followed by agriculture (fallow and cultivated). Active disturbance such as humans or livestock was present in 72% of surveyed plots. Passive disturbance such as fences, electric lines, paved road/ highway etc., was recorded at 87% of the points. In terms of vegetation, the most dominant natural vegetation was Kheemp (Leptadenia pyrotechnica) > Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) > Bhui (Aerva sp.) > Phog (Calligonum polygonoides) > Chugh (Crotalaria burhia) > Aak (Calotropis procera) > Ganthia (Dactyloctenium scindicum) > Prosopis juliflora. There was a positive association between the presence of fences and that of cultivation, human, livestock, dog, water-source and power-lines, indicating that fences could be a proxy for other disturbances. We found distinct associations between species and habitat. Plants such as Leptadenia and Calligonum occurred more in undulating and less disturbed areas. Aerva occurred more in sandy, less disturbed areas, whereas Prosopis juliflora and Calotropis procera occurred more in flat, disturbed areas. Faunal species such as Chinkara decreased 13 in abundance with the proportion of area under cultivation while Nilgai showed an opposite trend. Desert Fox and Desert cat did not show any response to habitat gradients, whereas dogs were more abundant in flat, disturbed areas. Steppe Eagle, Egyptian Vulture and Laggar Falcon decreased in abundance along canal-irrigated areas. Birds such as Eurasian collared dove, Grey Francolin, Indian Robin and Indian Peafowl preferred flat terrain. Presence of disturbances favoured the Common Babbler, Eurasian Collared Dove, Grey Francolin, Red Vented Bulbul and Variable Wheatear, but negatively impacted the Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark and Yellow-eyed Pigeon. Questionnaires were conducted with 170 respondents in 61 villages spread over 24 cells. 1.7±1.0% of respondents reported seeing a Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) around their villages in the past 5 years. The reporting frequency of dog, nilgai and fox was higher than that of chinkara, crane and wild pig. More people reported an increasing population trend for neo-colonised species (dogs, nilgai and wild pigs) than for native species (chinkara, fox or crane). On similar lines, more people reported that native biota (particularly chinkara and vultures followed by cranes and peafowls) have reduced in occurrence over the past few years. Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and associated activities (fencing, pesticide usage, borewell irrigation etc.) was the most widely reported cause for wildlife decline; other causes being poaching, predation by dogs, climate change and powerlines. A high percentage of respondents (85±3%) were aware of a conservation area (managed either traditionally as Orans or by the Forest Department) around their village. 12±3 % of respondents complained regarding encroachment of Orans around their villages. Our survey highlights that Bikaner region is undergoing rapid land-use changes due to intensive irrigated agriculture, infrastructure and industries. To understand their ecological impacts, regular assessments of wildlife populations through standard, reproducible methods become important. Based on this survey and consultation with Rajasthan Forest Department and local experts, the following preliminary recommendations are suggested: a) greater conservation emphasis on sites such as Jorbeed Conservation Reserve, Deshnok Oran, Tokla Oran, Bhinjranwali and 750RD, b) mitigation of potential threats such as power-lines, fences and free-ranging dogs, c) protection of Orans from encroachment and development of grasslands for wildlife/livestock use, d) development of sites such as RD750 and Lunkaransar lake for ecotourism through careful and consultative planning, e) and replication of this survey for assessing wildlife trends.