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Item Status, distribution and conservation perspectives of lesser florican in the North-Western India: a survey report(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Bhardwaj, G.S.; Sivakumar, K.; Jhala, Y.V.The Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica, a species endemic to the Indian subcontinent, is largely seen during the monsoon season in north-western India, where it breeds. Its population and range is believed to be decreasing at an alarming rate due to breeding habitat loss and threats in the non-breeding habitats, believed to be in south and south-east India. In this connection, to understand the present status and distribution of Lesser florican in the north-western India i.e. in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, a survey following an established protocol (Sankaran 2000) was carried out in the month of August 2010, which is a part of breeding season of this species, when most of males display in the grasslands. A total of 84 individual Lesser Floricans (83 male and 1 female) were sighted in three states of north-western India, which is 65% less than the sightings reported in 1999 by Dr. Sankaran. It was found significantly fewer sightings than reported in 1999 in all grasslands surveyed (t=2.81, df=14, p<0.05). Of the 169 potential grasslands available for floricans in the north-western India, 91 grasslands were surveyed, which include grasslands surveyed during 1999. Of the surveyed grasslands, Lesser Floricans were found in 24 grasslands as against 37 grasslands in 1999. Among the three states, more sightings of Lesser Florican were reported in the state of Gujarat (N=54) followed by Rajasthan (N=18) and Madhya Pradesh (N=12). But in 1999, more sightings of florican were reported in Gujarat (N=141) followed by Madhya Pradesh (N=63) and Rajasthan (N=34). More than 55% of grasslands in Gujarat that were reported with florican in 1999 (Sankaran 2000) were observed without florican in 2010. More or less similar situation was in Madhya Pradesh also. Population and habitat of Lesser Florican in the north-western India was observed to be continuously declining at an alarming rate. Lack of a National Policy on grassland management, habitat degradation, plantations, poor landuse planning, pesticide pollution, invasive species, inadequate coverage of florican habitats in the Wildlife Protected Area Network and lack of knowledge on the non-breeding habitats of this species are observed to be major threats to this species.Item Status and habitat assessment of Bengal florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in the Grasslands of Uttar Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Sivakumar, K.; Bhardwaj, G.S.; Sen, S.; Sharma, R.; Dhavale, O.The present study was undertaken by the Wildlife Institute of India with the aim of updating the status of the Bengal Florican and its habitat in the terai grasslands of Uttar Pradesh, especially in the landscape of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. The findings of the present study suggest that the floricans are being sighted in new areas such as Pilibhit and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, compared with 1988, but that the population has declined across the distribution range in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, as reported earlier. However, the method that has traditionally been used to estimate the population of the Bengal Florican seems to have always given underestimates. Hence, a new method using an occupancy model with distance sampling has been validated and recommended by this study for estimating Bengal Florican populationsItem A study on Ecology and migration of the Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indica) in Western India using satellite techniques(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2016) Sivakumar, K.; Jhala, Y.V.; Bhardwaj, G.S.; Mohan, A.The Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica, a species endemic to the Indian subcontinent, is largely seen during the monsoon season in north-western India, where it breeds. Its population and range is believed to be decreasing at an alarming rate due to breeding habitat loss and threats in the non-breeding habitats, believed to be in south and south-east India. In this connection, to understand the present status, distribution and non-breeding habitats of Lesser florican in the north-western India i.e. in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, this study was initiated in the month of August 2010, which is a art of breeding season of this species, when most of males display in the grasslands. 2. In 2010, a total of 84 individual Lesser floricans (83 male and 1 female) were sighted in three states of north-western India, which is less than 65% of the sightings reported in 1999. It was found significantly fewer sightings than reported in 1999 in all grasslands surveyed (t=2.81, df=14, p<0.05). Of the 169 potential grasslands available for floricans in the north-western India, 91 grasslands were surveyed, which include grasslands surveyed during 1999. Of the surveyed grasslands, Lesser floricans were found in 24 grasslands as against 37 grasslands in 1999. 3. At Shokhaliya, two male floricans (Florikin I and II) were tagged on 10th of August, 2014 with PTT transmitters that are solar-powered Platform Terminal Transmitters (PTTs: Microwave Telemetry, Inc., Columbia, MD, USA) weighed less than 3% of body mass of birds. 4. FLORIKIN-I: The male florican that was tagged with 18g Agros PPT- 100 (Platform no.125812) had spent 112 days in breeding site and then left the site (Shokaliya) on 11th November 2014. The bird moved for 94 km towards south direction and settled down in grasslands/croplands of north of the Bhilwara, Rajasthan. The bird covered this distance in 5 days and 8 hours (including stopover times) with four stopovers. Each stopover last for one to two days. All the stopovers were in the croplands or fallow lands. Florikin-I flew at the speed of 0.73 km/hr which includes stopover days. The transmitter was active until May 2015. PTT lost the signal when the bird just started moving towards Ajmer from Bhilwara in the month of May, 2015. 5. FLORIKIN-II: He was tagged with 22g GPS/Argos PTT had transmitted data for 35 days after that it failed to function, the reason remained unknown, but it provided much more precise insight into the lekking behavior of this species. The available data shows that the Florican can shift the displaying territory within an arena during a breeding season. Three times this bird had shifted his territory and spent considerable time in each territory. All these three territories of Florikin-II were within the home range of 6.8 sq.km area (MCP100%). The same kind of territory shifting behaviour was observed in Florikin-I as well. 6. Both Florikin I and II, left their territory and moved to a different site after a week of tagging. Total days spent in breeding season/area by Florikin-I were 122 days. During that period the home range of Florican-I was estimated as 12.46sq.km when 5% locations excluded (MCP 95%) and 30sq.km when all location were included (MCP 100%). Similarly, the home range of Florikin-II was within 6.8 sq.km (MCP 100%) 7. Territory shift within Lek Arena was observed in Floricans. Both the tagged floricans could shift the displaying territory but within the arena. Agricultural activities such as weeding, pesticides applications and growth of crops (like Millet) might have also influenced this short distance territory shifts. 8. After the breeding season, one of the tagged florican i.e. Florikin I which had active PTT left the breeding ground on 11th November 2014 to non-breeding grounds. It reached the non-breeding grounds on 15th November 2014 which was 87 km (aerial) 94 km (polygon) away from the breeding ground. During this 87 km long migration, it stopped at four places (nearby villages Goyla (26º 60' 54" N, 74º 55' 36" E), Keriya kurd (26º 03' 43" N, 74º 53' 42" E), Peepaliya (25º 59' 17" N, 74º 49' 52" E) and Sardarpura (25º 49' 21" N, 74º 49' 51" E). All these stopovers were near the water bodies with grasslands. In each stopover that last for one to two days. This bird flew at the speed of 0.73 km/hr which include the stopover time. 9. Habitats of the migratory route of Florikin I were mostly comprised of croplands (Cotton and Millet) with mosaic of grass/herbs cover at least 40% to 50% of the total land cover. 10. Non-breeding habitat of Florikin I was located at Bhilwara, Rajasthan, largely comprising agricultural crops with mosaic of scrub forests consists of Prosopis juliflora. At Bhilwara region, this bird stayed for first 17days at one place where the home range was 6.1 sq.km (MCP 100%) and then moved into another place and stayed for 177 days till 29th March 2015 where the home range was 2.9 sq.km (MCP 100%). The distance between these two non-breeding areas was 9.53 km. 11. General habitat of non-breeding area of florican was Prosophis juliflora (34.18%) followed by Agriculture land with crop and without crop (19.47%), grassland (18.93%), water logged but this land dried during the summer 10.29%), Barren land (8.28%) and human built (6.61%. 12. Though the sample size was low, our study indicate that the all floricans won’t migrate a long distance from the breeding areas. Their non-breeding grounds probably near to breeding areas within distance of 200 to 300 km and gather during the breeding season in the breeding ground. 13. In 2014, the population of floricans was estimated using both traditional (Area Search method) and ‘Occupancy Modelling with Distance Sampling’ methods. Using the Occupancy Model, it was estimated that the population size of floricans was 1091 floricans (689 to 1729) (Uniform cosine function x2 p=80.8, AIC=659.6) and estimation the ESW at 213.7 m ranging 185.3−246.4). Detection probability=0.56 (0.48 to 0.65). The generated global density estimate is 1.19 Floricans per sq.km. However, sightings of floricans in the breeding grounds from 2010 to 2014 were varied between years.Item Assessment of habitat use by Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) and elflows of Nyamjang Chu Hydroelectric project in Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Gopi, G.V.; Johnson, J.A.; Adhikari, B.S.; Bhattacharya, M.; Wattham, T.; Sivakumar, K.Item Assessment of habitat use by black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) and eflows of Nyamjang Chu Hydroelectric Project in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Gopi, G.V.; Johnson, J.A.; Adhikari, B.S.; Bhattacharya, M.; Wattham, T.; Sivakumar, K.Nyamjang Chu River flowing in Zemithang valley of Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh is on e of the only two known Black-necked crane wintering sites in India. In 2006, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh awarded the development of a hydropower project in the Nymjang Chu River at Zemithang valley to Bhilwara Energy Limited. On behalf of BEL WAPCOS ltd and RS Envirolink technologies pvt. limited carried out the EIA and EMP were strongly opposed and challenged by many scientific as well as social institutions. Citing flaws in the methods adopted for floral and faunal studies the baseline setting for the ecological aspects and prediciton of impacts on wildlife habitat and environment of the region. Recently the honorable National Green Tribunal (NGT) observed gross errors in the EIA and EMP such as omission of key, rare and threatened species such as omission of key, rare and threatened species such as the Black-necked crane in the report and ordererd that the WII to conduct a detailed study in this regard. The primary scope of the WII study was to assess the habitat requirements of the Black-necked crane and Assess the environmental flows requirement for protection and conservation of Black-necked crane habitats at the proposed Nyamjang Chu Hydroelectric project site in Zemithang valley