Technical Reports

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Start date: 2018End date: 2019

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    Study on Ecological & Socio-Economic Impact of Invasive species, Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camera and their removal from forest, common and fallow land of Tamilnadu
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Sivakumar, K.; Rawat, G.S.; Badola, Ruchi; Adhikari, B.S.; Kamalakannan, B.
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    National Studbook of Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii)
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) WII-CZA
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    Status of leopards in India 2018 : Summary report
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Qamar; Yadav, S.P.
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    Tiger Recovery Strategy and long term monitoring in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra: Feasibility Assessment and Strategic Action Plan
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Ramesh, K.; Ben, V.C.; Jelil, S.N.; Gaykar, A.; Pal, R.S.; Pokhariya, K.; Sherwani, N.; Kale, R.; Mujawar, A.
    The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, nestled in the northern Western Ghats in India, is the only tiger reserve in western Maharashtra. Sahyadri boasts a long and glorious history of the reign of Shivaji Maharaj and his successors. This study deals with the habitat assessment undertaken in STR. We used GIS and RS to better understand the landscape. We also carried out field vegetation surveys to understand of the density of trees and look at the overall vegetation and forest cover of STR. The status of tiger and carnivore prey present in STR were studied. Wild ungulate density was estimated to be 9.5 (2.79 SE) per km2, livestock density 10.81 (6.00 SE) per km2 and primate density 11.18 (5.00 SE) per km2. The major ungulate species recorded were the gaur, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, mouse deer and four horned antelope. Other preferable prey carnivores are primates and livestock.
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    E-Bird (Drone) Technology: an Introductory Manual for Managers and Biologists
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) WII-NTCA
    The purpose of this manual is to introduce field managers and biologists to the basics of the technology of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); also known as ‘drones’ and its application in wildlife management. This manual also outlines the operational procedures and safety precautions involved in using drones, while this provides information for all species and habitats, the focus is on tiger due to its conservation priority.
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    Study on ecological and socio-economic impact of invasive species, Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camara and their removal from forest, common and fallow land of Tamilnadu
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Sivakumar, K.; Rawat, G.S.; Badola, Ruchi; Adhikari, B.S.; Kamalakannan
    1) Prosopis juliflora is an invasive, drought resistant, evergreen fast growing pheratophyte widely distributed in India and also in arid and semi-arid tropical countries. It is a highly valued wood source for rural people in India. The P. juliflora is believed one of the worst invaders affecting natural and man-made ecosystems and its local biodiversity in Tamil Nadu. In this context, this study was conducted aimed to assess the distribution patterns of P. juliflora and its impacts in three different agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu. 2) In 1959, Prosopis juliflora was introduced in Tamil Nadu to meet the fuelwood requirements of the rural poor people and to re-vegetate the degraded lands but it spread at faster and occupied almost all agro-zones of Tamil Nadu. In India, P. juliflora was considered as one of the worst invaders in the country affecting natural ecosystems and local biodiversity. In order to eradicate this species from natural forests, preparation of a restoration plan is desirable with knowledge on ecology and impacts of P. juliflora in Tamil Nadu. Keeping this in view, Wildlife Institute of India with support of Tamil Nadu Forest Department assessed the extent and abundance of P. juliflora in forest, common and fallow land of Tamil Nadu. Initially, the study was started in the southern zone of Tamil Nadu and later in other agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu (i.e. Cauvery delta zone (Nagapattinam district), Southern zone (Ramanathapuram district) and Western zone (Sathiyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Erode district). 3) Totally ninety transects were laid randomly in three agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu. Each transect of 2 km length, it had six 15 m radius plots at equal distance of 400 m to quantify the environmental parameters such as vegetation structure and composition, cover percentage of grass, native herbs, weeds, animal pellet and bird abundance, etc., was recorded by using standard methods on the same transect. Influence and impact of Prosopis juliflora and its and socio-economic status were assessed by using a questionnaire survey in entire taluks of three agro-climatic zones. 4) The results revealed that occupancy of Prosopis juliflora was more in the southern zone compared to the other two zones. Southern zone occupies 79.4% of Prosopis juliflora invaded in this region than western zone (46%), and in Cauvery delta zone (32%). Density (F = 34.35, P < 0.05) and frequency occurrence (%) of P. juliflora were also higher in the southern zone followed by western zone and Cauvery delta zone. The richness and native biodiversity of plants and related herbs, shrubs were highly ruined in southern zone followed by Cauvery delta and western zone. The highest extent of Prosopis was observed in the entire seven taluks of the Ramanathapuram district (southern zone) compare to the Nagapattinam taluks (Cauvery delta zone) and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve ranges (western zone). Except Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camara; Parthenium hysterophorus and 2 Chromolaena odorata caused huge smash up to the native ecosystems in some ranges of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserves. 5) In Ramanathapuram district, the abundances of herbs such as Tephrosia purpurea, Crotons sparsiflorus, and Cleome viscosa were significantly lesser in P. juliflora invaded plots as compared to the non-invaded plots. Relative abundance of birds such as Pavo cristatus, Conturnix conturnix and Acridotheres tristis were positively correlated with P. juliflora abundance in Ramanathapuram taluks. The western zone where the habitat dominated by P. juliflora was observed with low abundances of wild ungulates. 6) Driest environment settings of southern zone favored more P. juliflora than other two agro-climatic zones that are comparatively wet. 7) The study found that the impact of Prosopis in the forested landscapes of Tamil Nadu, especially in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve seemed to be adversely affecting the distribution of native biodiversity. 8) Dry zone of Tamil Nadu i.e. at Ramanathapuram the groundwater level-soil moisture conditions, humidity and temperature under the canopy cover were better in the habitats dominated by P. juliflora but in the forested landscapes such as in the Sathyamangalam TR, these environmental factors were comparatively lesser than other habitats of the zone. It reveals that P. juliflora in the forested landscape is not good for natural environmental settings as well as the biodiversity of the region. 9) In all zones that were studied in Tamil Nadu, the P. juliflora was observed to be allelopathic that discouraging other plants from growing around them and seems to be toxic to other biotas in ways that allow the invasives to monopolize the space, sunlight, and nutrients at the exclusion of other species. Plant diversity was observed significantly low at P. juliflora dominated habitats than other habitats of Tamil Nadu including in the Ramanathapuram District. In the native habitats of P. juliflora, the other species have developed a mechanism to counter the allelopathy of P. juliflora, but such defense seems to be not available to several native plants of Tamil Nadu. 10) The study could not find any significant impact of Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camara on the productivity of agricultural crops grown adjacent to the dense growth of Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camara on the bund or as a pure stand. 11) Prosopis juliflora, which is adapted to survive and thrive in diverse environments including very harsh dry environments, was a major boon for impoverished people subsisting in the Ramanathapuram District as it provides 3 them with badly needed valuable provisional services; fuelwood, charcoal, animal feed, constructional materials, reclamation of degraded soil, etc, but the Prosopis juliflora was observed to be adversely affecting both environments as well as native biodiversity in other zones of Tamil Nadu. 12) It was found that wetlands in the arid region are highly susceptible to Prosopis invasion and these wetlands were once used by migratory birds in large numbers but not nowadays that is might be due to high abundances of invasive species. 13) Although, alien invasive species such as P. juliflora and L. camara are adversely affecting the native biodiversity especially in the Western Zone and Cauvery Delta but it has livelihood values in the Southern Zone especially Ramanathpuram and adjoining districts of Tamil Nadu. 14) The study also found that the available nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon in the soil were high in highly invaded areas compared to less or non-invaded sites especially in the Southern Zone. 15) Economic analyses also revealed that the benefits of the P. juliflora invasion in the southern zone are higher than the costs. However, some aspects such as increased risk of water table and long-term ecological changes were not examined, thus making the total economic valuation incomplete. 16) P. juliflora and L. camara spread can be halted by actions such as clear cutting/up-rooting followed by burning of the stump of P. juliflora and keeping up-side down of stump of L. camara. Alternatively, ways can be found to utilize the existing stands of P. juliflora so that frequent harvesting can exert a check on its expansion in the non-forested landscape. Minimum, 10 years of weed management plan should be made mandatory of all Management Plans of all Protected Areas and other reserve forests of Tamil Nadu to successfully halt the expansion of these invasive species so that the native biodiversity are conserved. 12) The study concludes that complete eradication of P. juliflora and L. camara is inevitable in the forested landscapes and Protected Areas of Tamil Nadu. However, the study recommend that sustainable management and control of P. juliflora may be a better solution than eradication in the Southern Zone.
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    Spatial analysis of livestock predation by lions in the Greater Gir landscape
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Jhala, Y.V.; Singh, A.P.; Gogoi, Keshab; Chakrabarti, S.; Singh, P.; Nala, R.R.; Kumar, S.; Karuppasamy, T.; Sakkira, B.; Ram, M.; Gandhi
    Data on livestock kill by carnivores (lion and leopard) were collected from the districts of Junagadh, Amreli, Gir Somnath and Bhavnagar, accounting for 914 villages between 2012-13 to 2016-17. These data were further translated into English, digitized and spatially mapped in GIS. We obtained remotely sensed as well as spatial covariate layers of forest cover, lion refuge patches, drainages and nigh-light intensity. We conducted a fixed Kernel analysis of spatially explicit livestock predation events at the village resolution to obtain a consolidate “predation risk map” of the landscape on a relative scale and used it for subsequent analysis. The tehsils of Jafrabad, Gir gadhada, Amreli, Dhari, Khambha and Rajula recorded highest livestock predation by lions. A temporal increasing trend was observed for number of lion-predation events as well as in the spatial extent of predations. More importantly the intensity (number of livestock kills/village/year) of livestock predation showed an increasing trend (R2= 0.73, P= 0.06, slope = 15 % (SE 0.05)), this suggests not only an increase in the spatial extent of the conflict but also a substantial increase in the magnitude of conflict within the same spatial extent. A logistic regression, given by: Ln Odds Ratio (occurrence of lion predation) = -0.16 + 0.76 * distance to forest + 0.54* distance to lion habitat; (Wald’s p < 0.05). The increasing trend in the extant and intensity of livestock predation by lion was indicative of an increasing lion population but of concern in maintaining the tolerance of local communities towards lions co-existing with them. A significant deficit between the market rate and compensated amount for lion predation (R² = 0.74, p=0.06) was observed with an increasing trend. As a management strategy we recommend a revision of compensation rates to match the market price and an efficient system to pay compensation promptly. Improved husbandry practices and, as well as managing lion density below social carrying capacity is recommended. This would help maintaining tolerance towards lion under an increasingly conflict scenario.
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    Movement of Radio-collared tigers in the Eastern Vidarbha Landscape, Maharashtra, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Habib, Bilal; Nigam, Parag; Hussain, Zehidul; Ghaskadbi, Pallavi Surendra
    To understand the movement ecology of tigers in the Eastern Vidarbha Landscape, focusing on individual patterns of space use in general, utilization distribution in different areas and landscape, spatio-temporal activity and effect of environmental features on animal movement, the point-wise objectives are as follows: 1. To understand the movement of tigers that drives population connectivity on a landscape scale and effect of environmental features on dispersal. 2. To validate the modeled corridors and identify new functional corridor and habitats in a highly dynamic landscape. 3. Directly aiding effective conservation and management of tigers beyond the Protected Area (PA) system as a result of real-time data from radio-collars.
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    Revising Century old Abor Expedition: Arunachal Pradesh, India - Final report
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Das, Abhijit and others
    Thus, the Abor expedition is one of the most comprehensive biological, geographical and anthropological documentation ever conducted in India. This fine contribution was possible through a partnership between the scientific and defense departments of British India that yielded invaluable information from a remote part in Eastern Himalaya that is now recognized as a biodiversity hotspot. One of the important biogeographic interpretation made out of the observations is that the faunal and floral elements of Abor lands are rather similar to fauna of Assam, south of the Brahmaputra or even to that of Burma Myanmar, rather than to the fauna of Eastern Himalaya (Sikkim, Bhutan and Aka Hills). We revisited the route of the expedition to the extent possible and undertook a comprehensive and intensive survey of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, odonates and cicadas of the Abor landscape, paying special emphasis on threatened taxa. We also undertook an intensive collection of select lower taxa for voucher specimens, especially those of species potentially new to science. The entire expedition was exhaustively photo documented.
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    Assessment of forest communities and dependence of local people on NTFPs in Askot landscape, Uttarakhand, Phase 1
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Bisht, S.; Adhikari, B.S.; Shrivastava, A.K.
    The study was conducted from January 2013 - October 2017 between 1000-3900 m in Gori and Dhauli sub-watersheds in Askot landscape in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand under Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Livelihood Improvement Project (BCRLIP). A preliminary information was collected regarding vegetation community in the landscape through existing knowledge and reconnaissance surveys. Vegetation plots were laid to study the structure, composition and regeneration pattern in various forest communities in the landscape. Questionnaire survey was conducted in different villages to study the use pattern of various Non-Timber Forest Products and state of traditional knowledge among local communities. A checklist of 596 species of plants was prepared including some rare and endangered species, of which 132 trees, 121 shrubs, 24 climbers, 36 orchids and 283 herbs were recorded after carrying out a reconnaissance of the landscape. The collected vegetation data was analyzed and 11 forest communities were identified based on TWINSPAN viz, P. roxburghii, Q. floribunda, Q. leucotrichophora, Q. lanuginosa, A. nepalensis, T. dumosa, Q. semecarpifolia, M. duthiei, A. pindrow, P. wallichiana and B. utilis. Lopping, weed infestation, forest fire and grazing are some of the threats to the plant biodiversity in the landscape. A Species richness map and disturbance level map was prepared in Arc Gis for the landscape. Based on collected information, a list of nine potential indicator species (Polygonum, Strobilanthes, Diplazium, Ageratina adenophora, Alnus nepalensis, Quercus leucotrichophora, Quercus lanuginosa, Macaranga pustulata, Rhododendron arboreum and Pinus roxburghii) were prepared. Three plant species (Ageratina adenophora, Alnus nepalensis, and Quercus leucotrichophora) were selected as indicator species, which will be used for long-term monitoring protocol to detect biodiversity change in the landscape by the local communities.