Habitat and Food Resources Use in Relation to Sex Age and Group Size in Sambar (Rusa unicolor) During Winter in Dry Tropical Deciduous Habitat of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India

Abstract

The study of habitat use depends on various factors' like environmental conditions, resource availability, physiological condition of an animal and sex. The present research for my dissertation shows that it does exist and it attempts to explain how it is happening. Sambar is a major prey species of tiger and other big cats across most of the parks in India. For the conservation of large predators it is important to evaluate and study the habitat requirement of its major prey species in detail to the level of its age and sex categories. My field study was undertaken between Dec 2010 to March 2011. Intensive study area of 90 sq km was selected in Ranthambhore. to quantify resource availability and use by different categories with respect to sex, age and group size during winter. It was found out that there is a difference in the habitat use of sambar due to sex, age and group size categories, out of the many parameters evaluated and comparisons made it was seen that though in some cases the differences were not profound, and some showed only minor changes, but in majority of the cases the trend observed was as per the expectation. Where smaller body size male animals < 3 yrs) and female associated with fawn and subadults always prefer areas having a good quality resource whereas the adult male and sambar in large group size were mainly in the areas of abundant resource rather than the quality.