Ranging patterns and habitat use of re-introduced gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus) in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.

Abstract

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR), situated in Central India, supported a small population of gaur (38. individuals) till 1995. This gaur population became locally extinct in 1998, and the reason for the same is attributed to disruption of the migratory corridor between the forests of Bandhavgarh and Ghunghuti and Amarkantak. Even after the local extinction of gaur, BTR continued to be an excellent habitat for gaur and hence it was decided to reintroduce gaur in BTR as it would be a major conservation initiative for this endangered species. The present study on reintroduced gaur was carried out from March 2011 to February 2013 covering all seasons in a year, summer (March - June), monsoon (July - October) and winter (November - February) in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, Central India, to study the ranging pattern and habitat use.