Habitat use of tiger, leopard, and dhole in a human dominated large mammal corridor in the Western Ghats, India
Student name: Ms Akshata Karnik
Guide: Dr Sudipta Chatterjee
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS), Pune
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Girish Punjabi
Abstract: The tiger, leopard, and dhole are the three top predators found in the Indian forests. In the past few years due to increasing human population and developmental pressures, vast expanses of forests have been cleared. These large carnivores are now found in protected areas and fragmented forests surrounding them. These species have now been found using mixed land-use matrices for movement from one patch to another. This study aimed to find how the habitat use of the three large carnivores was impacted due anthropogenic disturbance and ecological factors in the Tillari corridor region. The habitat use of these carnivores was determined across a total area of 25 km2 by surveying 100 grids. Using occupancy models to analyse this data it was found that tigers avoided cashew and rubber plantations and dholes avoided human use areas. However, it was also found that dholes and leopards were using rubber plantations in the study area but avoided cashew plantations. All the three sympatric carnivores showed preference towards sambar for prey. In order to ensure survival of these species it is necessary that these land-use types be made more permeable to animal movement, thereby avoiding human-wildlife conflict and providing a safe passage.
Key words: Cashew plantations, rubber plantations, corridors, habitat use, anthropogenic disturbance
