Abstract
We estimated the density, abundance, and biomass of wild prey, namely Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild Pig, Chinkara, Four-horned Antelope, Hanuman Langur, Blackbuck, and Indian Peafowl in the Asiatic Lion landscape using distance sampling methodology. This exercise, carried out in May 2019, is the first for the landscape. The densities of Blackbuck, Chinkara, Chital, Four-horned Antelope, Hanuman Langur, Nilgai, Peafowl, Sambar, and Wild Pig in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park were estimated to be 0.11, 0.21, 53.34, 0.18, 26.92, 1.88, 23.57, 3.62 and 5.35 per sq. km respectively. In Pania Wildlife Sanctuary, they were estimated to be 0.0, 0.23, 33.81, 0.05, 7.34, 0.45, 23.84, 0.91 and 2.17 per sq. km respectively; in Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary, they were estimated to be 0.0, 0.21, 84.13, 0.0, 0.0, 2.56, 33.95, 0.25 and 2.04 per sq. km respectively; in Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, they were estimated to be 0.0, 0.0, 26.82, 0.32, 40.14, 1.31, 87.01, 12.56 and 0.4 per sq. km respectively. A total of 204 tropical grassland savannah (vidis) in the Asiatic Lion landscape were sampled to obtain reliable abundance and biomass estimates since they act as refuge and ideal habitats for the wild prey base.References
Bagchi, S., S.P. Goyal & K. Sankar (2004): Herbivore density and biomass in a semi-arid tropical dry deciduous forest of western India. Journal of Tropical Ecology 20: 475–478.
Banerjee, K., Y.V. Jhala, K.S. Chauhan & C.V. Dave (2013): Living with lions: the economics of coexistence in the Gir forests, India. PLoS One 8(1): e49457.
Biswas, S. & K. Sankar (2002): Prey abundance and food habit of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India. Journal of Zoology 256: 411–420.
Cromsigt, J.P., S.J. Van Rensburg, R.S. Etienne & H. Olff (2009): Monitoring large herbivore diversity at different scales: comparing direct and indirect methods. Biodiversity and Conservation 18(5): 1219–1231.
Karanth, K.U. & B.M. Stith (1999): Prey depletion as a critical determinant of tiger population viability. Pp. 100–113. In: Seidensticker, J., S. Christie & P. Jackson (Eds): Riding the Tiger. Cambridge University Press, London.
Karanth, K.U. & J.D. Nichols (1998): Estimation of tiger densities in India using photographic captures and recaptures. Ecology 79: 2852–2862.
Meena, R.L. & S. Kumar (2012): Management plan for Gir Protected Areas. Vol. 1. Gujarat Forest Department, Gujarat, India.
Meena, V., Y.V. Jhala, R. Chellam & B. Pathak (2011): Implications of diet composition of Asiatic lions for their conservation. Journal of Zoology 284(1): 60–67.
Mehta, D. (2015): The Vidis of Saurashtra. Pp. 54–63. In: Rawat, G.S. and B.S. Adhikari (Eds): Ecology and Management of Grassland Habitats in India. ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife and Protected Areas, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India.
Ram, M., D. Vasavada & D. Mehta (2019a): Maldharis of Gir. Wildlife Division, Sasan Gir. TR-01/2018-19.
Ram, M., D. Vasavada & D. Mehta (2019b): Water Hole Management in Gir Landscape. Wildlife Division, Sasan Gir. TR-02/2019-20.
Ram, M., D.T. Vasavada, D. Mehta, D. Mesariya & K. Vala (2020): Wildlife of Gir Interpretation Zone, Devalia. Wildlife Division, Sasan Gir, Gujarat Forest Department. TR-01/2020-21.
Ramakrishnan, U., R.G. Coss & N.W. Pelkey (1999): Tiger decline caused by the reduction of large ungulate prey: evidence from a study of leopard diets in southern India. Biological Conservation 89: 113–120.
Rodgers, W.A., H.S. Panwar & V.B. Mathur (2000): Wildlife protected area network in India: a review. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. 44 pp.
Singh, H.S. & R.D. Kamboj (1996): Biodiversity Conservation Plan for Gir (A Management Plan for Gir Sanctuary and National Park). Vol. I (242 pp.) and Vol. II (157 pp.). Gujarat Forest Department, India.
Sugoor, R.K. & D.B. Ande (2001): Conservation strategy for grasslands of Saurashtra and Kachchh region of Gujarat state. Indian Forester 127(12): 1408–414.
Thomas, L., S.T. Buckland, E.A. Rexstad, J.L. Laake, S. Strindberg, S.L. Hedley, J.R.B. Bishop, T.A. Marques & K.P. Burnham (2010): Distance software: design and analysis of distance sampling surveys for estimating population size. Journal of Applied Ecology 47: 5–14.