ZOO/WILD's 2012-13 Activities . . .

Assessing the Status and Distribution of Large Mammals in Highwavy and its Environs, Southern Western Ghats
 

Principal Investigators: G.Srinivas & Karthik
Grant Term: 04/11-03/13

Identify eco-sensitive and potential corridors and contiguity within and with adjacent landscapes in Highwavy and its environs. Develop plausible science-based management mechanisms with support of data on large mammal movement patterns, species-habitat interactions and threats. Disseminate results and findings to local stakeholders and the Forest Dept. through a series of workshops.

We carried out a study on status and distribution of mammals in the landscape between 2011 and 2012. The entire landscape was gridded (4 sq.km) on the map and each grid was sampled for the presence-absence of the mammals by walking on pre-determined paths. During this all the sighted animals were recorded, droppings on trail was recorded with species identity, and also animals presence was recorded using their unique secondary signs foot print, den characters, sprints and scratch marks on the tree. A total of about 285.5 km length were walked for the survey. Since all the animals cannot be recorded during the day walk and also using sign survey, we also surveyed for the detection of animals during the night by flashing the light by walking on the pre-determined paths or using a motor vehicle by driving slowly and flashing the light on either side of the forest. During this all the animals detected were recorded with species identity. Further, analysis on occupancy with the above set of data will reveal the spatial distribution of major animals. 

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