Informatics Publishing Limited

B. G. Marcot , A. Kumar , P. S. Roy , V. B. Sawarkar , A. Gupta , S. N. Sangma

Abstract

In the South Garo Hills District and Nokrek area of Western Meghalaya, statistical analyses suggest very low elephant densities and greatest declines of elephants in areas with >10% bamboo and secondary forest (6-10 years old) and >10% scrub and abandonedjhum fields (old fallow jhum 3-6 years old). Elephant densities are hi'ghest, and declines are the least, in areas with >25% semi-evergreen forest (old secondary forests 15-30+ years old). Data on elephant sign (use) in the field generally support these findings, with selection by elephants (ie., use significantly exceeding availability) for native semi-evergreen forest, and lack of selection (use significantly less than availability) for deciduous forests (including Sal forest, Teak, and Cashew plantations) and for scrub and abandonedjhum fields. To maintain elephant populations in the South Garo Hills District and Nokrek area, we suggest official delineation of 7 elephant habitat corridors that we mapped as having low degree of fragmentation of forest cover and a high proportion of contiguous, semi-evergreen and evergreen forest cover.

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N. P. S. Chauhan , V. B. Sawarkar

Abstract

Wildlife damage problems are as old as man, but have come into focus as a management issue for reasons of some species adapting themselves to the changing environs and thriving in the man altered habitats. Consequently, there is a clash with interests of local people. Crop raiding by locally over-abundant wild herbivores is one such problem. The paper analyses the crop raiding problem by nilgai in Haryana and by blackbuck in the Karera G.I.B. Sanctuary, M.P. and seeks to offer management strategies to minimize the problem.

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V. B. Sawarkar

Abstract

Predation on domestic livestock by large carnivores is an ancient conflict. It was until recently regarded as an aberrant form of behaviour. It is essential to distinguish between an indidual 'cattle lifter', engaged almost exclusively in predation in livestock and feeding on cattle to some extent by the carnivore population throughout its range. In past carnivores responsible for predation on cattle were proscribed for destruction. Today most large carnivores are endangered, and legal provisions to deal with cattle killing carnivores have changed. Wildlife managers are paying more attention to the reasons for such behaviour and measures are being adopted to mitigate the problem Predation on cattle can no longer be considered abnormal since cattle population is distributed widely in large number, grazing mainly in fotested habitats. The protected area have high carnivore support potential but the surrounding buffers and often heavily used multiple area have sub-optional to poor habitat and prey conditions, as such a clear predation differential in terms of cattle killing is observed. Under prevailing conditions cattle killing connot be eliminated but may be reduced through certain precautions. Awarding compensation is one approach to make good the losses of cattle owners. The paper considers several field situations and discusses mitigation approach.

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V. B. Sawarkar

Abstract

The guiding policy with regards to fires in National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries is same as that adopted in forest management-suppression of all wild fires. While referring to general causes of forest fires, the protection strategy is viewed along its three cardinal aspects Prevention, detection and lighting the fires. The paper summarises conventional methods as well as presents some highly successful approaches locally developed on some of the wildlife areas. The building blocks of a good fire protection planning fire education for villagers, regular training to staff, maintenance of fire records and its use to improve upon protection measures, finally to evaluate team performance have been discussed and approach suggested.

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