B. P. Pati , Belim M. Hanif , B. J. Pathak

Abstract

The present paper analysed the incidences of lions (Panthera leo persica) and panthers (Panthera pardus) rescued and health status in and around Gir PA. Out of 264 lions and panthers were rescued during 1996-2000 , 58.33% were rescued from revenue areas and 41.67 % from forest and sanctuary areas. It has been noticed that big cats tend to remain near the farmland in search of easy prey , thich shelter , and availability of water especially in southern and northern part of Gir PA. Lions were mostly rescued from (57.90 %) forest and sanctuary areas. While panthers (88.17 %) from revenue areas. Out of total rescued lions , 42.69% were healthy , while in case of panthers it was 43.01%. A total of 80 lion and 41 panther deaths were recorded in Gir PA during the last five years. The natural death in lion and panther was higher due to old age complications than other known cause of death. Accidental fall in wells was also a major cause of death in both species. Death due to poisoning , electrocution and poaching were observed more in lions than panthers. Infectious diseases due to endo-parasites , ecto-parasites and maggots were also one of the major cause of death in both animals. Maximum death rate was observed during rainy season followed by summer in both the animals.

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B. P. Pati , S. Vijayan

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S. Vijayan , B. P. Pati

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The Gir National Park is surrounded by seven Talukas of two Districts. Main occupation of the villagers in this area is farming due to fertile black soil and good irrigation facility. Farmers are changing to sugarcane (87% increase in 10 years) and Mango cultivation (103%) leaving their old traditional crops like groundnut. Wheat etc, as the former fetch good money in local market. Large-scale cultivation of Sugarcane and Mango orchard in peripheral villages of Gir National Park and Sanctuary has given rise to a thick growth of an artificial dense cover. This attracts large carnivores like Lion (Panthera leo persica) and Leopard (Panthera pardus) to take shelter, raise their young and stalk domestic animals as well as wild animals like Wild boar (Sus scrofa). The straying incidences of Lions and Leopards increased to 411 % and 386% respectively from last 3 years (from 1997). This study reveals than in Talala Taluka 72% (13 incidences) and 59% (16 incidences) of the total attacks by Lions and Leopards respectively took place in farmland. In addition to this livestock kill is on increase in farmland (28% increase in 5 years). These encounters have given rise to antagonist attitude among farmers towards the big cats and they have in some cases retaliated by poisoning the carcass. The presence of big cats in farmlands has given rise to fear psychosis among labourers and in turn affects the harvesting of crops and results in loss of man-days and money. More and more requests are received by the Wildlife Rescue Team of the Forest Department for capturing and relocating the big cats from farmlands to its original forest area.

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B. P. Pati , S. Vijayan , B. S. Mehra

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Ratel (Mellivora capensis) is a secretive animal and scanty information is available on this species. In Gir PA the recorded sightings of Ratel were very few. In this study an effort was made to determine its habitat use, dietary constituents. Ratel prefers riverine habitat for foraging (54%). In comparison to Riverine burrows (42%), Ratel prefers undulating dry deciduous patches (58%) as its shelter. Ratel prefers small vertebrates in its diet, in comparison to with fruits and tubers. Very little is known about social structure, reproduction and territoriality etc. Although it was known from various sightings that the animal is primarily solitary (80%) but may be seen in pairs rarely.

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B. P. Pati

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Gir National Park and Sanctuary is devoted to the Conservation of the Asiatic Lion and as a result of protection measures, now it also maintains a riclibio-diversity of flora and fauna. The Sanctuary still has a sizeable population of Maldharies although a considerable number of their families was shifted elsewhere during the project period. Formerly the Maldharies traded in ghee, but now they have taken to milk selling obtained from cattle maintained and grazed by them inside the Parle. They also sell dung mixed with soil as manure. The study analyzes the impact of this change of livelihood practice by Maldharies. The study shows that owing to increase in cattle and human population, as well as change in the mode of earning livelihood by Maldharies there has been considerable degradation in this habitat. It is significant within 1km radius from their Nesses. Regeneration in 2km and 4km distance is 30% and less than 19% respectively. The increase has also affected milk production and cattle holding per family.

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B. P. Pati , Belim M. Hanif

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The present investigation is concerned with the regeneration status, habitat utilization and herbaceous biomass production status with respect to the relocated and present Maldhari nesses, which elucidate the impact of human beings (i.e. Maldharis) and their livestock on the Gir National Park and Sanctuary. In abandoned nesses of the Gir National Park, the average regeneration rate and the herbaceous biomass was more in comparison to the abandoned nesses of the Sanctuary. This was because the latter sites are located near the present nesses. In the present nesses, the regeneration rate and the herbaceous biomass was nil at 0m, minimum at 200m and slightly higher at 500m. In present nesses, non-palatable weight of herb biomass was the maximum at all distances and at all intervals and was the minimum or absent in the abandoned nesses. The average percentage utilization of habitat by wildlife at present nesses was very low in 200m (25%) and 500m (45%), whereas in abandoned nesses the average percentage of utilization of habitat by wildlife was 70% at 0m, 65% at 200m and the highest 85% at 500m.

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