S. K. Sagar , K. Sivakumar

Abstract

A rapid survey on invasive wild rose species was carried out in the Kaziranga National Park during March 2008. The invasive wild rose present in the KNP, identified as Rosa soulieana Crep., is a new record to India. This species might have been brought down to India by river Brahmaputra which passes through China. Wild rose is usually present in and around the beel area, which is the most crucial habitat for all major flagship species of the Park. Hence, this wild rose poses a significant threat to the prime habitat of One-horned Rhinoceros and other major herbivores of Kaziranga National Park by changing the beel system as well as encroaching the grasslands of the beel area, which needs to be managed immediately.

Keywords

Wild Rose, Rosa soulieana Crep., Status, Distribution, Management, Kaziranga
National Park, Assam

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Navonil Das , K. Sivakumar

Abstract

A short-term study on population status and distribution pattern of Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus during peak breeding season from January to May 2006 was conducted in Chilla range of Rajaji National Park. Nine line transects of 600 m in length were marked in different portions of the park. Each line transects were walked for six times in both morning and evening hours. The transect surveys recorded 713 birds in 429 observations. The overall density of 88.24 birds per square kilometre comprised female favoured population structure of 48.72 peahen per square kilometre to 38.89 peacock per square kilometer. In Chilla range of Rajaji National Park, peafowls preferred Chilla block area, followed by Mundal and Khara respectively. Low density of peafowl in Khara block might have been related late relocation process in comparison to Mundal and Chilla blocks. There was no significant differences found in the bird density distribution between plain terrain transects and moderately undulating terrain transects.

Keywords

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), Population Status, Distribution Pattern, Chilla
Range, Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand

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K. Sivakumar

Abstract

The Uttarakhand Forest Department has recently declared the Jhilmil Jheel as a Conservation Reserve. Therefore, conservation of near by Banganga wetland which is identified as a crucial habitat for swamp deer in Uttarakhand, becomes important. Since, baseline information about fishes occur in the Banganga is necessary to monitor their populations as well as habitats. Extensive surveys of fish fauna were carried out between February and June 2006. Since the February is the peak period of fishing, majority of the sample collection was done during this period to prepare a checklist of fish species which occur in the Baanganga. A total of 40 species of fishes were recorded during the survey period. Most of them were commercially important and many species were assessed as threatened. Various recommendations for the conservation and sustainable utilization of fish biodiversity of this wetland are discussed in this paper.

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Vinay K. Bhargav , V. P. Uniyal , Swati Kittur , K. Sivakumar

Abstract

No abstract

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K. Sivakumar , S. Sathyakumar , G. S. Rawat

Abstract

The Shivalik landscape is extended from the Indus basin to the Brahmaputra with one gap of over 300 km from the Sapta Kosi to the Manas River. The Shivalik landscape, has been categorized under Indo-Gangetic plains and it has special significance in India's biogeography due to intermingling of taxa from the Indo-Malayan and Palaearctic regions. In the Northwest part of Shivaliks, a total of 21 wildlife protected areas had been established in six States and one Union Territory covering up to ca 2500 km². Though, more than 80% of existing protected areas of Shivaliks are in the Northwest Shivaliks, it is yet to cover some of the unique biodiversity of this region. Shivaliks in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are comparatively not well represented in the existing PA network of this region. Wildlife Divisions of Ropar, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur in Punjab, and the catchment area of Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh have been identified as potential Community/Conservation Reserves. Moreover, four clusters of Protected Areas such as 1) Kashmir, 2) Punjab and Chandigarh, 3) Himachal and Haryana, and 4) Uttarakhand have been identified in this region which may be reviewed and linked through available wildlife corridors. Of the identified four clusters of Protected Areas, two clusters require bilateral cooperation between two States for better coordination and management.

Keywords

Shivalik Landscape, Community Reserves, Protected Areas

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Satyaranjan Behera , K. Sivakumar , B. C. Choudhury , B. Tripathy , C. S. Kar

Abstract

The current study on olive ridley turtles was undertaken from 2007 to 2010 in Gahirmatha rookery of Odisha coast especially during their breeding season. Entire period of study the solitary nest and their predation and erosion level were studied in Islands as well as mainland beach. All successful nests were taken to nearest beat and translocated into temporary made hatchery. Total 3,046 solitary nests had been encountered in three Octobers period of study. Out of 3,046 only 294 were translocated in hatchery and remaining nest were destroyed by predation, erosion and inundation in the field itself. The mean hatching success rate was 54.7% in three Octobers of study. As soon as turtles start laying upon the nest; they become vulnerable to predation.

Keywords

Olive Ridley Turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, Solitary Nest, Hatchery, Hatching Success, Conservation, Depredation

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Satyaranjan Behera , K. Sivakumar , B. C. Choudhury , Janmejay Sethy

Abstract

No Abstarct

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