We used Maxent to model the distribution of the Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii), a cryptic semi-arboreal mammal, with climate, forest, and human disturbance as covariates. We modelled the species niche, which identified suitable habitat across a variety of land uses and protection regimes. The findings point to a species niche defined by isolated, cold, and wet areas along the Western Ghats’ montane grasslands (shola) and adjoining wet forests. A sizable portion (62 %) of the total 8922 km2 niche area is multi-use, including tea, coffee, and timber plantations. Our findings emphasise the importance of conservation in non-protected areas adjacent to reserves in order to sustain this endemic species.

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The natural distribution and the species ecology of the lesser-known nocturnal endemic brown palm civet in the Western Ghats are definite. We used camera trap data from the Western Ghats to predict the suitable niche, coat colour pattern, and diel activity. The environmental variables like rainfall, elevation, isothermaility, tree density, and tree height profoundly influence the brown palm civet's habitat suitability. We determined that the most suitable habitat area in the entire Western Ghats is 21,853 km 2 , in four well-defined isolated blocks. The brown palm civet distribution is more towards the south, ranging from Kakkad to Anamalai. The distribution on the north side is in the Nilgiris, Bhadra, and the Sahyadri. The diel activity pattern indicates that the species is nocturnal, with activity peak in the early night and ending in the early morning, and is nearly identical in different landscapes. The species has a variety of coat patterns, which we believe is due to phenotypic plasticity. The species is not a true high altitude montane shola-dependent species, unlike the other endemic species of the Western Ghats. The destruction of rainforests resulting from excessive anthropogenic pressure results in habitat fragmentation, posing a significant threat to the brown palm civet habitats.

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Tiger conservation is a global initiative, and data on distribution, prey dynamics, competition, and range extension are critical factors in sustaining its fragile populations. We concentrated on evaluating the data pertaining to these variables in order to designate the high-altitude Nilgiri forest division as a tiger conservation unit. We gathered secondary data on animal density, mortality, and conflicts. We also conducted a people perception survey, a systematic grid-based prey species survey, and a tiger and leopard scat survey to assess the prey-predator relationship and understand human attitudes toward carnivore conservation. According to the findings, the Nilgiri forest division has a healthy prey base with positive or random prey-predator associations and a significant correlation between mammalian assemblages. Because the niche overlap between the tiger and the leopard is high, the latter broadens its niche and relies on wild prey in the shola fringes and tea estates. The tiger avoids human-dominated areas and prefers to stay in the shola, rarely venturing into tea estates. In contrast to previous considerations, we believe the Nilgiri forest division is an ideal tiger habitat. We specify that instead of being considered a connective corridor, the Nilgiri forest division may be merged with Mukkurthi National Park to form a high-altitude tiger reserve.

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