Food habits of dholes were studied in Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India, from June 2005 to August 2005 by analyzing their scats. In total, 66 scat samples were collected from various locations in the reserve in an area of 336.70 km 2 and analyzed to identify the food habits of dholes. Seven prey species were identified from the scat analysis. Sambar Cervus unicolor accounted for the highest percentage (46.97%), while barking deer Muntiacus muntjak and jungle fowl Gallus gallus was the lowest (1.52%). In terms of prey biomass contribution, sambar was highest (68.03%) while jungle fowl was lowest (0.28%). The total prey biomass consumed by the dholes in the study area was 141.26 kg during the study period. Our results may prove helpful in planning better management needs and strategies for the survival and conservation of dholes in different protected areas.

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Abstract:Observations on the Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard Saara hardwickii (Gray, 1827) were undertaken in Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India during the monsoons (July) following quadrat sampling that was time-constrained. The study revealed that the area is one of the preferable habitats for the species. A population analysis showed that the relative abundance of the subadults was higher, followed by juveniles and adults during the study period. The beginning of activity of the lizards was found to vary over the study period depending on prevailing weather conditions. The activity pattern was bimodal, except across rain events. The study revealed two important ecological findings about these lizards; complete sealing of burrow during rains which differed from partial sealing on normal days and complete diurnal cycle of body colour changes during the monsoon. Feeding was the predominant activity of this lizard followed by basking, resting and chasing each other. The adult lizards were found to be strictly herbivorous, in spite of an abundance of insects available in the area during the period. Subadults and juveniles were found to eat both plant parts, as well as insects. Microhabitat use such as inside grass clumps was found to be higher followed by barren ground, under shade and on stones.Keywords: Activity pattern, borrow sealing, colour change, food and feeding, habitat use, population, Rajasthan, Spiny-tailed Lizard, Wildlife Sanctuary.Hindi Abstract: rky Nkij oU;tho vH;kj.; es a Hkkjrh; dka W Vs nkj&iw W Nokyh fNidyh Saara hardwickii (Gray, 1827) ij oS Kkfud vuos D'k.k fd;k x;kA vË;;u DokMjs V fofèk (quadrat sampling method) vkS j flfer le;kofèk (time-constrained) ls ekulw u vofèk ds tq ykà ekg es a fd;k x;kA vË;;u es a ;gkW a dk okl&LFkku bl iz tkfr ds fy, eq [; #i ls ila fnnk okl&LFkku ik;k x;kA tula [;k fo"ys 'k.k es a vèkZ o;Ld dh la [;k lcls T;knk] fd"kks j vkS j o;Ld dh mÙkjks rj la [;k de ikbZ xbZ A bl iz tkfr ds nS fud xfrfofèk;ks a ds le; es a egÙoiw .kZ #i ls ekS le ds vuq #i nS fud ifjorZ u ik;k x;kA bldk nS fud fØ;kDyki] o'kkZ ds le; dks Nks Mdj] ckbZ eks My ns [kk x;kA bl vË;;u es a eq [; #i ls bl iz tkfr ds nks ikfjfLFfrdh igyw fudy dj vk,( o'kkZ ds nkS jku fcy dks iw .kZ r;k ca n djuk ogha lkekU; fnuks a es a vkèkk ca n djuk vkS j blds fnu ds le; "kjhj ds ja x dks ifjofrZ r djus dk pØA nS fud fØ;kDyki es a [kkuk [kkus es a lokZ fËkd le; O;rhr fd;k x;k ogh lw ;Z dh jks "kuh es a "kjhj dks rkiuk] vkjke djuk vkS j ,d&nw ljs dk fiNk djuk bldh vU; xfrfofËk;kW a FkhA o;Ld fNidfy;kW a iw .kZ r;k "kkdkgkjh ns [kh xbZ ] ogh ekulw u vofèk es a fdVks a dh ckgw Y;rk FkhA vèkZ o;Ld vkS j fd"kks jks a dks ikniks a ds Òkx ds lkFk& lkFk fdVks a dk Òh ÒD'k.k djrs ns [kk x;kA bl iz tkfr )kjk lq {e okl&LFkku ds #i es a ?kkl ds >q ..k lcls ila fnnk ns [kk x;s ogh likV èkjry] Nk;k vkS j Nks Vs iÙFkj Øe"k% de ila n fd;s x;s A ISSN Online 0974-7907 Print 0974-7893

This study documents the present status of mammals in Keoladeo National Park (KNP) and assesses the population structure of ungulates. It provides a comprehensive account of the mammal diversity of the park and aims to compare the change in mammalian species account ever since the park became a protected area. We employed line transect surveys for density estimation of ungulates. We report local extinction of eight species since 1966, and extant diversity of 34 mammalian species in KNP. The estimated densities of chital, feral cattle, nilgai, wild boar and sambar were 52.37, 33.66, 13.68, 3.21 and 0.32 individuals/km 2 respectively. Although blackbuck has become locally extinct and sambar density has significantly reduced, chital and nilgai as habitat generalists have increased in density in the last 25 years, which has contributed to an overall increase in ungulate population density in KNP. The mammalian diversity has changed substantially with local extinction of some carnivores and constant change in the habitat condition.