Abundance and density estimates for common leopard <i>Panthera pardus</i> and clouded leopard <i>Neofelis nebulosa</i> in Manas National Park, Assam, India

Borah, Jimmy; Sharma, Tridip; Das, Dhritiman; Rabha, Nilmani; Kakati, Niraj; Basumatary, Ajit; Ahmed, M. Firoz; Vattakaven, Joseph

doi:10.1017/s0030605312000373

Cited by 57 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…While tiger density in the CH is half that in the lowland areas of CNP and Bardia National Park (Dhakal et al 2014), it is still comparable to multiple sites in India, such as Pakke Tiger Reserve (Chauhan et al 2006), Chilla Range (Harihar et al 2011) and Tadoba and Bhadra Tiger Reserve (Karanth et al 2004), and higher in density than in Bhutan (Wang & Macdonald 2009), Myanmar (Lynam et al 2009) and Malaysia (Kawanishi & Sunquist 2004). Leopard density in the Churia is very similar to the high density areas in the bhabhars of Parsa Wildlife Reserve in Nepal , the mountains of Kuiburi National Park in Thailand (Steinmetz et al 2013), Manas Tiger Reserve in India (Borah et al 2013), and the Irrigated Valley in Akole Tahsil, Maharastra, India (Athreya et al 2013). This highlights the suitability of the Churia habitat for leopards.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Density and carrying capacity in the forgotten tigerland: Tigers in the understudied Nepalese Churia

Thapa

Kelly

2017

Integrative Zoology

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While there are numerous wildlife ecology studies in lowland areas of Nepal, there are no in-depth studies of the hilly Churia habitat even though it comprises 7642 km of potential wildlife habitat across the Terai Arc. We investigated tiger, leopard and prey densities across this understudied habitat. Our camera trapping survey covered 536 km of Churia and surrounding areas within Chitwan National Park (CNP). We used 161 trapping locations and accumulated 2097 trap-nights in a 60-day survey period during the winter season of 2010-2011. In addition, we walked 136 km over 81 different line transects using distance sampling to estimate prey density. We photographed 31 individual tigers, 28 individual leopards and 25 other mammalian species. Spatial capture-recapture methods resulted in lower density estimates for tigers, ranging from 2.3 to 2.9 tigers per 100 km , than for leopards, which ranged from 3.3 to 5.1 leopards per 100 km . In addition, leopard densities were higher in the core of the Churia compared to surrounding areas. We estimated 62.7 prey animals per 100 km with forest ungulate prey (sambar, chital, barking deer and wild pig), accounting for 47% of the total. Based on prey availability, Churia habitat within CNP could potentially support 5.86 tigers per 100 km but our density estimates were lower, perhaps indicating that the tiger population is below carrying capacity. Our results demonstrate that Churia habitat should not be ignored in conservation initiatives, but rather management efforts should focus on reducing human disturbance to support higher predator numbers.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Density and carrying capacity in the forgotten tigerland: Tigers in the understudied Nepalese Churia

Thapa

Kelly

2017

Integrative Zoology

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“…Using bycatch from national tiger survey, we have estimated density and site‐use probability of a cryptic species, the clouded leopard, following methodologies developed in previous studies (Borah et al., ; Mohamad et al., for N. nebulosa ; Sollmann et al., ; Haidir et al., for N. diardi ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying important conservation areas for the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in a mountainous landscape: Inference from spatial modeling techniques

Penjor

Macdonald

Wangchuk

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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The survival of large carnivores is increasingly precarious due to extensive human development that causes the habitat loss and fragmentation. Habitat selection is influenced by anthropogenic as well as environmental factors, and understanding these relationships is important for conservation management. We assessed the environmental and anthropogenic variables that influence site use of clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in Bhutan, estimated their population density, and used the results to predict the species’ site use across Bhutan. We used a large camera‐trap dataset from the national tiger survey to estimate for clouded leopards, for the first time in Bhutan, (1) population density using spatially explicit capture–recapture models and (2) site‐use probability using occupancy models accounting for spatial autocorrelation. Population density was estimated at trueD^normalBayesian=0.40 (0.10 SD) and trueD^maximum−likelihood=0.30 (0.12 SE) per 100 km2. Clouded leopard site use was positively associated with forest cover and distance to river while negatively associated with elevation. Mean site‐use probability (from the Bayesian spatial model) was trueψ^normalspatial=0.448 (0.076 SD). When spatial autocorrelation was ignored, the probability of site use was overestimated, trueψ^normalnonspatial=0.826 (0.066 SD). Predictive mapping allowed us to identify important conservation areas and priority habitats to sustain the future of these elusive, ambassador felids and associated guilds. Multiple sites in the south, many of them outside of protected areas, were identified as habitats suitable for this species, adding evidence to conservation planning for clouded leopards in continental South Asia.

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“…The Indian leopard ( Panthera pardus fusca ) is an obligate carnivore widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent (Borah et al, ). This species is categorized as near‐threatened as per IUCN Red Data Book (Henschell et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Partial replacement of dietary buffalo meat on the bone with chicken carcass improves serum antioxidant profile of zoo‐housed Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca)

et al. 2019

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This experiment was conducted to study the effect of gradual replacement of dietary buffalo meat on the bone (BMB) with chicken carcass (CC) on nutrient utilization, serum cortisol, and total serum antioxidant profile of zoo‐housed Indian leopard. Twelve adult leopards were randomly distributed into a replicated Latin square design comprising three treatments, three periods, four animals, and three sequences. Leopards in group T1 were fed normal zoo diet of BMB. On the basis of dry matter, 10% and 20% of BMB was replaced with CC in groups T2 and T3, respectively. Each experimental period comprised 21 days. During each period, a digestion trial of 4‐day collection period was conducted after an adaptation period of 17 days. On Day 21 of each experimental period, blood was collected from all the animals by puncturing the ventral coccygial vein. Intake and apparent digestibility of major nutrients were similar among the groups. Replacement of 20% BMB with addition of CC increased (p < 0.001) the calculated supply of I, niacin, and vitamin A. Carotenoid intake increased (p < 0.01) with increased level of CC in the diet. Serum concentration of cortisol decreased (p < 0.01) whereas serum concentration of total carotenoids increased (p < 0.001) with increased level of CC in the diet. Serum concentration of antioxidant enzymes increased (p < 0.001) with increased level of CC in the diet. It was concluded that replacement of 20% of BMB with CC increased antioxidant profile. This may reduce oxidative stress in zoo‐housed Indian leopards without any adverse effect on nutrient utilization.

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Abundance and density estimates for common leopard Panthera pardus and clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in Manas National Park, Assam, India

Cited by 57 publications

References 52 publications

Density and carrying capacity in the forgotten tigerland: Tigers in the understudied Nepalese Churia

Density and carrying capacity in the forgotten tigerland: Tigers in the understudied Nepalese Churia

Identifying important conservation areas for the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in a mountainous landscape: Inference from spatial modeling techniques

Partial replacement of dietary buffalo meat on the bone with chicken carcass improves serum antioxidant profile of zoo‐housed Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca)

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