Status and Habitat Use of Large Mammals in Gir National Park and Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Data pertains to abundance and habitat use on patch scale on large mammals was collected using camera trapping during summer 2017. Camera traps were placed systematically in a 4 km2 grid in an area of 200 km2. Relative Area Index was used as a measure of relative abundance of mammals and frequency of occurrence of different species in different habitat as a measure of habitat use. Difference among habitat use was tested using chi-square test. A total effort of 1581 trapping days resulted from four months of camera trapping. Among herbivores chital was the most abundant and distributed on the basis on RAI followed by sambar, wild boar and nilgai. Among carnivore’s leopards was the most distributed and abundant carnivore followed by the lion and hyena. Except hyena and wild boar all other species use habitat differentially. Chital mostly use Teak-Acacia-Zizyphus habitat while sambar use Teak-Mixed habitat most. Nilgai use Mix Valley habitat most while wild boar uses all habitats equally. Leopards and lion use riverine habitat more while hyena use all habitats equally. Prey habitat use is discussed in the light of foraging, predation and abiotic factors in habitat patches while predator habitat use was discussed in light of food availability, competitor avoidance, human disturbance and abiotic factors. Relative abundance was discussed in light of present and earlier conservation efforts in Gir, and other ecological conditions affecting the abundance such as food availability and coexistence among carnivores.