An Updated Account of Mammal Species and Population Status of Ungulates in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan

Abstract

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.

Large Mammal Diversity and Endemism at Geremba Mountain Fragment, Southern Ethiopia

“…Data on large mammal species richness and abundance were recorded along the established transect lines, during morning hours (6:00 to 10:00 am) and late afternoon (3:00 to 5:00 pm) following [31,32]. Each line transect was navigated by using Garmin 60/78 global positioning system (GPS) and Handheld bearing compass Suunto KB-14/360R G by walking at a constant speed of ∼1 km/h [33][34][35]. During the study periods, a silent detection method (suitable clothing for camouflage, moving against the direction of wind, and keeping quite) was practiced to minimize disturbance and increase of animals detectability.…”

Large Mammal Diversity in Nensebo Forest, Southern Ethiopia

“…Mammalian populations were counted by direct observation along the established transect lines, during morning hours (6 : 00 to 10 : 00 am) and late afternoon (3 : 00 to 5 : 00 pm) according to [24,25]. Each line transect was navigated by using a Garmin 60/78 Global Positioning System (GPS) and Handheld Bearing Compass Suun to KB-14/360R G by gently walking at a constant speed of ∼1 km/h [25][26][27]. During the study periods, the silent detection method (suitable clothing for camouflage, moving opposite wind direction (from south to north), and avoiding loud voices) was practiced minimizing disturbance.…”

“…For a more complete species list, in addition to fixed line transects surveys, random searches were held to record the occurrence of mammalian species in the study areas during both day and night time (using hand torch) for five days and nights in each season searching them in potential habitats and areas inaccessible with transect lines and plot survey methods [26]. Species identification of mammals was based on e Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals [29] and "Atibiwoch" [30].…”

The Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hillaire, 1831) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Rajasthan, India – a compilation of two decades

“…Rusty-spotted Cats were also sighted in two tiger reserves of the state, namely Sariska (Sharma 1998;Mukherjee 1998Mukherjee , 2013 and Ranthambhore (Reddy 2002;Verma 2008;Khandal & Khandal 2015) in Alwar and Sawai Madhopur Districts, respectively. A road kill was reported in Bundi District (Nayak et al 2017), and sightings in Bharatpur District (Singh et al 2017).…”