Group size pattern and distribution of threatened Sambar Rusa unicolor (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Moyar River Valley, India

Thirumurugan, Vedagiri; Vishnu, None C.S.; Prabakaran, Nehru; Ramesh, Chinnasamy

doi:10.11609/jott.7445.14.4.20926-20929

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“…The population of ungulates in grasslands of Royal Karnali‐Bardia Wildlife Preserve Nepal, Karanali‐Bardia grasslands as well as Tadoba National Park, Chandrapur were estimated by using pellet group counts, sample area counts from observation platforms and strip censusing techniques (Dinerstein, 1980), similar to previous studies on sambar in HPNP (Padmalal et al, 2003; Rajapakse, 2003; Rajapakse et al, 1993, 2002), while the present study used an improved technique of distance sampling. Reported estimations of the crude density of sambar in areas with habitat mosaics including grasslands (numbers/total area regardless of whether animals use the entire area; Chapman & Balcomb, 1998), includes 15.4 ± 3.34 per km 2 in the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Indian Madhya Pradesh in 2013 (Awasthi et al, 2016), 8.97 per km 2 in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in 2020 (Thirumurugan et al, 2022), and 3.7 per km 2 in the Ruhunu National Park representing the Dry zone of Sri Lanka in 2017 (Kittle et al, 2017). The ecological density of sambar reported here only for the grasslands in HPNP (number/usable habitat; Chapman & Balcomb, 1998) is much higher in comparison to the above, indicating that HPNP harbors one of the densest sambar populations.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The mean number of newborn calves observed per km in Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka over the 3 years of study(2018)(2019)(2020). of sambar in areas with habitat mosaics including grasslands (numbers/total area regardless of whether animals use the entire area;Chapman & Balcomb, 1998), includes 15.4 ± 3.34 per km 2 in the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Indian Madhya Pradesh in 2013(Awasthi et al, 2016), 8.97 per km 2 in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in 2020(Thirumurugan et al, 2022), and 3.7 per km 2 in the Ruhunu National Park representing the Dry zone of Sri Lanka in 2017(Kittle…”

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Population dynamics and social organization of sambar (Rusa unicolor unicolor) in Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka

et al. 2023

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We estimated the population density and investigated the social organization of sambar (Rusa unicolor unicolor) in Horton Plains National Park (HPNP), Sri Lanka. Distance sampling was conducted along six strip transects every month for a period over 3 years (2018–2020) to estimate the density of the sambar population in grasslands of HPNP (9.4 km2), while the antler stage of males and the behavior of individuals were recorded to describe the population's reproductive stage and hence the social organization. Population density estimates showed relative stability over the 3 years and varied over the seasons but with consistent peaks from year to year with the highest population densities recorded in November–December (212.93 ± 25.38 animals/km2 in 2018, 187.91 ± 28.51 in 2019, and 179.76 ± 31.85 in 2020). The highest percentage of males in hard antlers was observed from November through January, while the percentage of antlers cast sambar peaked from March to April each year. Hinds were observed with newborn calves throughout the year, but the highest number of newborn calves were recorded from July to August each year, while the number of calves counted each year varied from 210 to 267 individuals. The mean group size was variable throughout each year with the largest groups recorded from September to December (up to 52), the period accompanied by the most observations of mating and sparring behavior. Although on a tropical island, HPNP is situated on a rolling plateau landscape in the highlands, where sambar showed a degree of reproductive seasonality somewhat similar to temperate cervid species.

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