IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library
   

 

View printer friendly
Borah, J.; Wangchuk, D.; Swargowari, A.; Wangchuk, T.; Sharma, T.; Das, D.; Rabha, N.; Basumatari, A.; Kakati, N.; Ahmed, M.F.; Sharma, A.; Sarmah, A.; Dutta, D.K.; Lahkar, B.; Dorji, T.; Brahma, P.K.; Ramchiary, L.; Tempa, T.; Wangdi, Y.; Nedup, T.; Wangdi, T.; Tharchen, L.; Dhendup, P.; Bhobora, C.R.; Pandav, B.; Vattakaven, J.
Tigers across borders - Tigers in the Indo-Bhutan Transboundary Manas Conservation Complex (TMCC)
2012  Full Book

At the turn of the 20th century, around 100,000 wild tigers inhabited a range extending across Asia. However, poaching, along with loss of their habitat and depletion of their main ungulate prey species, have relentlessly pushed tigers to the verge of extinction. Today, there are less than 3,500 wild tigers living in their natural habitat, scattered among the 13 tiger range countries, occupying a mere 7 percent of their historical range. A failure to turn these trends will result not only in the loss of wild tigers, but also bring about profound changes to ecosystem structures and dynamics throughout the tiger bearing regions. Taking steps to protect and recover tiger populations will also lead to saving other species under the tiger's umbrella. To minimize the loss of tigers, range country governments, international agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations and other stakeholders are enhancing their efforts at all levels. The Government of India and the Royal Government of Bhutan are committed to conserving this species and have set aside priorities accordingly across the Transboundary landscape of Manas. The approach includes management of two or more contiguous Protected Areas or buffer zones across national boundaries, which includes Manas National Park in India and Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. This study used remotely triggered camera traps and the capture-recapture framework to estimate the abundance and density of tigers in the Transboundary Manas Conservation Complex. A total of 102 camera trap pairs were used in three ranges to cover more than 400 km2 in the area. More than 80 photographs of 14 individually identified tigers comprising of 8 males and 6 females were captured during the 5955 camera-trap night survey period. The population estimated was 15 (ñSE 2.64) individuals from the study area with a 95% confidence interval range of 15 to 29. Tiger density estimates using « MMDM (Mean Maximum Distance Moved) was 1.9 (ñSE 0.36) individuals/100 km2. In MLSECR (Maximum Likelihood Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture) analysis, estimated tiger density was 0.75 (ñSE 0.21) individuals/100 km2. In addition to tigers, the study also photo captured pictures of six others cats as well as prey and other associated species. These results provide insights into the richness and diversity which implies that the Manas complex is an extremely productive and rich landscape. The study results justify the assertion that the Transboundary Manas Conservation Complex as a landscape is crucial for the future of tigers, and the management of biodiversity should extend beyond the borders of Protected Areas and across political boundaries. These are also the first scientific estimates of tiger density and abundance from the Manas National Park and Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan and shall serve as a baseline to gauge conservation recovery efforts in the Manas complex.

PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here

 

(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union)