IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Das, S.K.; Sarkar, P.K.; Saha, R.; Vyas, P.; Danda, A.A.; Vattakavan, J. | |
| Status of tigers in Sundarban Biospere Reserve, 24-Parganas (South) Forest Division, Wet Bengal, India | |
| 2012 Full Book | |
The Sundarbans is the only mangrove forest in the world where the tiger is at the apex of the food chain. The Sundarbans ecosystem is subjected to variable salinity, periodic high tides and tidal inundations, occasional tidal surges and frequent flooding. The terrestrial fauna inhabiting this ecosystem is significantly different from their counterparts inhabiting other ecosystems. The tiger being an umbrella species, effective tiger conservation enhances survival prospects for other forms of biodiversity. Earlier tiger estimates in Sundarbans were based on pugmark methods, attacks on humans, interviews with local community, and radio telemetry based extrapolation. This study presents the findings of the first attempt to estimate the tiger population in the 24-Parganas (South) Forest Division of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve using photographic capture-recapture analysis. As part of Phase-IV monitoring protocol to obtain minimum tiger numbers in the Indian Sundarbans, WWF-India in collaboration with the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve Directorate carried out the camera trapping study. This study used remotely triggered camera traps and the capture-recapture framework to estimate the minimum population and density of tigers in two ranges of 24-Parganas (South) Forest Division. A total of 41 camera trap pairs were used in two ranges to cover about 982.56 sq km area. A total sampling effort of 600 trap days (20 camera trap stations, each operating for 30 occasions) at Ramganga range yielded 28 photographs (both flanks) of tigers. In Raidighi range, a total sampling effort of 714 trap days (21 camera trap stations, each operating for 34 occasions) yielded 71 photographs (both flanks) of tigers. Population is estimated to be 8.0ñ0.2 (N-hatñSE) individuals for Ramganga range and 13ñ3.5 (N-hatñSE) individuals for Raidighi range. Tiger density is estimated as 4.3 individuals/100 sq km at Ramganga range with an effective trapping area of 184.5 sq km and 7.08 individuals/100 sq km at Raidighi range with an effective trapping area of 141.3 sq km. In MLSECR (Maximum Likelihood Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture) analysis, estimated tiger density was 3.8 (ñSE 1.5) individuals/100 sq km for Ramganga range and 5.2 (ñSE 1.7) individuals/100 sq km for Raidighi range. In addition to tigers, the study also photo captured cats viz. fishing cat, jungle cat and leopard cat, as well as prey and other species. Apart from this, melanistic leopard cat was also photo captured. It is the first photographic evidence of its presence in the Sundarbans. These results provide insights into the richness and diversity which imply that the 24-Parganas (South) Forest Division is a rich landscape. The study results justify the assertion that the landscape is crucial for the future of tigers, and management of biodiversity should extend beyond the borders of Protected Areas. |
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