IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Chakma, S. | |
| Assessment of large mammals of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh with emphasis on tiger | |
| 2016 Full Book | |
Biodiversity assessment is the first step of conservation and monitoring of an ecosystem. The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh is considered as Tiger Restoration Landscape. Neither tiger nor prey abundance has been assessed for the CHT. The overall goal of this study was to assess the conservation potential of medium (> 5 kg) to large mammals (>20 kg) across the CHT with special emphasis on tiger (_Panthera tigris_). A total of 3800 kmý area has been surveyed from March, 2010 to July 2011. I have collected presence absence data using signs (tracks, scats, scrapes) survey and analysed using programme PRESENCE by applying occupancy models and figures using programme R. In addition to signs survey camera trap survey was also conducted, and compared the effectiveness of two methods. Relative Abundance Index (RAI) and activity patterns of medium to large mammals were quantified. Potential conservation areas assessed following The Nature Conservancy (TNC) guidelines and finally formulated conservation recommendations. A total of 20 species of terrestrial mammals was recorded from both sign and camera trap survey. No tiger signs were found except 3 tiger killing records in last 15 years indicating tigers are either extirpated from the CHT or extremely rare and sporadic in the CHT landscapes. The notable carnivores documented are leopard (_Panthera pardus_), dhole (_Cuon alpinus_), clouded leopard (_Neofelis nebulosa_) and golden cat (_Felis temminki_). Gaur (_Bos gaurus_) thought to be an extirpated species for Bangladesh but rediscovered during this study. The other notable ungulates found are sambar deer (_Rusa unicolor_), barking deer (_Muntiacus vaginalis_), wild boar (_Sus scrofa_) and red serow (_Capricornis rubidus_). One deer skin was photographed which resembles to Fea muntjac (_Muntiacus feae_). Barking deer (_Muntiacus vaginalis_) occupancy () was found 100% (SE = 0.0; 95% CI= 0.99-1) in surveyed area following by wild boar (_Sus scrofa_) 0.81 (SE = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.60-0.92), and sambar deer (_Rusa unicolor_) 0.73 (SE = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.41-0.91). The availability of primary forest (pf) was found to be the most important determinant for the species occupancy. Presence of ungulates in combination with primary forest was found to be the best prediction model for carnivore occupancy () and determining probability of detection (p). Signs survey was found useful than camera trap method for short time survey. Relative Abundance Index (RAI) of main tiger prey species in selected grid cells was found higher than other tiger low density places of Southeast Asia. Habitat connectivity, abundance of ungulates, presence of carnivores, and quality of forest all are in stress. Shifting cultivation, hunting and settlement of plane land people were assessed as the high threats. The Kassalong Reserve Forest (KRF) adjacent to Dampa Tiger Reserve (DTR) of India is most potential to restore many large mammals. The study partially fulfilled the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Aichi Biodiversity Target 2020 and it is hoped that these results will be used for future study and conservation planning in the CHT. |
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