Search Results (6)

The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo), a flagship species of conservation significance, has expanded its range beyond the Gir protected areas into multi-use landscapes, including the coastal regions of Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. This study examines the dietary patterns of Asiatic lions in this unique coastal region. Using scat analysis, we identified the prey species consumed and quantified their contributions to the lions’ diet. Results indicate that the lions predominantly consumed wild prey, such as Boselaphus tragocamelus, Sus scrofa, and Axis axis, which together constituted 64% of their diet. Domestic prey contributed 31%. In terms of biomass, wild prey accounted for 70%, with Boselaphus tragocamelus alone contributing 51%. The dietary niche breadth, calculated using Levin’s index, was 0.36, suggesting a relatively specialized diet. This study underscores the importance of prey abundance and habitat structure in shaping lion predation patterns. Lions’ reliance on wild prey, particularly Boselaphus tragocamelus and Sus scrofa, highlights their crucial role in the coastal region. Additionally, the inclusion of domestic prey, such as feral cattle, may reflect their high availability and reduced anti-predator behaviors. These findings emphasize the need for robust prey population monitoring and habitat conservation to ensure the long-term survival of Asiatic lions in the coastal region. Full article

Single individuals of the Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga), Indian Spotted Eagle (Clanga hastata), Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax), Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), and two Pallid Harriers (Circus macrourus) were deployed with satellite transmitters in 2021 to study their home ranges, habitat associations, movement, and migration patterns. Data were collected for a combined number of 2291 days, providing 84,544 locations. Home ranges were calculated as kernel utilization distributions and expressed as 95% KDE and core areas as 50% KDE. Overall, eagles had larger home ranges (mean ± SD) of 942.70 ± 937.83 km² compared to harriers, 43.84 ± 35.55 km². Among eagles, the Greater Spotted Eagle had the largest home-range size of 2147.03 km² calculated in Kazakhstan, while the female Pallid Harrier had the smallest home range of 5.74 km² in Russia. Daily and monthly distances varied among eagles and harriers. The female Pallid Harrier covered the longest average monthly distance of 8585.43 ± 11,943.39 km, while the shortest monthly distance of 1338.22 ± 716.38 km was traveled by the Indian Spotted Eagle. All tagged birds migrated toward higher latitudes in the Northern hemisphere, except the Indian Spotted Eagle, which migrated to Pakistan. The male Western Marsh Harrier covered the longest migration distance in a shorter span of time, while the female Pallid Harrier took the longest to cover its migration distance. Overall, the daily distance covered during migration varied from 115.09 km traveled by the Indian Spotted Eagle to an overwhelming distance of 2035.85 km covered by the male Western Marsh Harrier. Scrubs, water bodies, croplands, and settlements were important habitat features associated with eagles, while croplands, open scrub, and built-up areas were associated with the female Pallid Harrier. The male Western Marsh Harrier was found to be primarily associated with saltpans and salt-affected areas having emergent vegetation. This study presents new insights into the movement and spatial ecology of long-distance migrant raptors that winter in Western India. We provide preliminary support for the use of the Western Circum–Himalayan Corridor as one of the important corridors of the Central Asian Flyway that warrants much appreciation among the current set of flyway corridors. Full article

Using satellite telemetry, it is possible to track long-distance migrant birds with high accuracy and greater spatial coverage. However, prior to 2014, less than 1% of bird species in India had been monitored using this technology. Between January and February 2022, we deployed leg-mounted solar GPS/GSM satellite transmitters to Common Cranes and Demoiselle Cranes (two each) to study home ranges, movement, migration patterns, and habitat use. We used 95% kernels to define the total home range size and 50% kernels to delimit the core areas. The winter habitat use was assessed using Generalized Linear Models (GLM). The average home range of Common Cranes and Demoiselle Cranes was estimated as 161.22 ± 172.08 km² and 971.40 ± 1023.57 km², respectively. During migration, Common Crane-1 and Common Crane-2 traveled an average of 471.19 ± 442.42 and 176.97 ± 24.82 km per day, and Demoiselle Crane-1 and Demoiselle Crane-2 covered an average daily distance of 168.10 ± 203.77 and 192.97 ± 250.72 km, respectively. Water bodies and croplands were the most important habitat variables influencing crane presence positively. In recent years, the share of food grain crops within the study area has declined from 43% in 1994–1995 to 36% in 2014–2015, while the share of cotton crops has doubled from 11% to 20%, indicating a probable cause of concern in the near future. Full article

Endangered Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) are found in the Asiatic Lion Landscape, Gujarat, which includes protected areas and a multi-use land matrix. Therefore, monitoring lions’ space-use and spatio-temporal location is vital for managing various facets of human−lion interaction. Our study demonstrates how this was achieved by tracking lions using GPS radio-collars, triggering prompt action via an efficient communication network across political and forest administrative boundaries. We monitored the movement of 19 individual lions for 436.5 ± 32 days and also derived the mean daily activity from three-axis accelerometer-based activity-sensing feature of a radio-collar. We also monitored geofence breaches. We proposed that immobility and movement are two aspects that generate management action on the ground. While the movement is related to ranging and dispersal, immobility is a situation related to either the animal’s feeding or its health status. From a management standpoint, we discussed the efficacy of the virtual geofence in preventing accidents when lions moved and also presented the advantages of being able to track dispersal through a case study of sub-adult lions. To strengthen our response to lion immobility, we developed a predictive model that specifically highlights an individual lion’s health status and makes the alert response more precise. In conclusion, we critically reviewed the capabilities provided by GPS telemetry and provide protocols that help in the conservation management of lions and that will also have a wider application. Full article

The information on the ranging behaviour and migration pattern of vultures is of critical conservation importance. Vultures’ range over vast areas in human-dominated landscapes where anthropogenic activities may influence their long-term survival. This paper uses the satellite telemetry of 11 individuals of six vulture species to assess their home ranges and seasonal movement patterns. The study aimed to find daily and monthly distances covered by vultures, their home range size, and the influence of breeding season on resource utilisation and activity rates. A total of 114,820 locations were collected between October 2020 and November 2021. The results indicate that the size of the core area is smaller during the breeding season of the resident species, such as the Indian vulture (Gyps indicus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), and red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) than the non-breeding season. vulture’s daily and monthly movement (mean) also decreased in the breeding season. The annual home range and core areas, calculated as 95% and 50%Utilisation Distribution differed between breeding and non-breeding seasons. The migratory vultures moved significantly longer distances across days and months than the resident species. Their annual migration patterns also differed with respect to time and migration routes. Full article

Understanding the migratory route of raptors in their breeding and wintering grounds is crucial for ensuring their effective conservation. This study presents the preliminary findings through satellite telemetry to describe the summer and winter home ranges, movement ecology, activity, and migration routes of single individuals of Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga), Indian Spotted Eagle (Clanga hastata), Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax), and Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). We calculated the home ranges as the minimum convex polygons (MCPs) and kernel utilisation distributions (KUD). Pallid Harrier had the smallest home range size of 4.29 km² (95% MCP) and 3.98 km² (95% KUD) in its breeding ground located in Russia, while the Greater Spotted Eagle had the largest home range size of 9331.71 km² (95% MCP) and 5991.15 km² (95% KUD) in Kazakhstan. The monthly and daily distances covered by tagged birds were significantly higher during migration. Our study also reports the first record of the winter and summer home range of the Indian Spotted Eagle in Pakistan. The tagged raptor used low elevation flyways than the straighter northern flyways over the Himalayan Mountain range, as found in another earlier study. Our study is the foremost satellite telemetry attempt from the region, highlighting important aspects of the migration route of migratory raptors to India. Full article