A STUDY ON DISTRIBUTION, RELATIVE ABUNDANCE AND FOOD HABITS OF LEOPARD (Panthera pardus) IN GARHWAL HIMALAYAS. TECHNICAL REPORT (December 1999–July 2000)
A study on distribution, relative abundance and food habits of leopard (Panthera pardus ) in Garhwal Himalayas.
Technical Report (December 1999–July 2000)
Researcher
Principal Investigator
Devendra Singh Chauhan
Dr. S. P. Goyal
RS & GIS Personnel Dr. Manoj K. Agrawal Rajesh Thapa Other Collaborator: Forest Department Uttar Pradesh
POST BOX #18, CHANDRABANI DEHRADUN -248001 September 2000 Contact for suggestions and comments
[email protected]
CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 2. OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................. 2 4. METHODS ...................................................................................................................... 3 4.1. Major habitat assessment................................................................................ 3 4.2. To determine the pattern of leopard deaths in Pauri Garhwal district ................................................................................... 4 4.3. To determine the extent and severity of leopard-man conflict in Pauri tehsil ........................................................................................................ 4 4.4. To determine the age & sex ratio of leopard's victims and seasonal
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pattern of leopard attacks on human in Pauri Garhwal district ................... 4 4.5.Quantifying the situations under which leopard attacks made...................... 4 4.6. Food habit of leopard across the forest in Pauri Garhwal district ................ 5 4.7. To know the local people view on leopard-human conflict problem ............ 5 5. PROJECT ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................. 5 6. FINDINGS 6.1. Habit characterizations in Pauri tehsil ........................................................... 6 6.2. Analysis of leopard deaths ............................................................................. 6 6.3. Leopard predation on human ......................................................................... 7 6.3.1.The rate of predation on human........................................................7 6.3.2. Extent and severity of predation on human in Pauri tehsil............. 8 6.3.3.Relationship between leopard predation on human and number of animal killed ......................................................................8 6.3.4. Variation in sex and age of leopard victims ...................................11 6.3.5 Leopard attack in relation to season & day of the time..................13 6.3.6.Leopard attack in relation to habitat condition and location of house ...............................................................................16 6.3.7. Leopard attack in relation to other condition..................................18 6.4.Analysis of leopard-livestockconflict ...............................................................19 7. FUTURE PLAN............................................................................................................20
1.
INTRODUCTION
“The real king of the beast “ states Jean Pierre Hallet in Animal Kitabu “is the leopard” not as thoroughly studied as the lions, man’s fascination with leopard may spring from it elusive habit, its air of mystery and its aura of danger. The most adaptable and hence widely distributed of all the big cats, the leopard has habituated to live near human due to changes in land use pattern. Leopard is found throughout sub–Saharan Africa and Southern Asia with scattered populations in China and North Africa. Its habitat requirement is few: some cover and enough of prey. Temperature, terrain, flora and other predator are of little concern. Leopard is adapted to live well in savannah, rain forest, mountain elevation, dense vegetation, low scrub and thickets and even quite close to city. Things which make leopard most successful predator is (i) ability to adapt and remain elusive and unseen in most adverse of habitat, and (ii) flexibility of behavior with respect to boldness and timidity (Daniel, 1996). The most conspicuous attributes of leopards are their flexible diets, they are known as ecological generalists rather then specialist. They are not specialized like tiger, cheetah and lion. Leopard can survive by feeding on large and small prey species. Leopard as a species is classified by IUCN (1978) as vulnerable because of threats it is facing: (i) the leopard is killed for its valuable skin. (ii) it is killed because its conflict with human and his domestic interest. (iii) it is threatened by ever diminishing available wild habitat. These threats have increased recently. An interesting point in leopard conservation policy is that a large numbers of leopard are inhabiting in those unprotected areas where there is no clear-cut management objectives as well as lack of protection. Among a few detailed studies in Asia, species has been studied by direct observation or by monitoring radio collared animals in Wilpattu National Park, Ceylon (Eisenberg and Lockhart, 1972), dry tropical forest of Thailand (Rabinowitz, 1989), Chitawan National Park, Nepal (Seidensticker et al., 1990) and Sanjaya Gandhi National Park, India (Edgaonkar and Chellam, 1998). People find leopard an intolerable nuisance in Garhwal hills in Uttar Predesh, India. Leopard-man conflict has been reported from all over the Garhwal hills. Pauri Garhwal is one of the worst affected (Negi, 1996). Alone in Pauri district, leopards have killed 141 human since 1988 to August 2000. Although leopard attacks on human are not new in the Garhwal, legendary hunter Jim Corbett killed a dozen of
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leopards as a man-eater in Garhwal and Kumaon but problem was not panic at that time. In the past, leopards rarely turned man-eater but now situation is different as they are killing human throughout the year. Increase in higher frequencies of leopard-human conflicts during last decade may be due to accelerating trends in habitat fragmentation, decline in potential habitats, scarcity of wild prey base, predominantly feeding on domestic species leads to come more closely to human and to some extent may be due to increase of local leopard population. Leopard is not a man-eater by the nature, logically leopards turn man-eater due to some physical fitness problem, which make them uncomfortable to kill wild animals, and they find human beings easier. But this hypothesis is not seems to be true in present context, leopards which were killed officially as a man-eater in Pauri Garhwal, most of them were not having any abnormalities. Local villagers opined that in the past, leopards were timid by nature but now they are frequently roaming in the area even in during day time and often stray into villages and towns in the search of prey. A change in leopard behavior to become extremely bold has been noticed due to habitat disturbance and loss of prey species. Leopards are also killed by poison. Alone in Pauri, 93 leopards were killed in past 12 years, unofficial numbers could be high. Its difficult to apprehend the villagers who are motivated by the belief that leopards are regularly attacking and killing livestock and human. Among Garhwal peoples opinion, increasing leopard-human conflict is being presented as justification for the elimination of the cat. Leopard–human conflict cases have increased in recent past, but it does not mean to wage a war against a whole species.
Corresponding killing of leopards has lead to another fear that species
might be entirely wiped out from these hills. But what needed is to look at the causes behind these incidents. Leopards are not uncommon in the forest across the Pauri, their food consist of wild prey species such as goral, barking deer, wild boar, jungle fowl and monkey but due to severe human pressure mainly hunting, cattle grazing, fire wood collection, forest fire, deforestation and habitat alteration, most of these prey species are either locally extinct or their numbers are too low to sustain the existing number of leopards. All these and other factors have put animal like leopards under pressure to survive. Unable to find their natural prey in diminishing forest, leopards have been making regular visit in the villages and town to prey upon domestic animals and often
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encountered with man. There have been instances where people were injured during defend their livestock from leopard. This Project is proposed to understand leopard status in Pauri Garhwal by collecting information on distribution, relative abundance and food habit in relation to land use patterns and human disturbance. 2.
OBJECTIVES
The aims of the proposed study on leopard in Garhwal Himalayas are: 1. To study current status, distribution and relative abundance in relation to habitat characteristics (terrain and vegetation). 2. To study food habits in relation to prey (wild and domestic). 3. To prepare long-term research project to study behaviour and ecology of leopard in order to suggest measures to reduce leopard-man conflicts. 3.
STUDY AREA
Pauri Garhwal District (29° 20’ N-30° 15' N and 78°10' E -79°20' E) of 5444 km2 is selected for the present study (Fig.1). Pauri Garhwal ranges between lower to middle Himalayan ranges and elevation reaches up to 3200 m. Politically it has been divided into 15 administrative blocks. There is great variation in nature of soul, precipitation, rocks, topography, climate and corresponding vegetation features. Gaur and Bartwal (1993) classified forests of a Pauri Garhwal in to Sub –Montane (Tropical & Subtropical), Montane (Temperate) broad leaves, and Gymnospermous. Each forest was further sub divided into five to twelve sub – forest types. Climatically the area is divided into three distinct season viz. rainy season (June to September), winter (October to February), summer (March to May).
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4.
METHODS
4.1.
Major habitat assessment
Habitat condition assessment done through ground truthing on Remote Sensing Data Imageries and then coincided with grids survey records. A broad vegetation types map with status of leopard problem was generated. 4.2.
To determine the pattern of leopard deaths in Pauri Garhwal District
We collected data on leopard deaths from Forest Department records, and death patterns was quantified by two ways: (i) leopards killed officially as man-eater, and (ii) leopards killed by villagers/found dead around man-eating areas. Data were interpreted with respect to season and sex. 4.3.
To determine extent and severity of leopard-man conflict problems
We planned to survey 6 blocks (Pauri, Kot, Khirsu, Pabau, Kalgikhal and Thalisain) in Pauri tehsil and 9 blocks (Dhugadda, Yamkeshwar, Jahrikhal, Bironkhal, Ekeshwar, Nanidanda Pokhra Dwarikhal and Rikhnikhal) in Lansdown tehsil of Pauri Garhwal district. Leopard being, solitary, nocturnal and elusive, it is difficult to obtain direct information. Therefore village survey was found to be best ways and cost effective to get information on leopard distribution and extent of severity of leopard-man conflicts. Pauri Garhwal district was d done in three or four villages from each grid forming > 50 % villages. Questionnaires were designed to obtain information on all aspects related to leopard-man conflict (Annexure-I), including habitat assessment for leopard and prey species. Habitat data were also obtained through observations and interviews with local residents. We noted major threats and included as evidence of hunting, deforestation and relative abundance of guns among villagers. If haunting is factor, we also tried to learn how wide spread the problem. 4.4.
To determine the age and sex ratio of leopard's victims and seasonal pattern of leopard attacks on human
Leopard’s victims data were taken from Forest Department records and interpreted with respect to sex and age and to different seasons. Severity of problem for each season was quantified and Chi Square Test was used for statistical significance.
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4.5.
Quantifying the situations under which leopard attacks made
All places where leopards attacked on human during our project survey work were visited and details of each incident were obtained. A search operation was conducted around each incident spot for the knowing of responsible leopard’s sex and other biological conditions. We made tracings of pugmarks. 4.6.
Food habit of leopard across the forest in Pauri Garhwal District
Scats were collected from each surveyed grid. Scats will be examined in reference to wild and domestic prey species. Prey species will be identified based on the microscopic hair analysis, and presence of bone fragments, teeth nails and other hard parts as described by Grobler & Wilson (1972) and Mukherjee et al.(1994). Species diversity in scats will be determined by Simpson's diversity index as follows: S =1/ Ó pi2 where pi is the portion of pray species found in scats. 4.7.
To know the local people view on leopard-human conflict problems
During our survey work, we talked many persons including local villagers, forest official, hunters and social workers and tried to know their opinion on increasing leopard-human conflict problems in hills. Their suggestions for overcome the problems were also noted. 5.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Collection of information on leopardman conflict from published data and review literature on leopard Orientation in Rajaji National Park Arrangement of equipment Questionnaires formation for survey work Field work Habitat assessment
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July
June
May
April
March
Feb
Jan
Activities
Dec
The report is based on six months of the project and details are as follows:
6.
FINDINGS
6.1.
Habitat characterization in Pauri tehsil
Based on dominating plant species, we broadly classified vegetation in Pauri Garhwal as follows: Vegetation type
Characteristics
1. Pine forest.
Dominating by pine.(Pinus roxburghii and Pinus wallichiana)
2. Pine + oak.
Dominating by pine along with oak.
3. Degraded pine forest
Degraded pine along with scrub.
4. Pine + conifer forest
Pine along with conifers.
5.Devdar forest
Dominating by devdar (Cedrus deodara)
6. Oak forest
Dominating by oak mainly, Quercus leucotrichophora and Q. incana
7. Oak + pine
Oak along with pine.
8. Scrub.
Dominating by many shrub species viz. Lantana Eupatorium and Xanthium etc.
During our survey, we did ground truthing of 60 points for vegetation characteristics and latitude-longitudes were noted by GPS. Extent and distribution of leopard-human conflict problems have coincided with different habitat in False color composite image, and low and high infected zone were detected (Fig. 2). 6.2.
Analysis of leopard deaths
Leopard deaths in Pauri Garhwal have been either killed as man-eater declared officially or found dead/ killed by villagers around man-eating areas. Since 1987, ninety leopards have been reported either killed as man-eater or found dead/ killed by villagers (Fig. 3). During last five years, 12-15 leopards have been killed or found
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dead in each year alone in Pauri Garhwal. It is difficult to ascertain, whether there was less problems before 1995 or information was not recorded.
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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Man-eater killed
99
97
95
93
91
89
Found dead/ killed
87
Number of leopard deaths
n=90
Years
Figure 3. Numbers of leopards killed as man-eater or found dead/ killed. 6.3.
Leopard predation on human
6.3.1. Rate of predation on human Based on Forest Department information, 140 human have been killed by leopards alone in Pauri Garhwal since 1988.Over the years, number of leopard victims ranged 2 to 22 per year. During last couple of years number of such incidences have
25 20 15 10
2000
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
0
89
5 1988
Human beings killed by leopard
n=140
Year
increased and ranged from 12 to 22, human per year (Fig.4). Figure 4. Number of human killed by leopards since 1988 in Pauri Garhwal
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6.3.2. Extent and severity of leopard predation on human in Pauri tehsil We surveyed 554 villages (large and small) in Pauri tehsil. Among the surveyed villages, 17% are affected as leopard predation on human, where Pabau block was reported to be severely affected by such problems (Fig.5). n=554
Number of village affected
45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5
Kalgikhal
Thelisain
Kot
Khirsu
Pabau
Pauri
0
Blocks in Pauri tehsil Figure 5. Extent of leopard predation on human in Pauri tehsil
6.3.3. Relationship between predation on human and number of leopard killed Severity of leopard-man conflict problem as predation on human based on Forest Department data is not uniform among the blocks (Fig.6). Blocks Pabau and Pauri are severely affected. Alone in Pabau, leopards killed 28 human between 1996 and 1997. Presently, problem is panic in the Pauri block. Leopard has killed 6 human and injured 2 with in last ten months. Forest Department has killed 4 leopards as a maneater in the same area but incidents are still happening there. There is trend in increase in human death in Pauri (Fig.6). A large number of leopards (50%) have been killed alone in Pabau where as remaining 50% have been killed in other blocks. There is recent increase man-eater killed in Pauri block (Fig.7).
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n=64
16
Pauri
12
Pabau khirsu
Number of human deaths
14 10 8
kot
6
Thelisain Kalgikhal
4 2 2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
0
Year
Figure 6. Distribution of human death in Pauri tehsil
n=58 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Pauri Pabau khirsu kot Thelisain
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1989
Kalgikhal
Year Figure 7. Distribution of leopard deaths in Pauri tehsil
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A close analysis of number leopards and human beings killed in Pauri block indicates severity of leopard predation on human during 1995-1997 (Fig. 8). It appears that around Pabau, there could be high survival rate of cubs and acquired hunting behaviour by mother could be one of the reasons of high incidences of human predation. Pabau area is surrounded by relatively good forest and provided good cover to increase in leopard population ( Fig.2 ). Once the majority of maneating leopards in that area were killed by 1998, there are no recent reports of leopard predation on human. In other areas, probably one or two leopards are predating on human and conflict is being checked by killing them as man-eater. We suspect that there is probably increase in leopard population around Pauri block. Thus , there is a strong need to understand predation and social behaviour of leopard which will be undertaken during long term study.
16 14 12 10 human leopard
8 6 4 2 2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
0 Year
Figure 8. Relationship between human and leopard deaths in Pabau block
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6.4.4. Variation in sex and age of leopard victims Of the 126 leopard victims (based on Forest Department record), 66% were females. In the hills, females have responsibility to do all the work, thus there is high probability of encountering with leopard then males (Fig.9).
65.9
Proportion of male and female,%
70 60 50 40
34.1
30 20 10 0 Male
Female Sex
Figure 9. Proportion of male and female in leopard victims (Source: Forest Department). Based on 19 victims observed during my survey, this also corroborates with forest department data that females are always more victims (58%) then males (42%).
n=19 70 57.9
incident,%
60 50
42.1
40 30 20 10 0 male
female Sex of person
Figure 10. Sex ratio of leopard victims (Based on survey work.).
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Forest Department data indicates that 68% victims were children below 15 year where as cases have been reported in all age groups (Fig.11). In all age groups predation on females is relatively high in comparison to males (Table 1). Unlike the male, female children are not getting proper parental care in hills, which probably make them more vulnerable to leopard. Another reason is that female child share a large work with her mother so her probability of encountering with leopard is relatively high then the male child.
71-75
61-65
51-55
41-45
31-35
21-25
11-15
1-5
Number of deaths ,%
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Age group Figure 11. Leopards victims in respect to age (Source: Forest Department).
Table 1. Relationship between age and sex of leopard victims. Age-group
Male
Female
Total
1-20
40(44.94%)
49(55.05%)
89
21-50
3(12.5%)
21(87.5%)
24
51-80
-
13(100%)
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Data on incidents, which happened during survey also, revealed that leopards perdation is more prominent on children as all killed person were below 15 years.
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
killed
31-35
26-30
Age group
21-25
16-20
11-15
6-10
injured
1-5
Number of incidents
n=19
Figure 12. Numbers of human killed or injured due to leopard attack during present survey.
6.3.5. Leopard attack in respect to season and time of the day Leopard attacks on human is significantly (χ2 =24.37; df =2; p
