in Journal of Threatened Taxa

An erroneously cited text of Wason by subsequent authors has led to the assumption that Hipposideros lankadiva was first recorded in Rajasthan in the Bhim Bharak caves of Jodhpur. A careful review of Wason’s note revealed that it in fact mentioned another species from the genus, H. fulvus. This erroneous citation has led to several research articles published on the ecological aspects of this species to be misinformed. The authors discovered a small population of H. lankadiva in eastern Rajasthan and have monitored this new population since 2010. Since the Bhim Bharak cave location is erroneous, Kased Cave (26.2209N, 77.1024E) is the only location of H. lankadiva for Rajasthan and is therefore the first record of the species from the state.

Supported by Dieter & Liz Gutmann

In Biodiversity Observations

Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822) is invading Ranthambore national park, semi-arid forest of western India. Semi arid areas are presumed to be immune from this ecological pest of humid tropical climate. Tourism induced changes in habitat is enabling this pest to colonise this fragile ecosystem.

in Indian Journal of Environmental Sciences

Peristylus goodyeroides (D. Don) Lindl. is reported for the first time from the state of Rajasthan in the forest of Phulwari- ki- Nal Wildlife Sanctuary by Dr. Satish Sharma and Dr. Dharmendra Khandal . A brief description, habitat notes, photographs and taxonomic keys are provided.

in Canid Biology & Conservation ( journal of the IUCN SSC Canid Specialist Group)

The Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) is the apex predator of the semi-arid landscapes of India. They have large home ranges and mostly thrive outside the protected areas, feeding on livestock to fulfil dietary needs, thus bringing them into direct conflict with humans, making it imperative to identify and conserve wolf-occupied areas. We used questionnaire sur- veys and field methods to estimate the number and status of wolves in Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan. We estimated 19 – 45 wolves occurring at a density of 0.02 – 0.06 wolves/km2 in 672.82 km2 of Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary. The maxi- mum number was estimated from the Nainyaki range. The presence of wolves was significantly positively related to the presence of sheep and goats. Due to low availability of natural prey in the study area, wolves depend on livestock, causing high economic loss to the resident people. Our study suggests that if strict conservation measures are taken, Kailadevi Wild- life Sanctuary holds the potential to act as a source population for the conservation of the Indian grey wolf in the larger landscape surrounding the study area. However, due to high anthropogenic pressure, the landscape is severely degraded and requires immediate attention to restore the existing scrubland for denning and rendezvous sites. Effective compensation schemes and awareness through outreach and education are required to reduce negative attitudes among the resident people and to prevent wolf persecution. Future research should make use of modern radio-telemetry techniques to better understand the ecology of the wolves in this landscape.

in Mammal Study

Wolves play a crucial role in shaping ecological communities as an apex predator in the dry-open forests of semi-arid landscapes in India. Large scale habitat loss pertaining to human expansion and retaliatory killing by human caused severe decline in the wolf population across its range. The estimated wolf population size is close to 2000–3000 individuals in India; however, these estimates were decades old and the present status of the wolf in the semi-arid landscape is largely unknown. We assessed the distribution of wolves in Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan using occupancy models and identified important factors associated with habitat-use by wolves. Occupancy modelling shifts the focus from individual animal to a site, while accounting for detection probability. To assess the habitat-use we used sign-based surveys that rely on data collected from adjacent sampling sites (replicates). The habitat-use was assessed across 672.82 km² surveying 48 grid cells, each measuring 14.44 km². Estimated habitat-use Ѱ (SD) was found to be 0.82 (0.14). Our findings suggested that availability of agriculture land had the significant positive influence on the habitat-use of wolves. Other factors such as availability of water, scrubland, and wild prey (nilgai and chinkara) also had a positive effect on the habitat use of wolves, but it was not significant. Forest cover has a negative influence on the habitat use of wolves. This study is the first rigorous assessment of the Indian grey wolf habitat-use at the level of wildlife reserve with potential conservation value that can be applied to other areas in India.

This reseach focuses on the historical and current extent of occurrence of the Caracal Caracal Caracal in India between 1616 and April 2020. We collated 134 reports during this period. Historically, the Caracal was reported in 13 Indian states in nine out of 26 biotic provinces. Since 2001, the Caracal’s presence has been reported in only three states and four biotic provinces, with only two possible viable populations. Before 1947, the Caracal was reported from an area of 793,927km2. Between 1948 and 2000, the Caracal’s reported extent of occurrence in India decreased by 47.99%. From 2001 to 2020, the reported extent of occurrence further decreased by 95.95%, with current presence restricted to 16,709km2, less than 5% of the Caracal’s reported extent of occurrence in the 1948–2000 period.

In Rajasthan, the presence of the Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus was first reported in 1994 in Udaipur District, the southernmost district of Rajasthan. Since then, it was also recorded in four more districts scattered over an area of about 86,205km2. We compiled information about the occurrence of the Rusty-spotted Cat in Rajasthan based on direct sightings, road kills, rescued kittens, and camera trap images. Our data set shows that the Rusty-spotted Cat is also present in eight more districts of Rajasthan that form part of the Aravalli Hills and Vindhyan Hills in the semi-arid zone of eastern Rajasthan. The area encompassed by these records amounts to 71,586km2. Kittens were rescued in six instances. Adult cats were recorded in 45 instances including 41 live cats and four roadkills. Ten adult live Rusty-spotted Cats were sighted in the mornings, and 31 were recorded after dark between late evenings and early mornings. They were recorded in eight habitat types including foremost thorny and dry deciduous forests, but also ravines and agricultural fields adjacent to forests, and in forest patches in the vicinity of human settlements. The preservation of forests is of utmost importance for the long-term viability of the Rusty-spotted Cat. We strongly recommend surveys outside protected areas to determine the connectivity between Rusty-spotted Cat population units in Rajasthan.

A rigorous 3-year-long exploration resulted in the discovery of the presence of breeding gharials in the Parvati River, a tributary of the Chambal flowing on the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border. Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus), found in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, have been classified as ‘critically endangered’ by the IUCN. The study was conducted by Dharmendra Khandal, Meenu Dhakad, and Mr. Suyash Katdare. Dr. W.C. Lang and the report was published in the IUCN’s journal in January 2017. Surveys were conducted between 2015 and 2017 on the three tributaries of the Chambal – Pravati, Kali Sindh and Banas — to assess the presence of gharials and mugger marsh crocodiles.

Funded by: Tiger Watch

This Gharial Expedition was carried out in 2008 and twice in 2009 by three different teams. These expeditions were to survey and assess the current status of the Gharial in 100 km of the National Chambal Sanctuary. The findings of this survey, resulted in a publication in an international journal. The then chairman of Tiger Watch, the Late Shri. John Singh, donated his land along the banks of the Chambal River, to start a Gharial Conservancy. The current Chairman of Tiger Watch, Mr. Iskander Laljee, bought more land, along the river to provide further protection to the Gharials.

Funded by: WWF- India, and Mr . Gaurav Kataria

in Tropical Ecology

Loss of pasture lands and increased livestock population has resulted in higher livestock dependency on the forest lands. Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) is an important landscape for maintaining a healthy tiger population in western India. The sanctuary is inhabited by 19,179 people and 78,122 livestock in 66 settlements. Livestock density in KWLS is 0.74 ACU ha−1 which is much higher than the recommended stocking density. Heavy livestock population has degraded the habitat. The study was carried out to assess the grazing pressure in the KWLS. Livestock population has left very little space for the wild herbivores. There is an immense possibility of increased human–wildlife conflicts and endangered food security and livelihood for thousands of people. In view of such a situation, measures have been suggested for the management of livestock grazing impacts and conservation of this crucial habitat.

Conflict between people and ecosystem capacity is a global problem, and achievement of wildlife-human co-existence a strategic global need. Apex predators suffer disproportionately, including conflicts with human activities. Recovery of formerly declining predator populations, particularly India’s Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), increases potential human conflict. Habitat conversion for arable production and proliferation of non-native tree species increases likelihood of conflict between wildlife, people and stock in villages in the Amlidha buffer zone between core areas of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. Arresting and reversing landscape conversion in targeted zones can reduce potential wildlife-human conflict by regenerating ecosystem capacity, enabling coexistence of a ‘green corridor’ for terrestrial wildlife migration, a ‘blue corridor’ for movement of riverine wildlife, and sustainable human livelihoods. This can be achieved through informed and consensual community-based zoning of land uses, management of non-native species and regeneration of local water resources. Conversely, continuing habitat simplification will decrease ecosystem vitality and services, increasing wildlife-human conflict and insecurities. Transition to multifunctional ecosystem management doesn’t require wholesale change; elective, consensual adjustments can enhance socio-ecological security. Initiatives by the NGO Tiger Watch involving village people, whose willing engagement is essential for sustainable management, support potential achievement of simultaneous wildlife conservation and human benefits.

A Case Study of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan

The traditional pilgrimages to religious sites are evolving into large scale religious tourism in many protected areas across India. A growing influx of visitors leading to infrastructural development of these sites within protected areas has potential to immensely damage the natural ecological balance. There are significant changes in the scale and frequency of visits to religious sites over past few decades creating an undue anthropogenic pressure on the ecology of protected areas. The present study tried to estimate the impact of religious tourism on the local ecology inside Ranthambhore Tiger reserve (RTR), India. This study was conducted by Ms. Meenu Dhakad, Dr Dharmendra Khandal, Dr. Dhanashree A. Pranjpe, Mr. Ishan Dhar, Mr, Mukesh saini and Mr. Y.K. Sahu

Funded by the Ranthambhore Tiger Conservation Foundation

The term ‘ecosystem services’ encompasses diverse material and non-material goods and services beneficial to human beings that are provided by ecosystems. This study attempts to produce quantitative and qualitative estimates of the multiple values provided by the natural capital of the Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS).
An evaluation of ecosystem services is emerging as an important policy-support tool for decision-makers. It serves this purpose in three principal ways. Firstly, a recognition of ecosystem services with some indication of their significance raises awareness about the crucial role of natural ecosystems in supporting human wellbeing. Secondly, an evaluation of services helps focus resource use to inform better management of ecosystems. Thirdly, ecosystem services evaluation provides a rational economic basis for the protection of or more sustainable management of natural systems. Though globally relevant and of his priority to underpin sustainable development, these roles of ecosystem service valuation are particularly pertinent for rapidly developing countries like India where forests could be easily be traded-off for short-term non–forestry uses. The project was conducted by Mr. Vishal Rasal, M. Sc.

Funded by: The Forest Department, Ranthambhore