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Estimating Mammalian Abundance Using Camera Traps in the Tropical Forest of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha, India

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Abstract

Knowledge on the occurrence and distribution of species is crucial for designing and evaluating conservation strategies within a geographical region. Similipal Tiger Reserve though confined to a small area needs information on the diversity and abundance of mammalian fauna to ensure conservation of tiger. Thus, we aimed to assess the diversity and abundance of medium to large sized mammals in Similipal Tiger Reserve by using remotely triggered camera traps. A total of 6413 camera trap days at 187 trap stations were deployed from November 2012 to July 2013 to estimate the status of mammal. We obtained 3763 independent photographs and detected 24 species of mammals. The relative abundance index of each mammalian species was calculated. Leopard (Panthera pardus) was the most abundant carnivore while barking deer (Muntiacus muntjac) was the most abundant prey. Anthropogenic activities like hunting, livestock grazing and free ranging domestic dogs were found to be the detrimental factors for the existing mammalian species. These activities should be addressed through conservation and development perception with an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating social and ecological components cautiously.

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Acknowledgments

This study was made possible by a grant from the Director, Similipal Tiger Reserve. We are also thankful to the Odisha Forest Department for kind permission and co-operation to execute the work. We appreciate Alolika Sinha, Subrat Debata and Manish Bakshi for valuable inputs in the manuscript. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their critical review and suggestions which improved this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, North Orissa University, Mayurbhanj, Baripada, 757003, Odisha, India

    Himanshu S. Palei & Hemanta K. Sahu

  2. Jeevokool, Bahbari, Merbil, Lakhimpur, 784160, Assam, India

    Tilak Pradhan

  3. Office of the RCCF Cum Field Director, Similipal Tiger Reserve, Bhanjapur, Baripada, 757003, Odisha, India

    Anup K. Nayak

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  1. Himanshu S. Palei
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  2. Tilak Pradhan
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Correspondence to Himanshu S. Palei.

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Palei, H.S., Pradhan, T., Sahu, H.K. et al. Estimating Mammalian Abundance Using Camera Traps in the Tropical Forest of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha, India. Proc Zool Soc 69, 181–188 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12595-015-0143-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12595-015-0143-x

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