The researchers argue that a resident population of tigers could thrive in high-altitude shola forests in the Nilgiris Forest Division, rather than simply using the landscape as a corridor to move between different traditional tiger habitats, The researchers argue.
They recently published their findings in Zoology and Ecology (Acta Zoologica Lituanica) on “Factors influencing Tiger and Leopard Survival in High Altitude Ecosystems of the Eucalyptus”. The researchers analyzed 182 scat samples of tigers and leopards in the Nilgiris Forest Division. Molecular analysis shows that 67 samples were of tigers and 95 of leopards. The remaining specimens could not be identified as belonging to any species.
Based on analysis of dung from the two main carnivores in the Western Ghats, the researchers found that both tigers and leopards were heavily dependent on the diet of sambar deer and wild boar. Tigers were also recorded to hunt buffalo, black deer, barking deer, gaur, spotted deer and mouse deer, although in much smaller proportion than their reliance on sambar deer and gaur.
G Mohan, one of the lead authors of the paper told Hindu It was previously believed by researchers that tigers only used the Nilgiris Forest Division as a corridor to move between Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley in Kerala. “Recent evidence via camera traps indicates that this may no longer be the case, and that breeding populations of tigers may have been established in this division,” he said.
Camera traps installed in the Nilgiris Division indicate that there may be around 34 tigers in the division, while there are four other tigers in the Mukurthi National Park.
R. Sanil, associate professor, Molecular Biodiversity Lab, at the Government Arts College (GAC), Udhagamandalam, and another co-author of the paper, said the division between tigers and leopards has a significantly higher use of forest patches with leopards. Prefers to wander from the reserved forests to the tea gardens in search of prey.
“This may indicate competition from tigers in the Shola forests, forcing leopards to move to tea gardens in search of food, which has led to the trapping of wild herbivores in recent years,” he said. Leopards have died in the traps made for this.” Mr. Sanil also said that the photographic record of a pair of leucistic tigers in the division may point to a population that is breeding.
B Ramakrishnan, assistant professor in the department of zoology and wildlife biology at GAC in Udhagamandalam, said the study pointed to a healthy tiger population in the Upper Nilgiris, requiring further research and understanding to ensure their long-term protection.
“We must identify the corridors being used by tigers to move between habitats and ensure that different populations mix and breed, while in the long term, the government will designate the Nilgiri Division as a high altitude tiger reserve. I may consider declaring it,” he said. J. Yogesh, TT Shamir, Nittu George and JB Sulekha are the other co-authors of the paper.
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