Carnivores in corridors: estimating tiger occupancy in Kanha–Pench corridor, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

We assessed occupancy for tigers Panthera tigris across Kanha–Pench corridor (KPC) in Madhya Pradesh, India. Tiger presence information was recorded by sign detection data generated from occupancy sampling of 17 grids, each of 100 km2. We used spatially replicated survey to explicitly address imperfect detections. We modelled occupancy (ψ) as a function of proportion of forested habitat, relative occurrence of prey species, and anthropogenic disturbances. Models were developed using a first-order Markovian dependence model implemented in program PRESENCE. Our results show that density of prey and levels of human disturbance were key determinants affecting tiger presence. We estimated that of the 2200 km2 potential tiger habitat available in KPC, tigers occupy 84 %, or an area of 1848 km2 (SE = 332.64 km2). Model averaging resulted in a replicate level detection probability p (SE) = 0.33 (0.08) for signs and a tiger habitat occupancy estimate of ψ (SE) = 0.84 (0.18). Landscape-level occupancy sign surveys are useful to assess large carnivore spatial distributions and determine factors governing their presence or absence. Occupancy results support earlier findings that prey presence and absence of human disturbance were key determinants for survival of tigers. We highlight the importance of corridors, habitats, and linkages which are important lifelines for large carnivores, tigers in particular. We discuss current infrastructural development pressure in the area and provide recommendations on critical local linkages to focus conservation efforts to maintain and improve current habitat connectivity for tigers and other carnivores in the area.