Evidences Dependent Population Distribution Patterns of Tiger and Leopard in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha, India

Abstract

AreaSurveyed and Methodology: TheTiger ( ) isanendangered carnivorewithuncertaindemographicstatusspanning 13 Asian countries. Due to its larger body size and carnivorous diet in nature it always occurs at low population densities. Further prey depletion due to overhunting (Karanth & Stith, 1998), poaching, habitat shrinkage (Kenny 1995, Wcs, 1995) and direct killing altogether have also become a major factor fordepletion of wild tigerpopulations tiger. Monitoring the abundance and itsalteration is always important for the effective management of endangered species. Tiger is categorized as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2008) and listed under Schedule-I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India and Appendix-I of the CITES. Leopard ( ) is also included in the ScheduleI of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and is placed under “Least Concern” category of 2002 IUCN Red List of threatened animals. Similipal Tiger Reserve is one of the largest Tiger Reserves of India with an area of 2750 km . Therefore we have to depend mainly on the direct sightings and evidence records of the animals to analysis the status and distribution pattern of these two big cats in thecoreareaof thisTigerReserve. Population estimation of carnivores is extremely diff icult owing to an extensive spatio-temporal distribution, secretive life, wide ranging behaviour, low detectability and low densities. Accurate information on copious and gradual alterations in copiousness is highly important for the effective management of endangered species (Gibbs 1999). Assessment of copiousness forany sly species having low density and wide ranging is highly required in terms and resources (Jhala 2011). Today, though the whole world is concerning towards conservation of big carnivores with respect to their ambient ecosystem, but yet no concrete success we have got to check their continual declinations.