Insights into human‐wildlife coexistence through temporal activity pattern overlaps in a neglected tropical forest in India

Abstract

AbstractTropical forests experience high levels of anthropogenic pressure from human activities for the collection of forest products, hunting, and movement of domestic animals that affect circadian temporal activity patterns of mammals. Areas with different protection statuses might show differences in mammal circadian activity because of variation in human use intensity. In this study, we assess if human activity could be a predictor shaping the mammal circadian activity patterns in the Eastern Ghats, a neglected tropical forest landscape in India that experiences high human activity. We present results from camera trap surveys of mammal circadian temporal activity patterns in Papikonda National Park (PNP) and its buffer in the Northern Eastern Ghats hill region. We observed a high overlap between human and mammal activity patterns, particularly with herbivorous species. Mammals displayed high crepuscular activity, particularly herbivores; carnivores, however, were also active during the day. This study provides the first insights on circadian temporal activity patterns of mammals in a protected area and its buffer in India's poorly known Eastern Ghats. We discuss these findings in the context of hunting pressure by humans, protection status, and its implications for mammal behavior in the Eastern Ghats and tropical forests across India.Abstract in Telugu is available with online material.