What drives prey selection? Assessment of Tiger (Panthera tigris) food habits across the Terai-Arc Landscape, India

Abstract

Abstract Large carnivores strongly shape ecological interactions within their respective ecosystems, but experience significant conflicts with humans across their range due to their specific ecological resource requirements. The Tiger (Panthera tigris) typifies the challenges faced by large carnivore species globally. India retains the majority of the global Tiger population with a substantial number occurring outside protected areas where they are prone to conflict through livestock predation and injury or death to people and Tigers. Tiger food habits was investigated across the Indian part of the Terai-Arc Landscape (TAL), a globally important Tiger conservation landscape, to understand Tiger prey selection patterns and hotspots of livestock predation-related conflict. 510 genetically confirmed Tiger feces were collected across the landscape and 10 wild ungulates and livestock as prey species were identified. Large-bodied species (Sambar, Swamp Deer, Nilgai, Chital, Wild Pig, and livestock) comprised ~94% of the diet, with Sambar, Chital, and livestock having the highest relative proportions. Habitat-specific (Shivalik-Bhabar and Terai) analyses indicate that prey selection is driven by prey abundance and body weight but not determined by protection status (protected areas vs non-protected areas). Results also suggest that PAs and non-PAs in the Terai region were more prone to livestock predation-related conflict. Careful management interventions with community involvement should be utilized to reduce such threats. In this study, we suggest long-term conservation plans including prey abundance estimation outside PAs, reduction of grazing pressures, and detailed records of Tiger mortalities with causal investigations to ensure future conflict-free Tiger persistence across TAL.