Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Research Articles

Ethnomedicinal plants used by Kani tribals to treat Rheumatism in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: The search for safe and alternative remedy for rheumatic disorders from herbal resources is increasing nowadays hence the medicinal plants constitute a promising role in modern medication system due to the presence of several bioactive compounds. The people inhabiting in the forest areas are often affected with several skeleton-muscular disorders especially with rhematic problems, hence the present study was undertaken to document the plants used to treat such diseases. Methods: The present study was carried out to document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used in treating rheumatism by Kani tribes who live in the KMTR region in the Southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. Extensive field studies were conducted in five hamlets of Kani tribes focusing on the plants used in treating rheumatism. The data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and discussions among the traditional practitioners and other people of the hamlet. Results: The present ethnobotanical survey has led to the documentation of 59 species of medicinal plants belonging to 33 families. Of these, 26 species are the major utilized plants while 33 plant species are used in least quantity. Leaves are widely utilized against rheumatic problems. The medicinal formulations are prepared in the form of decoction, paste and powder which are administered topically or orally based on the disease condition. Conclusion: The medicinal plants were documented with the focus on conserving the ethnic knowledge of Kani tribes as documentary evidence for plant-based natural product research. Among the documented plants, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Elettaria cardamomum, Elephantopus scaber, Cymbopogon citratus, Allium cepa, Sida acuta, Pergularia daemia, and Lawsonia inermis were frequently cited and requires further pharmacological studies to develop an effective drug against chronic illnesses. Keywords: Ethnic community, Folk medicine, Rheumatism, Western Ghats

Reserve Forests of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Agasthiyamalai Biosphere Reserve in Tamilnadu, India: Threats Followed by Positive Changes

The survey attempts to study the state of affairs of the Reserve Forests of the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), part of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR) situated in the states of Tamilnadu and Kerala in India, after the introduction of the Eco Development Project (EDP) in 1995. It also attempts to study the impact of the on-going EDP on people living in villages situated in the border areas of the KMTR Reserve Forests in terms of positive changes happening in their livelihood options and in women's socio-economic status.

Three more novel species of South Asian Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India

We describe three distinct, small-bodied, scansorial species of south Asian Cnemaspis from Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India—Cnemaspis azhagusp. nov. from Thirukurungudi forest range, Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensissp. nov. from Mundanthurai forest range and Cnemaspis kalakadensissp. nov. from Kalakad forest range. Phylogenetic analyses using a partial sequence of the mitochondrial ND2 gene and general morphology places each of the three new species in the beddomei, gracilis and littoralis clades, respectively. The three new species are diagnosed from all other described members of their respective clades by a suite of differing morphological characters including snout vent length, number of dorsal tubercle rows at mid-body, number of paravertebral tubercles, presence or absence of spine-like scales on flanks, number of ventral scales across belly at mid-body, number of ventral scales from mental to anterior border of cloaca, number of lamellae under digit IV of pes, number of femoral and/or precloacal pores and poreless scales separating these series, as well as subtle colouration differences. We also provide some novel characters of tail tuberculation of the three new species described herein. With the discovery of these three new species, eight species of geckos including five Cnemaspis are now known to be endemic to KMTR.

Species Recovery Plan for <I>Phyllanthus Singampattianus</i> (Sebastine & A.N. Henry) Kumari & Chandrab., – An Endemic, Critically Endangered and Highly Medicinal Shrub of Tropical Riparian Fringing Forests in Southern Western Ghats, India

Phyllanthus singampattianus (Sebastine and A.N. Henry) Kumari and Chandrab is one of the strict endemic and critically endangered woody shrub of Euphorbiaceae family with high ethnobotanic properties. It naturally occurs in Tropical riparian fringing forests of Southern Western Ghats, India. The species has a very narrow endemic zone of distribution in Tirunelveli Hills of Tamil Nadu. The habitats of the species in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) were analysed using GPS and stratified random sampling techniques. Satellite remote sensing data with the aid of GIS were used for site-specific mapping of the threatened species and identification of the status of niches with regard to its growth and degradation. Growth habit, botanical description, silvicultural characters, ethno botanic and other utility of the species are provided with photographs. The places of endemism, precise point-location data on the phytogeographic parameters of the area are illustrated with relevant maps. The immediate need to protect and propagate this strict endemic and critically endangered species is emphasized and its methods of artificial regeneration are elaborated. Finally, Threatened Species Recovery Plan (TSRP) has been suggested to protect, promote and conserve the species using in-situ and ex-situ conservation methods.

An inventory of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometroidea: Geometridae) of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India

The geometrid moths of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger reserve were studied during the years 2012 to 2016. Since collection of specimens was not permitted, only field notes, accompanied by photo documentation was undertaken. Two-hundred-and-sixty geometrid moths identified to various hierarchical levels of taxa and one new genus for southern India, are reported.

Occurrence of mammalian small carnivores in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India

The small mammalian carnivores are important for maintaining healthy ecosystems. The present documentation is based on the camera trap survey in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu. Paired camera-traps were set in a grid of 1.413 × 1.413 km area of 180km² within an altitudinal range of 80–1,866 m. A total of 11 species were recorded in different habitat types. Brown Palm Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni and Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis had the highest capture rates and the lowest was Rusty Spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus.

Beyond fortress conservation: The long-term integration of natural and social science research for an inclusive conservation practice in India

The separation of people from their landscapes undergirds conservation action, especially in the global south. Such a ‘fortress conservation’ approach is based on the flawed idea that local people's use of forests endangers biodiversity and therefore habitats should be protected by force if necessary. Such a conservation approach runs contrary to the recent understanding that ecosystems once perceived as ‘wilderness’ have been transformed by people. Long-term interdisciplinary research has produced a nuanced understanding of the linkages between ecological and social processes. An example of such long-term engagement is a series of programmes by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas. We describe programmes in four sites: Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger reserve, Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary and Vembanad Ramsar site. Our experiences highlight primarily, a broadening of the initial focus on the ecological dynamics to include social dimensions. Secondly, a programmatic rather than a project-mode approach has enabled a clear long-term vision. Third, the research and action work has continued a tradition in conservation science of field-based, empirical work driven by theory as well as produced grounded knowledge. Such a long-term ‘dirt on the boots’ approach has built a platform from which ATREE is able to launch programmes that have made an impact on livelihoods and landscapes. And finally, long-term engagement and a strong network of local actors have allowed us to implement and inform conservation policy.

Fish diversity in streams/rivers of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India

This article describes fish diversity in streams and rivers of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Tamil Nadu. Fifty species of fishes belonging to 10 orders, 15 families, and 32 genera are recorded. Seven species, Garra joshuai, G. kalakadensis, Haludaria kannikattiensis, Hypselobarbus tamiraparaniei Mesonemachilus tambraparniensis, Neolissochilus tamiraparaniensis, and Dawkinsia tambraparniei are strictly endemic to this protected area. The minnows, Devario aequipinnatus, Garra mullya, and G. kalakadensis are widely distributed in KMTR streams. High species diversity (H’=2.81) was recorded in Gadana River, whereas low species diversity (H’=0.61) was registered in Poonkulam area. Bray-Curtis similarity analysis showed that sites along the headwater streams have similar faunal assemblage. Result of regression analysis revealed that there is a significant pattern explained between stream order and species richness (r2=0.86; p<0.05). Among 50 species, four (Garra kalakadensis, G. joshuai, Dawkinsia tambraparniei, and Tor malabaricus) are listed in threatened categories of IUCN Red List. Important threats faced by endemic species and their management strategies are discussed.

Observations of Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus (Mammalia: Carnivora: Herpestidae) in the wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, India

Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus is crepuscular in habit and rarely encountered. Information on its natural history and ecology is limited and consequently its conservation requirements are not well understood. We report observations of a Brown Mongoose feeding on a Nilgiri Langur Semnopithecus johnii carcass in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, southern India. A camera trap was deployed over the Nilgiri Langur carcass over 10 nights during which, the mongoose visited the carcass on eight nights. Based on the images captured, the mongoose behaviour was broadly categorized as vigilance, feeding, walking and grooming. The mongoose was most active between 03.30–06.00 h and 19.00–00.00 h. Additionally, we report observations of a pair of Brown Mongoose foraging, and an incident of road mortality. These observations will add to the limited current understanding of the species, necessary for assessing its conservation status and identifying interventions.

Psidium cattleyanum (Myrtaceae): Naturalised edible species in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, India

Psidium cattleyanum Afzel. ex Sabine (Myrtaceae), an invasive species, known from Australia, America, South Africa, Pacific Islands, is naturalised and spreading rapidly in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, a part of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu. A short description along with colour images is provided for easy identification, eradication and control measures.

Abundance of Large Carnivore and its Prey Species after Removal of Cattle Grazing in Mundanthurai Plateau of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India

Large carnivores are experiencing massive decline in their population and abundance due to loss of habitat and loss of prey species. The present study was carried out in Mundanthurai Pleateu of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India. In Mundanthurai Plateau, Tiger Panthera tigris has been absent in past two decades which is linked with low density of large ungulate prey species such as gaur and sambar. In this study we examined the status of large carnivore and prey species after the removal of cattle grazing in the plateau. The study reveals that the overall density of ungulate prey species was 12.4 ± 1.5/Km2 and gaur density found to be 3.37 ± 1.40/Km2. The available prey biomass of 3282.02 kg can support around 11 tigers/100 Km2 and it may be lower due to biomass which is shared by other sympatric carnivores. The present estimated leopard density in the plateau is 24.32 ± 4.38 using camera traps spatially explicit capture-recapture method. Overabundance of leopard may be due to the absence of tiger in the plateau and we have confirmed the presence of one male tiger in the plateau so far. The present study may provide baseline information on monitoring tigers and co-predators in the Mundanthurai Plateau of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

Population Status of the Endangered Lion-Tailed MacaqueMacaca silenusin Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India

The lion-tailed macaque, endemic to the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats in southern India, is endangered. Over the last two decades surveys have documented population declines in a number of areas. There still exists a huge gap, however, in our knowledge of this macaque's status at many sites. It is imperative to identify and conserve existing populations in contiguous, large and undisturbed forests. We present the results of a first complete population survey carried out in the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in the Agasthyamalai landscape; an area that has not been surveyed for two decades. We found a population of at least 462 lion-tailed macaques in 30 groups. The mean group size was 15.4 individuals per group, and the adult sex ratio was 3.5 females/male. The forest of the KMTR is connected with forest reserves in the states of Tamilnadu and Kerala, and it is probable that the lion-tailed macaque population of KMTR is likewise contiguous. Measures must be taken at a landscape level for the long-term conservation of the species; the status of the populations in the neighboring sites need to be assessed, and priority should be given to adequate protection for the Agasthyamalai sub-population as a whole.

Impact of riparian land-use patterns on Ephemeroptera community structure in river basins of the southern Western Ghats, India

Key-words: Ephemeroptera, riparian land use, bioindicators, KMTR, Western Ghats This study analysed the impact of riparian land use in structuring the larval ephemeropteran communities from 25 sites in streams and rivers of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) of the southern end of the Western Ghats, India. A total of twenty-eight species belonging to twentyfour genera of six families were collected across all the sites. Baetidae and Leptophlebiidae were the most numerous and ubiquitous families, comprising eight genera in each family and eleven and nine species, respectively. The physico-chemical parameters and species richness and abundance of mayflies varied across streams and rivers with different riparian land-use types. Species distribution was influenced by the environmental gradients. Canonical Correspondence Analysis revealed a clear separation of the mayfly assemblages along water quality and riparian landuse gradients. The results of this study suggest that Ephemeroptera taxa can be potentially used as sensitive indicators of riparian land use in lotic ecosystems.

Threat Status of Medicinal Plants Used by the Tribal People in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Southern Western Ghats, India

Biodiversity and environmental conservation is important for today’s critically degraded environment, so strategies must be developed using protected area networks such as biosphere reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is such a valuable repository of floral and faunal biodiversity in the southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India, both in terms of species richness and endemism. A survey was carried out from September 2004 to June 2006 to assess the conservation status of medicinal plants which are used by the tribal people inhabiting the periphery of the reserve. More than 350 species of ethnomedicinal plants were recorded in the study with the association of tribal practitioners. Out of them, the ethnomedicinal plants Aglaia lawii, Arenga wightii, Chloroxylon swietenia, Eugenia singampattiana, Kingiodendron pinnatum, Orophea thomsonii, Polyalthia rufescens, Pterocarpus marsupium and Santalum album are ‘Red Listed’ plants. The majority of the plants of the reserve are rapidly getting threatened, because of the natural calamities and anthropogenic activities inside the forest areas. Thus, the reserve has high conservation value and its biodiversity is vulnerable to different factors so its conservation should receive great attention by involving the local communities and forest representatives.

Arborescent angiosperms of Mundanthurai Range in the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) of the southern Western Ghats, India

The present study was carried out to document the diversity of arborescent angiosperm taxa of Mundanthurai Range in the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) of the southern Western Ghats in India. During the floristic survey carried out from January 2008 to December 2010, a total of 247 species and intraspecific taxa of trees and shrubs representing 175 genera in 65 families were recorded. The most speciose families are Euphorbiaceae (27 spp.), Rubiaceae (17 spp.), Myrtaceae (14 spp.), Lauraceae (13 spp.) and Annonaceae (11 spp.). Of the 247 taxa, 27 species are endemic only to this region which includes Agasthiyamalaia pauciflora, Elaeocarpus venustus, Garcinia travancorica, Gluta travancorica, Goniothalamus rhynchantherus, Homalium travancoricum, Homaium jainii, Orophea uniflora, Phlogacanthus albiflorus, Polyalthia shendurunii, Symplocos macrocarpa and Symplocos sessilis. This clearly signifies that this range is relevant to the conservation of the local flora.

Grey Junglefowl Gallus Sonneratii (Galliformes: Phasianidae) in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India

An abundance (density indices and encounter rates) of Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii) was estimated in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu from September 2007 to November 2007. Eleven line transects in different habitats were walked by two observers to estimate the relative density of the Grey Junglefowl. Ninety-seven individuals were sighted along the transect and the encounter rate was 1.07/km.

Faunal mortality on roads due to religious tourism across time and space in protected areas: A case study from south India

The presence of roads in any landscape is known to negatively influence terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Many tourist destinations and religious enclaves in developing countries are inside protected areas (PA). They are well connected by roads and attract thousands of visitors. The effect of such large human congregations inside PA on biodiversity is not well understood. Here, we address the impacts of increased vehicular traffic due to religious tourism on local fauna inside the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in south India. We sampled sections of surfaced roads for mortalities before and during an annual festival across three habitats in 2008 and 2009. Millipedes, anurans, insects and reptiles dominated the mortalities and mammals avoided the roads. A total of 1413 individuals belonging to 56 species were killed on roads. Nocturnal species constituted 50% of these mortalities and 64% of the species composition. There was a 299% increase in road mortalities and 648% increase in nocturnal species mortality during the festival compared to those before the festival. Mean mortalities varied across habitats and were highest in moist deciduous forests. Mortalities were influenced significantly by vehicular traffic rather than rainfall. Indications of a temporary local extinction were evident beyond certain threshold of vehicular movement. The number of vehicles plying on the roads was three times higher than the threshold level as determined in this study. The festival also had a spillover effect by causing increased mortalities on roads not connected to the temple. We discuss several strategies to minimize impacts due to large scale vehicular movement inside protected areas.

Diet and Fruit Choice of the Brown Palm Civet Paradoxurus Jerdoni, a Viverrid Endemic to the Western Ghats Rainforest, India

Brown palm civet diet was assessed by examining 1,013 scats between May 1996 and December 1999 in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India. The brown palm civet is predominantly frugivorous, with fruits of 53 native species and four species of introduced plants comprising 97% of its diet. There was high intra- and inter-annual variation in the diet of brown palm civets. Civets adapted to fluctuations in fruit resources by feeding on a diverse range of species and supplementing their year-round, primarily frugivorous, diet with invertebrates and vertebrates. Civets mainly ate fruits of trees and lianas, rarely those of herbs or shrubs. Fruits eaten by civets were mostly small (<1 cm diameter), multi-seeded, pulpy berries, and drupes with moderate to high water content, along with several large (>2 cm) fruits like Palaquium ellipticum, Elaeocarpus serratus, Holigarna nigra, and Knema attenuata. The brown palm civet is a key mammalian seed disperser in the Western Ghats rainforest by being predominantly frugivorous and dispersing a diverse array of plant species. As brown palm civets can persist in fragmented rainforest, they can play a major role in restoration of degraded fragments in these landscapes. The results emphasize the need to recognize the importance of small carnivores as seed dispersers in tropical forests.

Assessing the extent and causes of forest degradation in India: Where do we stand?

In India, conservation of biodiversity goes hand in hand with human welfare, as millions of people live adjacent or within protected areas and depend upon forests products. The high density and biomass requirements of these households could result in the degradation of forests and loss of biodiversity. We assessed the collection of forest products among households in five sites in the Western and Eastern Ghats of peninsular India: the Kogar region of the Central Western Ghats, the Bandipur and Sigur regions of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of the southern Western Ghats and Similipal Tiger Reserve of the northern Eastern Ghats, and tested whether extraction pressure on forests was associated with the proportion of agricultural households, wage labour and population density. We also examined whether data on loss of cover as stated by the State of the Forest Reports was supported by field data. The regions differed in land use: Kogar, KMTR and Similipal were primarily agricultural regions, whereas households engaged in wage labour or in running small businesses were predominant in Sigur and Bandipur. Fuel–wood was collected ubiquitously for household use in all sites, used mainly for domestic requirements and secondarily for generating income. Green leaves for making fertilizer and fodder were collected for household use and did not enter the market. Cattle manure for the global organic coffee industry was a major forest product in Bandipur and Sigur. Extraction pressure on forests was positively associated with the availability of wage labour and was negatively with the proportion of agricultural households. Data from official sources seem inadequate to measure forest degradation in protected forests. Accurate estimation of forest condition through field assessments and remote sensing, and understanding the socio-economic variables associated with forest loss and degradation are needed for the sustainable management of Indian protected areas.

Ethnomedicinal plants used by Kanikkars of Chinna and Periyamylar regions of Agasthyamalai biosphere, Tamil Nadu

The study was carried out on the Kanikkars (Kani) inhabiting the Chinnamylar and Periyamylar regions of Agasthyamalai biosphere, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. This area is famous for Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. The wild plants found in this region used for curing various disorders by the tribals.