Camera trap Survey in Mammalian Diversity Hotspot in Bonai Forest Division North Western Odisha, India

Lalit Kumar Patra; Susanta Kumar Jena; Nimain Charan Palei; Bhakta Padarbinda Rath; Manoranjan Giri; Arun Kumar Mishra

doi:10.36808/if/2025/v151i10/170514

Camera trap Survey in Mammalian Diversity Hotspot in Bonai Forest Division North Western Odisha, India

Authors

Lalit Kumar Patra Bonai Forest Division, Sundargarh, Odisha
Susanta Kumar Jena Bonai Forest Division, Sundargarh, Odisha
Nimain Charan Palei Plot No. 1398/3427, Sasanpadia, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India-751002
Bhakta Padarbinda Rath Qtr No. B-3, CTTC, Campus, PO- KITT, Khordha, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India-751024
Manoranjan Giri Bonai Forest Division, Sundargarh, Odisha
Arun Kumar Mishra Regional Chief Conservator of Forests, Rourkela Circle, Odisha

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2025/v151i10/170514

Keywords:

Mammalian diversity, Camera trap photo, Livestock pressure, Relative abundance index, Bonai, Odisha, India.

Abstract

The mammalian diversity and abundance of Bonai Forest Division, NorthWestern Odisha was assessed by using camera traps from 25^th April, 2023 to 25^th December, 2023 covering an area of 404sq km. A total of 207 camera traps were stationed with a total sampling effort of 5150 trap days, 4126 photographs of mammals belong to 20 families including 28 species, of mammals, seven species of birds photographs were captured in the study area. The wild pig (Sus scrofa) was the most frequently captured species which represented high relative abundance of (RAI 8.08; n=418, in 145 locations) followed by the four-horned antelope (Tetracerous quadricornis) (RAI 6.92; n=130, in 46 locations) and leopard (Panthera pardus) (RAI 6.26, n=324 in 105 locations). Frequency of various anthropogenic activities from movement of livestock, feral dogs and human traffic accounted for maximum photo capture (combined RAI = 16.27) and found to be negatively correlated with mammalian relative abundance. These results highlighted the fact that all mammalian species occurring in the division were detected and their presence was confirmed, which resulted in finding out the proper distribution pattern of the species in this division.

References

Abade L., Cusack J., Moll R.J., Strampelli P., Dickman A.J., Macdonald D.W. and Montgomery R.A. (2018). Spatial variation in leopard (Panthera pardus) site use across a gradient of anthropogenic pressure in Tanzania's Ruaha landscape. PLoS ONE, 13(10): 1–17.; https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0204370.

Augugliaro C., Christe P., Janchivlamdan C., Baymanday H. and Zimmermann F. (2020). Patterns of human interaction with snow leopard and co-predators in the Mongolian western Altai: Current issues and perspectives. Global Ecology and Conservation, 24: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01378

Blake J.G., Mosquera D., Loiselle B.A., Swing K. and Romo D. (2017). Long-term variation in abundance of terrestrial mammals and birds in eastern Ecuador as measured by photographic rates and occupancy estimates. Journal of M a m m a l o g y , 98( 4 ) : 11 6 8 – 11 7 8 . ; h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 10.1093/jmammal/gyx046

Boitani L. and Powell R.A. (2012). Carnivore ecology and conservation: a handbook of techniques. Oxford University Press.

Champion H.G. and Seth S.K. (1968). A Revised Study of the Forest Types of India. Government of India, New Delhi, India. 404 pp.

Cutler T.L. and Swann D.E. (1999). Using remote photography in wildlife ecology: a review. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 27: 571–581.

Connell A.F., Nichols J.D. and Karanth K.U. (2011). Camera traps in animal ecology: methods and analyses. New York: Springer-Verlag.

Datta A., Anand M.O. and Naniwadekar R. (2008). Empty forest: Large carnivore and prey abundance in Namdapha National Park, north-east India. Biological Conservation, 141: 1429–1435.

Dorji S., Rajaratnam R. and Vernes K. (2019). Mammal richness and diversity in a Himalayan hotspot: the role of protected areas in conserving Bhutan's mammals. Biodiversity and Conservation, 28(12): 3277–3297.; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01821-9

Debata S. and Swain K.K. (2018). Estimating mammalian diversity and relative abundance using camera traps in a tropical deciduous forest of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, eastern India. Mammal Study, 43: 45–53.

Debata S. and Swain K.K. (2020). Mammalian fauna in an urban influenced zone of Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 12(8): 15767–15775.https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.554915767-15775

Feng R., Lü X., Xiao W., Feng J., Sun Y., Guan Y. and Wang T. (2021). Effects of free-ranging livestock on sympatric herbivores at fine spatiotemporal scales. Landscape Ecology, 36(5): 1441–1457.; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-02101226-6

Greenspan E., Montgomery C., Stokes D., K'lu S.S., Moo S.S.B., Anile S. and Nielsen C.K. (2023). Occupancy, density, and activity patterns of a Critically Endangered leopard population on the Kawthoolei-Thailand border. Population Ecology (December 2022): 1–16.; https://doi.org/10.1002/1438-390X.12148

Gonthier D.J. and Castañeda F.E. (2013). Large- and mediumsized mammal survey using camera traps in the Sikre River in the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras. Tropical Conservation Science. Vol. 6(4): 584-591. Available online: www.tropicalconservationscience.org

Guo W., Cao G. and Quan R.C. (2017). Population dynamics and space use of wild pig in a tropical forest, Southwest China. Global Ecology & Conservation, 11: 115–124.

Harihar A., Pandav B. and MacMillan D.C. (2014). Identifying realistic recovery targets and conservation actions for Tigers in a human-dominated landscape using spatially explicit densities of wild prey and their determinants. Diversity and Distributions, 20(5): 567–578.

Henschel P. and Ray J. (2003). Leopards in African rainforests: survey and monitoring techniques. WCS Global Carnivore Program. Wildlife Conservation Society, New York

Jenks K.E., Chanteap P., Damrongchainarong K., Cutter P., Cutter P., Redford T., Lynam A.J., Howard J. and Leimgruber P. (2011). Using relative abundance indices from camera-trapping to test wildlife conservation hypotheses-an example from KhaoYai National Park, Thailand. Tropical Conservation Science, 4: 113– 131

Karanth K.U. and Nichols J.D. (1998). Estimation of tiger densities in India using photographic captures and recaptures. Ecology, 79: 2852–2862.

Karanth K.U. (1995). Estimating tiger Panthera tigris populations from camera-trap data using capture–recapture models. Biological Conservation, 71: 333-36.

Kostyria A.V., Skorodelov A.S., Miquelle D.G., Aramilev V.V. and McCullough D. (2003). Results of camera trap survey of far eastern leopard population in southwest Primorski Krai, winter 2002–2003. Wildlife Conservation Society and Institute for Sustainable Natural Resource Use, Vladivostok, Russia

Lahkar D., Ahmed M.F., Begum R.H., Das S.K., Lahkar B.P., Sarma H.K. and Harihar A. (2018). Camera-trapping survey to assess diversity, distribution and photographic capture rate of terrestrial mammals in the aftermath of the ethnoolitical conflict in Manas National Park, Assam, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 10(8): 12008–12017; http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4039.10.8.12008-12017.

Morelle K. and Lejeune P. (2015). Seasonal variations of wild pig Sus scrofa distribution in agricultural landscapes: a species distribution modelling approach. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 61(1): 45–56.; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-0140872-6

Mohapatra P.P., Das P.K., Mishra S.N. and Sahu D.K. (2009). Biodiversity assessment of some selected hill forests of south Orissa. Vasundhara, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, 69pp.

Nayak R., Karanth K.K., Dutta T., Defries R., Karanth K.U. and Vaidyanathan S. (2020). Bits and pieces: Forest fragmentation by linear intrusions in India. Land Use Policy, 99: 104619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104619.

Ohashi H., Saito M., Horie R., Tsunoda H., Noba H. and HIshii (2013). Differences in the activity pattern of the wild pig Sus scrofa related to human disturbance. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 59: 167–177.

Palei N.C., Rath B.P. and Singh K. (2020a). Mammalian diversity of Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India: A camera trap prospective, e-planet, 18(2): 145-157(December 2020).

Palei N.C., Rath B.P., Palei H.S. and Acharya B.P. (2020b). Population Status And Activity Pattern Of Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha, Eastern India, IUCN Otter spec. Group Bull, 37(4): 2020.

Palei N.C., Rath B.P Satpathy A.K., Acharya S.N. and Mohalik R.K. (2021). Ecological studies on wild carnivores and herbivores through camera trap in Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary,Odisha, India, e-planet, 19(2): 187-195 (December, 2021)

Palei N.C., Rath B.P. and Mallik P.S. (2022). Mammalian diversity of Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary, Bamra, Odisha, India, Cheetal, 59(2): 13-22.

Palei N.C., Rath B.P., Patra L.K. and Ghosh B. (2023a). First Photographic Records of Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Jharsuguda Forest Division, Odisha, India IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 40(3).

Palei N.C., Rath B.P., Mallik P.S., Acharya S.N., Sarangi K. (2023b).First photographic record of Indian grey wolf Canis lupus pallipes from Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, Eastern India, Indian Forester, 149(10): 1068-1072.

Puls S., Teichman K.J., Jansen C., O'Riain M.J. and Cristescu B. (2021). Activity patterns of leopards (Panthera pardus) and temporal overlap with their prey in an arid depredation hotspot of southern Africa. Journal of Arid Environments, 187(October 2020).; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104430

Ramesh, Tharmalingam, Kalle R., Sankar K. and Qureshi Q. (2012). Factors affecting habitat patch use by sloth bears in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India. Ursus, 23(1): 78–85.; https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-11-00006.1

Ripple W.J., Estes J.A., Beschta R.L., Wilmers C.C., Ritchie E.G., Hebblewhite M., Berger J., Elmhagen B., Letnic M., Nelson M.P., Schmitz O.J., Smith D.W., Wallach A.D. and A.J. Wirsing (2014). Status and ecological effects of the world's largest carnivores. Science, 343(6167): 1241484. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1241484.

Ripple W.J., Newsome T.M., Wolf C., Dirzo R., Everatt K.T., Galetti M., Hayward M.T., Kerley G.I.H., Levi T., Lindsey P.A., Macdonald D.W., Malhi Y., Painter L.E., Sandom C.J., Terborgh J. and Valkenburgh B.Van (2015). Collapse of the world's largest herbivores. Science Advances, 1: e1400103. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1400103.

Singh P. and Macdonald D.W. (2017). Populations and activity patterns of clouded leopards and marbled cats in Dampa Tiger Reserve, India. Journal of Mammalogy, 98(5): 1453–1462. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyx104.