PREY SELECTION BY TIGERS (Panthera tigris) IN SARISKA TIGER RESERVE
- D.Avinandan, P.G Intern

ABSTRACT 

Tigers (Panthera tigris) are found in diverse habitat types including dry deciduous, moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, wet evergreen, riverine, swamp and mangrove forests. Tiger is territorial and wide ranging but the effective size of the territory is the function of density and biomass of larger prey species in its habitat. Studies have indicated clear relationship between prey biomass and tiger density. This makes species vulnerable to changes in prey base and habitat quality. The present study aims at understanding relationship between tiger and its in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, over a period of six months, from November 2002 to April 2003. The line transect method was used for estimating prey density. Twelve line transects were laid in two different strata- plains and hills. Each transect was walked seven times in a period of six months totaling to 173.6 km. Sariska Tiger Reserve was observed to have a very high wild ungulate density of 58.7 animals/km². Chital was the most common ungulate species (27.6/km²) followed by wild pig (17.5/ km²), sambar (8.4/ km²) and nilgai (5.2/ km²). Seventy-seven tiger scats were collected opportunistically from the study area and analyzed for prey remains. Scat analysis revealed that sambar constituted the major prey species in terms of number and biomass. It was the principle and preferred prey (P<0.05) of tigers. Other medium sized and large sized prey species including domestic livestock contributed significantly to the tiger diet. The ranking on the basis of group density was sambar>cattle-buffalo>nilgai>chital>common langur and wild pig. The order of selection on basis of prey occurrence in scats was sambar>chital>nilgai>cattle-buffalo>common langur >wild pig. From the current study it is evident that tigers were heavily dependent on sambar in greater proportion to their availability and the survival of tigers in Sariska is largely dependent on protecting the habitat of this large cervid.

Project Title	:	Food habits of tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
PIs & Co-PIs	:	Dr. Sankar and Mr. Qamar Quereshi
Researchers	:	D. Avinandan, P.G. Intern
Funding Agency	:	National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S.A and Wildlife Institute of India
Date of Initiation  & Completion	:	15.11.02 to 30.06.03

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