1090 The Indian Forester [October Indian Forester, 143 (10) : 1091-1092, 2017 ISSN No. 0019-4816 (Print) http://www.indianforester.co.in ISSN No. 2321-094X (Online)

Davis A.L.V., Scholtz C.H. and Deschodt C. (2008). Multi-scale determinants of dung beetle assemblage structure across abiotic gradients of the Kalahari-Nama Karoo ecotone, South Africa. J. Biogeography, 35:1465-1480 (V) Dufrene M. and Legendre P. (1997). Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecological DISTRIBUTION OF BOIGA FORSTENI (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON ET DUMÉRIL, 1854) IN NORTHERN INDIA Monographs, 67:345-366 Estrada A., Coates-Estrada R., Dadda A.A. and Cammarano P. (1998). Dung and carrion beetles in tropical rain forest fragments and agricultural The colubrid snakes of the genus Boiga Fitzinger, Kästle, 2002). In India, northernmost limit of the species is habitats at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. J. Tropical Ecology, 14:577-593 1826 is represented by 32 species in Asia and 16 species in from the Uttarakhand state and it is reported from three Escobar F., Halffter G. and Arellano L. (2007). From forest to pasture: an evaluation of the influence of environment and biogeography on the India (Orlov and Ryabov, 2002; Tillack et al., 2004; districts viz. Dehradun, Pauri and Nainital within an structure of dung beetle (Scarabaeinae) assemblages along three altitudinal gradients in the Neotropical region. Ecography, 30:193- 208 Manamendra-Arachchiand and Pethiyagoda, 2007; elevation of 900 m (Husain and Ray, 1995). However, the Gardner T.A., Barlow J., Araujo I.S., Avila-Pires T.C., Bonaldo A.B., Costa J.E., Esposito M.C., Ferreira L.V., Hawes J., Hernandez M.I., Hoogmoed Whitaker and Captain, 2004; Vogeland and Ganesh, 2013). only specific locality record from Uttarakhand comes from M.S., Leite R.N., Lo-Man-Hung N.F., Malcolm J.R., Martins M.B., Mestre L.A., Miranda-Santos R., Overal W.L., Parry L., Peters S.L., Forsten's cat snake Boiga forsteni (Duméril, Bibron et a specimen (ZSIK 16395; male) collected from Kaladhungi Ribeiro-Junior M.A., da Silva M.N., da Silva M.C. and Peres C.A. (2008). The cost-effectiveness of biodiversity surveys in tropical Duméril, 1854) has a wide distribution in India and it is (elevation~393 m) of Nainital district. forests. Ecological Letters, 11:139-150 reported from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, A second specific locality record of Boiga forsteni Halffter G. and Favila M.E. (1993). The Scarabaeinae (Insecta: Coleoptera) an animal group for analyzing, inventorying, and monitoring Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and entire Western from Uttarakhand state is provided. One adult (unsexed) biodiversity in tropical rainforest and modified landscapes. Biology International, 27:15-21 Ghats from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil specimen was encountered on July 7, 2013 in the Mundal Halffter G. and Arellano L. (2002) Response of dung beetle diversity to human-induced changes in a tropical landscape. Biotropica, 34:144-154 Nadu. In the west, it is reported from Gujarat and forest camp (29.9527810 N, 78.2631520 E; 300 msl), Chilla Han Y., Kwon O. and Cho Y. (2015). A study of bioindicator selection for long-term ecological monitoring. Journal of Ecology and Environment, Rajasthan (Smith, 1943; Tillack et al., 2004; Srinivasulu and Range of Rajaji tiger reserve (Fig. 1) at around 21:00 hr IST. 38(1):119-122 Das, 2008; Sharma et al., 2002; Vyas, 2004). The western It was sighted on a small temporarily wooden roof c. 2m Klein B.C. (1989). Effects of forest fragmentation on dung and carrion beetle communities in central Amazonia. Ecology, 70:1715-1725 most known locality for the species is Mt. Abu in southern above ground. Identification of the species is based on Larsen T.H., Lopera A. and Forsyth A. (2008). Understanding trait-dependent community disassembly: dung beetles, density functions, and Rajasthan (Daniel, 1963; Sharma et al., 2002). The eastern observation of its distinct body pattern and colouration. forest fragmentation. Conservation Biology, 22(5):1288-1298 distribution limit is recorded as Birbhum and Sijna in West Body slender, slightly compressed laterally. The head is Lobo M. J., Lumaret J. and Jay-Robert P. (2002). Diversity, distinctiveness and conservation status of the Mediterranean coastal dung beetle Bengal (Stoliczka, 1871; Whitaker and Captain, 2004) and triangular in shape and distinct from neck. Top of head assemblage in the regional natural park of the Camargue (France). Diversity and Distributions, 7(6):257-270 Sikkim (Anderson, 1871; Stoliczka, 1871; Theobald, 1876). with a conspicuous black mid bar from the frontal shield to Mcgeoch M.A., Van Rensburg B.J. and Botes A. (2002). The verification and application of bioindicators: a case study of dung beetles in a However, Tillack et al. (2008) after analyzing Stoliczka's the nape with two more additional stripes parallel to it savanna ecosystem. J. Applied Ecology, 39:661-672 (1871) description showed that the record from Sikkim (Fig. 2A). Eyes are large with vertical pupil and a broad Montes de Oca E. and Halffter G. (1998). Invasion of Mexico by Two Dung Beetles Previously Introduced into the United States. Studies on does not represent B. forsteni but is referable to Boiga black stripe run behind the eye to the angle of mouth. Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 33:37-45 siamensis Nootpand, 1971 (Pauwels et al., 2005). Similarly, Supralabials and infralabials are whitish with few black Menéndez R., González-Megías A., Jay-Robert P. and Marquéz-Ferrando R. (2014). Climate change and elevational range shifts: evidence from dung they also remarked that listing of Boiga forsteni from the spots. The dorsal coloration is greyish with alternating beetles in two European mountain ranges. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 23:646-657. eastern Himalaya e.g. Darjeeling may be misidentified and irregular transverse markings giving it a checkered pattern Nichols E., Spector S., Louzada J., Larsen T., Amezquitad S. and Favila M.E. (2008). Ecological functions and ecosystem services provided by turn out to be specimen of B. siamensis. (Fig. 2B). Color form of the species encountered falls in (Scarabaeinae) dung beetles. Biological Conservation, 141:1461-1474 In the North, Boiga forsteni is known from Nepal “variety 1” as described by Mohapatra et al. (2009). Nichols E., Gardner T.A., Peres C.A. and Spector S. (2009). Co-declining mammals and dung beetles: an impending ecological cascade. Oikos, where it is reported from Danagadhi, Sukla Phanta (close 118:481-487 After observations and photography, the snake to Dudhwa Tiger reserve in India) and Dharan all in terai climbed vertically on Psidium guajava and later it Noss R.F. (1990). Indicators for monitoring biodiversity: a hierarchical approach. Conservation Biology, 4:335-364 landscape within an elevation of 200-349 m (Schleich and Numa C., Verdu R.J., Sanchez A. and Galante E. (2009) Effect of landscape structure on the spatial distribution of Mediterranean dung beetle diversity. Diversity and Distributions, 15:489-501 Numa C., Lobo M.J. and Verdu R.J. (2012) Scaling local abundance determinants in mediterranean dung beetles. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 5:106-117 Scholtz C.H., Davis A.L.V. and Kryger U. (2009). Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Dung Beetle. Pensoft publisher, 567pp Shahabuddin Hasanah U. and Elijonnahdi (2014). Effectiveness of dung beetles as bioindicators of environmental changes in land-use gradient in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biotropia, 21(1):48-58 MONA CHAUHAN AND V.P. UNIYAL Wild Life Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun E-mail: [email protected]

Fig. 1: Map showing northernmost locality report of B.forsteni Fig. 2: Boiga forstenl variety 1 (A) dorsal view (arrow showing black mid- from India stripe on head and two parallel stripes on the neck (B) front view of B.forstteni. 1092 The Indian Forester [October Indian Forester, 143 (10) : 1093, 2017 ISSN No. 0019-4816 (Print) http://www.indianforester.co.in ISSN No. 2321-094X (Online) disappeared in nearby bush which is about 2m in height. holes of Madhuca indica, Mangifera indica and also found VIEWS AND EXPRESSIONS The area where the snake was encountered is located in in holes of large trees near forest fringe villages (Schleich between a terai grassland (approximately 65.47 ha) and Kästle, 2002; Mohapatra et al., 2009). Beside B. SUGGESTIONS TO LESSEN THE MAN ANIMAL CONFLICT dominated by Saccharum spontaneum with sparse trees. forsteni few other species of snakes were also The man-animal conflict is one of the burning issues In Jaisamand, there is a hill called Roothi Rani Ka Surrounding habitat is predominantly a Shorea robusta encountered occasionally in the park. The species spotted of the country today. Different wild animals are having Mahal. Maharana Fateh Singh once organised a beat dominated forest. The species known to inhabits were Ophiophagus hannah, Naja kaouthia, Bungarus dissimilar problems with humans. Every other region is (hakka. Villagers make a lot of noise and move in a ring or woodland habitats in dry deciduous forest, moist fasciatus and Lycodon aulicus. experiencing a different issue related to the same wild semi circle to chase an animal towards a shikari) on this hill deciduous, peninsular Sal forest and cultivated areas in animal and man. and dozens of sambhars simply fell off the hill and got The major issue is the killing of domestic animals by killed as a result. After that the Maharana never had a beat on that hill again. References wild carnivores. Man from centuries has been considering domestic animals his property and source of income, and if In spite of such a thick population of wild ungulates, Anderson J. (1871). On some Indian reptiles. In: Proceeding: Zoological Society of London. 149-211. they are hurt or killed by wild carnivores, man rages and the Maharanas of Udaipur received daily complaints from Daniel J. (1963). Extension of the known range of the Cat snake, Boiga forsteni (Dum. EtBibr.). J. Bombay Natural History Society, 59 (3): 966- aims to destroy the marauders. different villages about the big cats doing considerable 967. But, in the bygone days, carnivores killed lots of damage to their livestock. They often sent their courtesans Husain A. and Ray P. (1995). Reptilia. In: Fauna of Western Himalaya (U. P.), Himalayan Ecosystem Series 1 (A.K. Ghosh eds). Zoological Survey domestic animals, which are not so swift. Olden day to destroy the marauders. of India, Calcutta, pp.159-167. naturalists divided carnivores, especially tiger and panther, Nowadays, this problem has taken a colossal Manamendra-Arachchi K. and Pethiyagoda R. (2007). Boiga ranawanei, a junior synonym of Boigabeddomei. Zeylanica, 7 (1):123-124. in three categories, Cattle Lifter, Game Killer and Man Eater. dimension because the population of domestic animals Mohapatra P.P., Das A., Tillack F. and Dutta S.K. (2009). Taxonomy, natural history, and distribution of Boiga forsteni (Duméril, Bibron et The cattle lifters were bulky and lethargic whereas the game have increased manifold. And since this is the Media Era, the Duméril, 1854) (serpentes:Colubridae) from Orissa, India. Russian J. Herpetology, 16 (4):243-254. killers were lean and swift and lived in deep forests where man animal conflict is getting highlighted out of proportion. Orlov N.L. and Ryabov S.A. (2002). A new species of the genus Boiga (Serpentes, Colubridae, Colubrinae) from Tanahjampea island and domestic animals could not be encountered. Wild carnivores have a particular track of their own description of 'Black Form' of Boiga cynodon complex from Sumatra (Indonesia). Russian J. Herpetology, 9(1):33-56. In the late 1800s, the human population of the to move in the jungles that they follow regularly. Wildlife Pauwels O.S.G., David P., Chanhome L., Vogel G., Chanard T. and Orlov N.L. (2005). On the status of Boiga ocellata Kroon, 1973, with the country was sparse. Vast jungles existed with plenty of experts must trace down these jungle paths. As the designation of a neotype for Boiga ungulates. The book The Royal Tiger of Bengal - His Life & numbers of vultures and scavengers have reduced Death' by J. Fayrer published in 1875 mentions that Captain significantly, the dead cattle and domestic animals keep Siamensis Nootpand, 1971 (Serpentes, Colubridae). Russian Journal of Herpetology, 12 (2):102-106. B. Rogers of the Indian army, who studied the habits of lying around and rotting for weeks. These dead animals Schleich H.H. and Kästle W. (Eds.) (2002). Amphibians and reptiles of Nepal: Biology, Systematics, Field Guide. Ruggell, A.R.G. GantnerVerlag Indian wildlife, wrote a paper on the destruction caused by can be picked up and kept on the jungle tracks for the wild K.G., Ruggel: 827. them. Captain Roger stated, “The loss of property, which the carnivores to feast upon. This will help in making the wild Sharma S.K., Chawda K. and Patel S. (2002). Sighting of Forsten's Cat Snake (Boiga forsteni) at Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Sirohi District, ravages of carnivora entailed, amounted to 10 million carnivores thrive, reduce the number of attacks on cattle Rajasthan. Cobra, 48:7-9. pounds annually.” A large share was attributed to tigers. The and eventually reduce the number of man-eaters too. Smith M.A. (1943). The fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma including the whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region, Reptilia and Amphibia, Vol England parliament proposed destroying the carnivores as · There is a belief that carnivores prefer fresh meat, killed 3 Serpentes. Taylor and Francis, London: 358–359. much as possible. Locals were given award for producing the by them. They don't go for dead animals, which they Srinivasulu C. and Das I. (2008). The herpetofauna of Nallamala hills, Eastern Ghats, India: an annotated checklist, with remarks on tail of the killed animal for incentive. come across by chance. This is an absolutely wrong nomenclature, taxonomy, habitat use, adaptive types and biogeography. Asiatic Herpetological Research, 11:108-129. So we can very well visualise the scale of destruction notion (Tehsin, 1979, 1993 and 2016). They prefer high Stoliczka F. (1871). Notes on some Indian and Burmese ophidians. J. Asiatic Society of Bengal, 40:421-445. of domestic animals at that time by wild carnivores. Now meat, because it is very easy to tear it apart. In late 50s this indicates that panthers & tigers do not depend on wild in the jungles of Kumbhlagarh, I observed a leopard on a Theobald W. (1876). Descriptive catalogue of the Reptiles of British India. Thacker, Spink and Co., Calcutta. ungulates alone as a source of food. The tendency being carcass of a cow that was literally covered by maggots. A Tillack F., Ziegler T. and Quyet L.K. (2004). Eineneue Art der Gattung Boiga Fitzinger, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae: Colubrinae) to exert less to procure food, carnivores adapted to kill leopard came across this kill and licked up the maggots ausdemzentralen Vietnam. Sauria, 26(4):3-12. domestic animals. like cream. Then it started eating the flesh. Tillack F., Husain A. and Husain H.J. (2008). Notes on the distribution of Boiga forsteni (Duméril, Bibron et Duméril, 1854) in India, with a new In 1875 when Fayrer's book was published with the The other way to reduce the man-animal conflict record from the Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh. Sauria, 30(1):49-50. statistics, the population of wild ungulates in the jungles of is to increase the population of wild ungulates, namely Vyas R. (2004). Herpetofauna of Vansda National Park, Gujarat. Zoos' Print Journal, 19(6):1512-1514. India was so thick that one cannot imagine. Near Udaipur hares and the wild boars, both of which are prolific Vogel G. and Ganesh S.R. (2013). A new species of cat snake (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae: Boiga) from dry forests of eastern Peninsular there was a Shikar gaah (hunting reserve) of Maharana of breeders, as a prey for wild carnivores. Separate big India. Zootaxa, 3637 (2):158-168. Udaipur called Jaisamand. Till the early 50s, whenever we enclosures can be made in the jungles to breed them. The Whitaker R. and Captain A. (2004). Snakes of India: The Field Guide. Draco Books, Chennai. ventured through Jaisamand Game Reserve of the excess stock can be released in the jungles at regular Maharana, we had to get out of the vehicle at night to intervals for the wild carnivores to prey upon. move herds of sambhar (Cervus unicolor), which roamed Such practical and easy measures should be taken ZEHIDUL HUSSAIN AND ABHIJIT DAS in large numbers, out of the path. They would be standing by the forest authorities to decrease the man animal Department of Endangered Species Management, around dazzled by the artificial light of our car headlights. conflict. Wildlife Institute of India References Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand Tehsin R.H. (1979). Origin of false notion. Cheetal, 21(1):26. E-mail: [email protected] Tehsin R.H. (1993). Panthers (Panthera pardus) and Their Taste of Diet. Indian Forester, 119(10): 875 - 877 Tehsin R.H. (2016) Panthers of Southern Rajasthan: My Observations of 65 Years. Indian Forester, 143 (10): 1030-1034. RAZA H. TEHSIN Panchwati, Udaipur (Rajasthan) E-mail: [email protected]