Vertebrate Diversity of Buguda Forest of Odisha, India

IJournals: International Journal of Social Relevance & Concern ISSN-2347-9698 Volume 4 Issue 3 March 2016 VERTEBRATE DIVERSITY OF BUGUDA FOREST OF ODISHA, INDIA

R.K.Das1, R.P. Panda2 , N. Peetabas3 and A.K. Patra4 1Department of Zoology, Peoples College, Buguda, Odisha, India 2Deaprtment of Zoology, Anchalika Science College, Khetriyabarapur, Odisha, India 3Department of Botany, Science College, Kukudakhandi, Dist.Ganjam, Odisha 4Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India ABSTRACT The most common wild animals observed during the field study were 17 species of fishes, 13 species of Amphibians, 23 species of reptiles, 26 species of birds and 35 species of mammals. Endangered and vulnerable species of Pisces, Amphibians, Reptilians and Mammals have been marked. Deforestation, shifting cultivation, forest fires, grazing, tribal hunting, biotic interference, natural calamities, hemp plant cultivation by tribals, stone collection and firewood business most often cause environmental crisis upholding the signs of stress in Buguda Forest. The current rate deterioration demands conservation strategies by in-situ and ex-situ conservation.

Keywords: Endangered, ethnic tribes, waterfalls, human dimensions, bow and arrow, human-animal conflict.

I. INTRODUCTION fungi and bacteria that live in a unit environment and Flora and Fauna are two important parts of interact with one another forming together distinct forest. Macro fauna in the forest is generally living having its own composition, structure, vertebrates. Vertebrates are the dominant group of environmental relations, development and function animals on the earth, given their abundance, large (Corvalan 2005, Chivian and Bernstein 2008). body sizes and presence at the top of both aquatic and Buguda forest of Ganjam District, is terrestrial grazing food-chain. They include humans, centrally located in the state of Odisha being the part wild cats, deer, antelopes, sheeps, goats, wild oxen, of Eastern Cost of Indian Peninsula is quite rich in bears, civets, mongooses, game birds, various fishes natural resources and has varied and wide spread and the most intensively studied organisms. For forests harbouring dry deciduous, moist deciduous as example some vertebrate groups contain only a well as mangroves with several unique, endemic rare handful of living species. [e.g. coelacanth (actinistia)] and endangered flora and fauna. It’s unique wild life with 2, lung fish (dipnoi) with 6 and crocodilians habitats are geomorphic in origin and they include with 25, whereas others contain thousands e.g. birds caves, dens, culverts, overhangs etc. which are used (aves) with more than 10,000, ray finned fish by specific wild life. (Actinopterygia) with more than 32,000 (John J. The Buguda forest area lies at 22025’46” NL Wiens). To clarify numerous studies have tested the and 83032’38” EL It is bounded by Polasara Forest causes of richness patterns with major vertebrate on the north, Nayagarh Forest on the east, Karasingh groups in Buguda Forest from fishes to mammals. Forest on the south and Manitara Forest on the west. Alfaro et el. described dramatic variation in Buguda Forest is a triangular mass of highly diversification rates among vertebrate groups, but did undulating land situated at an altitude of more than not test whether any intrinsic traits or ecological 1200ft above the sea level, more on the higher hills correlates explained why these rate varied. Several than on the plains. The hills are broken into authors have explained that occurrence of topography numerous parts by slow running streams with a in terrestrial habitats might generally increase result, all degrees of gradients are found from gentle diversification and richness of vertebrate groups, but to steep slopes. The forest is endowed with rich without analyzing quantitatively. There we saw that variety of biological species, geological formation much of the variation in diversification rates and and ethnic tribes. The waterfall such as Brudhaakhol, richness among major vertebrates groups can be located in this forest attracts tourists throughout the explained by a simple ecological variable. year. The Buguda forest belongs to tropical zone The word forest is derived from the Latin where sal (shorea robusta) is the principal species. root “foris” meaning “out of doors” and Due to repeated fire and extensive podu cultivation in etymologically it is “a large uncultivated tract of land the past the main species of sal is diminishing covered with trees and under wood”. gradually and some miscellaneous species which is Forest is a dynamic natural community that more hardy in nature are coming up throughout the is an assemblage of population of plants, animals, forest.

IJournals: International Journal of Social Relevance & Concern ISSN-2347-9698 Volume 4 Issue 3 March 2016 II. MATERIALS AND METHODS Besides, degree of deforestation, shifting After several visit was undertaken to cultivation, forest fires, grazing, tribal haunting, different sites during the year 2012 onwards and biotic interference, climbers and fungi, natural vertebrate diversity of Buguda Forest was noted from calamities like drought, parasites have been direct visual observation, from foot prints, pugmarks aggravated during last few years. Now-a-days the and faecal material. The data were collected during tribals have been practiced with illegal cultivation of interaction with local inhabitants as well as the Forest hemp plants (cannabis indica) mostly in Gochhapada Division Authority. The fishes were identified as per and Phiringia region of Buguda Forest during last the methods suggested by (moustakas and karakassis few years. Due to lack of people’s awareness and 2005) and amphibians by Mc Callum 2007). environmental education some outsider interstate III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION agents and criminals are taking the full advantage of The most common vertebrates those were simple, uneducated local people, motivating youths observed during field study were 17 species of fishes, and thereby exploiting forest resources. Local 13 species of Amphibians, 23 species of reptiles, 26 peoples involvement and association during the field species of birds and 35 species of mammals Out of study was not satisfactory and need to be developed. these certain species were threatened. Table-3 & Fig. 1 Table-1 Vertebrate Fauna of Buguda Forest, their local ecological status and conservation threats. Sl. Ecological Conservation English / Local Name Species Name No. status threats FISHES 1 Fresh water shark / Balia Wallago attu (Bloch and Schneider) Vulnerable Fishing 2 Rohu / Rohi Labeo dyochilus (McClelland) Abundant Out of danger 3 Olive Barb / Kerandi Systomus sarana (F.Hamilton) Abundant Out of danger 4 Pool barb / Patia Kerandi Punits sophore (F.Hamilton) Abundant Out of danger 5 Tictobarb / Kuji Kerandi Puntis ticto (F.Hamilton) Abundant Out of danger 6 Cichlid fish / Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (W.K.H. Vulnerable Fishing Peters) 7 Spotted snakehead / Gadisha Channa punctata (Bloch) Abundant Fishing 8 Stinging Catfish / Singi Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) Abundant Fishing 9 Orangefin labeo / Kalarohi Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) Abundant Fishing 10 Zipper Loach Nemacheilus botia (Hamilton) Abundant Fishing 11 Gangetic Mystus Mystus cavasius (Hamilton) Abundant Fishing 12 Dwarf snakehead / Kuji Gadisha Channa gachua (F.Hamilton) Abundant Out of danger 13 Bronze feather back / Phali Notopterus notopterus (Pallas) Vulnerable Fishing 14 Catla / Bhakura Catla catla (Hamilton) Abundant Out of danger 15 Tyre track eel Mastacembalus armatus (Scopoli) Abundant Out of danger 16 Climbing Perch / Kau Anabas scandens (Daldorff) Abundant Out of danger 17 Snakehead Murrel / Seula Ophiocephalus striata (Bloch) Abundant Fishing AMPHIBIANS 1 Common Toad / Katakatia Bufo melanostictus (Schneider) Abundant Out of danger Benga 2 Water Frog / Brahmani Benga Haplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin) Abundant Out of danger 3 Paddy field Frog / Jami Benga Limmonectes keralensis (Dubois) Abundant Loss of habitat 4 Burrowing Frog Sphaerotheca rolandae (Dubois) Abundant Loss of habitat 5 Indian Skipper Frog Euphlyctis cyanophylyctis (Schneider) Abundant Out of danger 6 Jerdan’s Frog Haplobatrachus crassus (Jerdon) Abundant Information not available 7 Marbella Frog Uperodan systoma (Schneider) Abundant Information not available 8 Common Tree Frog Hyla geographicus (Spix) Abundant Information not available 9 Ornate Frog Microhyla ornata (Dumeril and Bibron) Abundant Loss of habitat 10 Termite Nest Frog Ramanella variegata (Stoliczka) Abundant Loss of habitat 11 Spade Foot Frog Rana crassa (Jerdon) Vulnerable Loss of habitat

IJournals: International Journal of Social Relevance & Concern ISSN-2347-9698 Volume 4 Issue 3 March 2016 12 Tree Frog / Gachha Benga Polypedates maculates (J.E. Grey) Abundant Loss of habitat 13 Tree Frog Polypedates leucomystrax (Graven Abundant Information not Horst) available REPTILES 1 House Lizard / Jhitipiti Hemidactylus flaviviridis (Ruppel) Abundant Out of danger 2 Tree Gecko / Gachha Jhitipiti Hemidactylus leschenaulti (Dumeril & Abundant Out of danger Bibron) 3 Spotted Indian house Gecko / Hemidactylus brooki (Gray) Abundant Out of danger Kala Jhitipiti 4 Indian Chameleon / Bahurupi Chameleo zeylanicus (Laurenti) Endangered Poaching for Endua medicine 5 Brahiminy skink/ Mabuya carinata (Schneider) Abundant Information not Champeineula available 6 Forest lizard/ Kala Endua Calotes rouxi (Daudin) Abundant Information not available 7 Garden Lizard / Endua Calotes versicolor (Daudin) Abundant Out of danger 8 Bengal Monitor Lizard / Matia Varanus bengalensis (Daudin) Abundant Poaching for meat Godhi and skin 9 Checkered Keelback / Dhanda Xenochrophis piscator (Schneider) Abundant Out of danger 10 Indian Rat Snake / Dhamana Ptyax mucosus (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Out of danger 11 Buff Striped Keelback / Mati Amphiesma stolatum (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Information not Biradi Sapa available 12 Bronze Back Snake Dendrelaphis tristis (Daudin) Abundant Information not available 13 Common Worm Snake / Telia Ramphotyphlops braminus (Daudin) Abundant Information not Sapa available 14 Banded Krait / Rana Sapa Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider) Vulnerable Poaching 15 Common Krait / Chiti Bungarus caerulus (Schneider) Abundant Information not available 16 Acellate Cobra / Kala Naga Naja oxiana (Eichwald) Vulnerable Poaching 17 Monocellate Cobra / Tampa Naja kaouthia (Lesson) Vulnerable Poaching 18 Bicellate Cobra / Naga Naja naja (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Poaching 19 King Cobra / Ahiraj Naja hannah (Cantor) Vulnerable Loss of habitat 20 Russell’s Viper / Chandan Daboia russelii (Shaw & Nodder) Abundant Loss of habitat Boda 21 Johns Earth Boa Eryx johnii (Russel) Abundant Information not available 22 Indian Python / Ajagar Python molurus (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Poaching 23 Mud Turtle Lissemys Punctata (Lacepede) Abundant Poaching BIRDS 1 Gray Jungle Fowl Gallus sonnerati (Temminck) Abundant Poaching 2 Hill Myna Gracula religiosa (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Trap & sale 3 Common Green Pigeon / Harada Treron phoenicoptera (Latham) Vulnerable Poaching for meat 4 Red Jungle Fowl Gallus gallus (Linnaeus) Abundant Poaching 5 Cattle Egret / Baga Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus) Abundant Information not available 6 Grey Horn Bill Tockus birostris (Scpoli) Vulnerable Environmental Change 7 Pariha Kite / Matia Chila Milvus migrans (Boddaert) Vulnerable Environmental Change 8 Indian Hornbull / Kochila Khai Anthracoceros coronatus (Boddaert) Endangered Poaching for medicinal use 9 Peacock / Mayura Pavo cristatus (Linnaeus) Abundant Poaching & domestication 10 Spotted Owlet Athene brama (Temminik) Abundant Poaching 11 Crow-Pheasant / Kumbhatua Centropus sinesis (Stephens) Abundant Information not

IJournals: International Journal of Social Relevance & Concern ISSN-2347-9698 Volume 4 Issue 3 March 2016 available 12 Indian Koel / Koili Eudynamys scolopaecus (Linnaeus) Abundant Information not available 13 Ringed Dove / Kapota Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldsky) Abundant Poaching 14 Red Headed Woodpecker / Melanerpes superciliaris (Temminck) Abundant Information not Katha Khumpa available 15 Golden Oriole / Haladi Basanta Oriolus Kundoo (Sykes) Vulnerable Information not available 16 Black Drongo / Kajalapati Dicrurus macrocercus (Vieillot) Abundant Information not available 17 White Throated Kingfisher / Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus) Abundant Information not Khandaya Pakhi available 18 House Sparrow / Ghara Chatia Passer domesticus (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Loss of habitat 19 Weaver Bird / Baya Chadhei Ploceous philippinus (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Loss of habitat 20 Pond Heron / Kantia Baga Ardeola grayii (Sykes) Abundant Poaching 21 Water Hen / Panikua Amuorornis phoenicurus (Pennant) Abundant Loss of habitat 22 Runner Duck / Bataka Anas platyrhnchos (Linnaeus) Abundant Poaching & domestication 23 Alexandrine Parakeet / Sua Psittacula eupatria (Linnaeus) Abundant Domestication 24 Rose ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri (Scopoli) Abundant Loss of habitat 25 Green Bee Eater / Balisua Merops phillppinus (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Loss of habitat 26 Black Chinned Humming Bird Archilochus alexandri (Bourcier & Abundant Loss of habitat Mulsant) MAMMALS 1 Elephant / Hati Elephas maximus indicus (Cuvier) Vulnerable Poaching, loss of habitat, human- animal conflict 2 Spotted Deer / Harina Axis axis axis (Erxleben) Vulnerable Poaching and cattle grazing 3 Muntiac (Baring deer ) / Kutra Muntiacus muntjak (Zimmermann) Vulnerable Poaching and cattle grazing 4 Leopard / Kalarapatria Bagha Panthera pardus fusca (Meyer) Endangered Poaching and loss of habitat 5 Tiger / Mahabala Bagh Panthera tigris (Linnaeus) Endangered Poaching and loss of habitat 6 Sloth Bear / Bhalu Melursus ursinus ursinus (Shaw) Endangered Poaching and loss of habitat 7 Brown Bear / Bhalu Ursus arctos (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Poaching 8 Mouse Deer / Gurandi Moschiola indica (Gray) Vulnerable Poaching and cattle grazing 9 Blue Bull / Nila Gai Boselaphus tragocamelus (Pallas) Vulnerable Poaching 10 Sambar Rusa unicolor (Kerr.) Vulnerable Poaching, loss of habitat, disease 11 Hyena / Heta Hyaena hyaena (Gray) Endangered Poaching of habitat 12 Jackal / Bilua Canis aureus (Linnaeus) Abundant Poaching 13 Indian Fox / Koki Siala Vulpes bengalensis (Shaw) Vulnerable Poaching 14 Jungle Cat / Katas Felis chaus kutas (Pearson) Vulnerable Poaching 15 Indian Percupine / Jhinka Hystrix indica (Kerr.) Vulnerable Poaching 16 Bonnet Macaque Macaca radiata (E. Geoffroy) Vulnerable Loss of habitat, urban migration & capture as pest 17 Rhesus Macaque / Pati Macaca mulata mulatto (Zimmermann) Vulnerable Loss of habitat, Mankada urban migration & capture as pest 18 Gray langur / Hanu Mankada Somnepithecus entellus (Dufresne) Abundant Loss of habitat, urban migration &

IJournals: International Journal of Social Relevance & Concern ISSN-2347-9698 Volume 4 Issue 3 March 2016 capture as pest 19 House Shrew / Chuchundra Suncus murinus (Linnaeus) Abundant Out of danger 20 Indian Bush Rat / Musa Golunda ellioti (Gray) Abundant Out of danger 21 Rat / Gatua Musa Rattus rattus (Linnaeus) Abundant Out of danger 22 House Rat / Musa Rattus palmarum (Zelebor) Abundant Out of danger 23 Micro Bat / Chemeni Corynorhinus townsendii (Cooper) Abundant Out of danger 24 Indian Flying Fox / Badudi Pteropus giganticus (Brunnich) Abundant Poaching for meat 25 Fruit Bat / Badudi Rousettus leschenaulti leschenaulti Abundant Poaching for meat (Desmarest) 26 Indian Hare / Thekua Lepus nigricollis ruficaudatus (Cuvier) Vulnerable Poaching for meat & domestication 27 Squirrel / Gunduchi Musa Funambulus palmarum (Linnaeus) Abundant Out of danger 28 Indian Giant Squirrel / Patta Ratufa indica (Erxleben) Vulnerable Domestication, Musa Loss of habitat 29 Indian Otter / Oddha Lutra lutra (Linnaeus) Vulnerable Poaching 30 Small Indian Civet / Salia Vivericula indica (Desmarest) Abundant Poaching Patani 31 Indian Mongoose / Neula Herpestes edwardsi (E. Geoffroy) Abundant Trap and domestication 32 Pangolin (Scaly ant eater) / Manis crassicaudata (E. Geoffroy) Endangered Poaching for trade Bajrakapta 33 Flying Squirrel / Udanta Petaurista philippensis (Elliot) Endangered Poaching Gunduchi 34 Wild Dog / Balia Kukura Cuon alpines (Pallas) Endangered Loss of habitat 35 Indian boar / Barha Sus scrofa cristatus (Wagner) Abundant Poaching

IV. THREAT TO VERTEBRATES time. In the past many tigers and elephants were It is in debatable that vertebrate diversity is killed by crop protection guns liberally licensed out decreasing worldwide due to human interventions. In to the people to protect their crop from wild animals. Buguda forest there are multifarious methods used by In addition to this various methods used by the poachers to trap or kill animals. A poacher poachers to kill the vertebrates are listed below. improvises his poaching techniques from time to Table-2 Methods to trap wild animals. Sl. No. Methods Variety of Animals 1 Fishing nets, Fishing baskets Fishes 2 Digging for underground animals Snakes, Lizards, Porcupines 3 Stick and Glue Fast flying birds 4 Taking young from nest holes Birds 5 Net Small birds, Small mammals, Bats, Pangolin 6 Wire noses Hares 7 Trap and snare Deer, Mammals and some reptiles 8 Bow and arrow Deer, Sambar Poaching of herbivores, which reportedly Threatened Vertebrate Species: quite frequent, is mainly for meat and hide, includes According to Red data book of IUCN, India deer, mouse deer, hare, sambar, wild boar etc. During ranks second in terms of threatened mammals, while summer, when natural streams get dried up or when sixth in terms of countries with the most threatened paddy or other crops has ripened, these animals stray birds. The number of threatened vertebrates species into nearby human habitation and are trapped and of Buguda forest predicted are shown in table killed by the tribals. Many cases of poaching go undetected for variety of reasons. Table-3 Threatened vertebrate species of Buguda Forest by Taxonomic Groups. Sl. No. Taxonomic Groups No. of threatened species. 1 Mammals 13 2 Birds 08

IJournals: International Journal of Social Relevance & Concern ISSN-2347-9698 Volume 4 Issue 3 March 2016 3 Reptiles 10 4 Amphibians 01 5 Fishes 03 cultivation by local inhabitants are some of the adverse factors for creating imbalance in forest No. of threatened ecosystem and food web. Conservation of these biodiversity and its sustainable development is the species. need of the hour. ACKNOWEDGEMENT: The authors are thankful to Forest 1 Mammals Department, Buguda, Ganjam, Odisha, D.F.O. (Wildlife Division), Nayagarh for providing valuable 2 Birds information regarding various wild animals. The 3 Reptiles authors are also thankful to Sri Judhistir Mohanty, T.G.T. Hindi, AJO High School, Buguda, Odisha, 4 Amphibians India for helping a lot to shoot the photographs of 5 Fishes wild animals in Buguda forest. REFERENCES: 1. Anantha Krishnan, T.N., (1982): Bioresearch Ecology. Oxford and I.B.H. Publication Co., Fig.1 : Figure shows threatened vertebrate species of New Delhi. Buguda Forest 2. Champion, H.G., (1968): A revised Survey of V. MEASURES TO BE TAKEN FOR the forest types of India. Government of India CONSERVATION OF VERTEBRATE FAUNA: Press, Delhi. 1. Preservation of endangered species through 3. Odum, E.P., (1977): Fundamentals of Ecology, strict protection against poaching of animals Holt Saunders New York and East Bourne. and deforestration. 4. Kormondy, E.J., (1976): Concepts of Ecology. 2. The habitat should be developed with Pentice hall Englewood Cliffs cooperation and active participation of local 5. Pearse, A.S., (1939): Animal Ecology, McGraw people coupled with sound silvicultural Hill Book Company, London. techniques. The main objective is to provide 6. Moen, A.N., (1973): Wildlife Ecology, W.H. more food, water and shelter to the wild life Freeman and Company. to reduce human animal conflict. 7. Detwyler, T.A.R., (1971): Man’s impact on 3. Providing adequate forest cover to different environment, McGrath, New York and Maiden- wild animals within their habitat is Head. necessary for their shelter and protection 8. Dash, M.C., (1995): Fundamentals of Ecology, from weather, predators and enemies. Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company Limited, 4. Establishment of Zoological Parks and New Delhi. Botanical Gardens. 9. Saharia, V.B., (1782): Wildlife in India, Natraj, 5. Ecological restoration of degraded micro Deharadun, India. and macro habitat. 10. O’Riordan, T., (1971): Perspectives on resources 6. Analysis of the environment inputs of eco- management, Pion Press. tourism. 11. Duffey, E., (1974): Nature Reserves and 7. To safeguard the natural habitat of the forest Wildlife, Heinemann, London. with its immensely rich biodiversity, people 12. Moustakas, A and Karakassis, (2005): How in general and the youth in particular is to be diverse is aquatic biodiversity research ? Aquatic made aware of the status, problems and Ecology 39:637-375. conservation concerning wildlife and its 13. Alfaro ME et al. (2009): Nine exceptional habitat. radiations plus high turnover explain species 8. Strict enforcement of laws according to the diversity in Jawed vertebrates. Proc Natl Acad. Wildlife (protection) Act-1972 (W.P.A.) Sci. USA 106, 13410-13414 (doi: will provide the safety and well being of 10.1073/pnas.0811087106) wild animals. 14. Satapathy, D.; Misra S.K.: Fish diversity and VI. CONCLUSION: conservation of fishery resources of the river Vertebrates are one of the most well-studied Pilasalunki, Buguda district, Asian journal of group of Animals found in Buguda forest act as a Animal science 2014 Vol.9 No.2 pp.124-128. critical repository of Eastern Ghat tropical forest of 15. John. I. Wiens (2015): Explain large-scale India. Wildlife trading, poaching tribal hunting, patterns of vertebrate diversity. firewood business, shifting cultivation, hemp plant DoI.10.1098/rsbi.2015.0506.

IJournals: International Journal of Social Relevance & Concern ISSN-2347-9698 Volume 4 Issue 3 March 2016 16. Gene S. Helfman, Bruce B. Collettee, Douglas E. 17. Bone, Q., Moore, R., (2008): The Biology of Facey, Brian W.Bowen, (2009): The diversity of Fishes. Taylor and Francis Group. pp 25-33. fishes: biology, evolution, and ecology. 18. Bonin, F, Deveux B, Alain Dupre. 2006: turtles Blackwell, 2009, pp 205-214. of the World. The John Hopkins University Press.