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JCBPS; Section B; August 2015–October 2015, Vol. 5, No. 4; 4008-4018 E- ISSN: 2249 –1929 Journal of Chemical, Biological and Physical Sciences An International Peer Review E-3 Journal of Sciences Available online atwww.jcbsc.org Section B: Biological Sciences CODEN (USA): JCBPAT Research Article A study of distribution patterns of wild mammals for their conservation planning in Madhya Pradesh Satish Kumar Shriwastava* and M.K.S. Kushwah Department of Zoology Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Govt. Science College, Gwalior-474001 (M.P.), India Received: 29 June 2015; Revised: 14 July 2015; Accepted: 04 September 2015 Abstract: The challenges facing the Indian conservationists include potential species extinctions, issues of effective protection and scientific management of The protected areas and resolution of human-wildlife conflicts. Madhya Pradesh is renowned for its erotic sculptures, pilgrimages, forts and palaces. But one more factor that adds a feather to the Madhya Pradesh cap is the bursary of lush, thick forests, stupendous mountain ranges and rambling streams of flowing rivers. This large plateau has presence of wildlife attractions in abundance. Census of 2001 gives a data as the key fauna includes large carnivores like the Tiger, Panthera tigris, Leopard , Panthera pardus, Grey Wolf Canis lupus and Dhole cuon alpinus. The rare Caracal Caracal caracal has also been reported from some parts of the State. The ungulates are represented by Spotted Deer, Axis axis, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, Gaur Bos frontalis, Chinkara Gazella bennettii, Four-horned Antelope Tetracerus quadricornis, Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra, Wild Buffalo Bubalus arnee (bubalis) and Wild Boar Sus scrofa. Apart from these, a small population of Barasingha Cervus duvaucelii branderi, which is also the State Animal of Madhya Pradesh, resides in the Kanha National Park. The Population structure of wildlife of the state is also quite encouraging. The study, based on available census report also reveals an increasing trend in population structure of most of the animals, except tigers and barking year. 1 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. B, August 2015 – October 2015; Vol.5, No.4; 4008-4018 A study… Shriwastava & Kushwah Keywords: Wildlife, conservation strategies, animals threats, mammal populations of M.P., carnivore animal populations. INTRODUCTION Wildlife populations in forested habitats are dynamic because the forest is always changing. Plant succession, or the gradual replacement of one plant community with another, is an important aspect of wildlife habitat. Every successional plant stage, or habitat type, has a specific community of animals associated with it. Close relationships among animals and environments illustrate how alterations to the habitat dramatically affect wildlife populations. In general, the survival and reproduction of wild animals depend on their ability to locate and harvest sufficient food to meet their nutritional needs. Timing and selection of food plants are synchronized to meet the animals‟ nutritional requirements. While all animals have the same general need to acquire energy, the specific patterns of resource utilization may, however, vary according to species, age-sex classes, group, population and habitat. All species interact with a variety of food sources distributed in their home ranges within their reach. Crop raiding by animals, in particular mammals like elephants (Elephas maximus), gaur (Bos gaurus), blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra ), chinkara (Gazella bennetti), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus), and porcupine (Hystrix ndica) has been widely reported from all over the country1-9. Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state of India and the home state of famous white tiger, falls under the subragion, the peninsular India, It possesses both tropical moist and tropical dry deciduous forest with shrub and thorny vegetations. Because of the large forest area (1,66,160 sq. km.) the state is endowad with variety of wild fauna, Population structure of wild life of the state is also quite encouraging, Based on 2006 census report, it is estimated that more than 300 tiger, 593 panther, 42535 chital, 13327 sambar, 15426 nilgai 3380 chausingha, 9928 Chinkara, 4820 black buck, 817 barasingha, 8837 gaur, 4849 barking deer and 153 great Indian bustard are present in different national 4849 parks and sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh. Ibas and Protected Areas: Eight national parks across nine districts, spread over an area of 3, 10,872 ha, and 25 wildlife sanctuaries covering an area of 7, 60,812 ha across 19 districts of the State, have been created. Among these protected areas there are five Tiger Reserves, namely Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Pench and Bori-Satpura (Ministry of Environment and Forest 2001). With about 25% of the tiger population of the country in these reserves, the State has earned the sobriquet of Tiger State of the country10. The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is one of the 11 Biosphere Reserves of the country. The Bhoj wetland is one of the Ramsar sites declared in 2002 and an IBA, located in the city of Bhopal. A total of 17 sites has been selected as IBAs in Madhya Pradesh. These represent the Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest, Mixed Thorn Forest and grassland, and wetland habitats. One of the IBAs is a Biosphere Reserve, which includes a national park, two wildlife sanctuaries and a wetland. Five sites are national parks, for being wildlife sanctuaries; seven are wetlands out of which there are partially or fully associated with protected areas with the remaining four being mostly unprotected by status. Ecological Factors for Wild Mammals: Habitat is “the physical and biological surroundings of an organism.” Good wildlife habitat supplies all the elements an animal needs for survival. 4009 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. B, August 2015 – October 2015; Vol.5, No.4; 4007-4018 A study… Shriwastava & Kushwah These elements include food, cover, water, and space. However, each animal varies in its requirement of these elements. When wildlife biologists and manager design programs to improve wildlife habitat, they take into account all the plants and animals that may be affected by their decisions. Geographical location of the state: Madhya Pradesh has coordinates 22.420N 72.540E. Madhya Pradesh was established on 1 Nov.1956 The largest City is Indore. The Districts of Madhya Pradesh are 50 in number The Area of M.P. is 308, 252 km2 (119,017 sq mi). The National Animal of M.P. is Barasingha (Swamp Deer). Madhya Pradesh is nicknamed „Heart of India‟ due to its geographical location in India. It is the second largest state in the country by area, with over 75 million inhabitants. It is the 6th largest state in India. It borders the states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Note: Source: https://www.google.co.in/maps11 Fig. 1: Wildlife Protected Areas in Madhya Pradesh 4010 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. B, August 2015 – October 2015; Vol.5, No.4; 4007-4018 A study… Shriwastava & Kushwah Source: www.mapsofindia.com Fig. 2: Map showing national parks and sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh Current scenario of wild life in the state of Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state of India and the home state of famous white tiger, falls under the subragion, the peninsular India, It possesses both tropical moist and tropical dry deciduous forest with shrub and thorny vegetations. Because of the large forest area (1,66,160 sq. km.) the state is endowad with variety of wild fauna, Population structure of wild life of the state is also quite encouraging, Based on 2006 census report, it is estimated that more than 300 tiger, 593 panther, 42535 chital, 13327 sambar, 15426 nilgai 3380 chausingha, 9928 Chinkara, 4820 black buck, 817 barasingha, 8837 gaur, 4849 barking deer and 153 great inidan bustard are present in different national 4849 parks and sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh. The study, based on available census report also reveals an increasing trend in population structure of most of the animals, except tigers and barking year. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area: The forest ecology with respect to vegetation, soil texture and climatic condition have observed. Field studies were conducted on a full time basis. All these areas were visited regularly from March 2012 to July 2013. The observations presented in this paper are based on direct observation as well as identification and analysis of field symptoms and keeping the wild animals under observation for a length of time. The field observations were made in certain definite points in the forest reserves. Time of observation made in certain definite points in the forest reserves. Time of observation was restricted too few hours in the morning and evening as well as. 4011 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. B, August 2015 – October 2015; Vol.5, No.4; 4007-4018 A study… Shriwastava & Kushwah Technique and procedure undertaken was is mainly based on keen observation to locate and identify the specific animals. Animal evidences are normally concentrated along the routes frequently visited by wild animals. Wild animals move along selected routes in the forest. Observations were facilitated by the use of binoculars and cameras, diary and pen. Most efficient method of observing animals directly was from trees or Machans, Basic field observation were based on direct observations, identification and interpretation of field symptoms. The Indian Board for wildlife describes a protected area as an area which is (i) to afford special protection to wildlife in order to enable to re-establish them (ii) to afford protection to wildlife in and around large towns and sacred places. Such area may be constituted as protected areas by an order of the government who may also fix the degree of protection and period of protection (may be temporary or permanent). Trail sampling, scanning and sign surveys: Trail sampling was used for detection of mammals in different habitats of the study area. These trails were identified with slight modification from conventional transects12 for velleys13, 14.