“Conservation of Near Threatened Endemic Grizzled Giant Squirrel Through People Participation in Palni Hills, South Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu”

2014-2015

ACTION FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION INDIA FOUNDATION TRUST 93/15, PANNAIKADU PIRIVU, OOTHU, PANNAIKADU- 624210, KODAIKANAL, TAMILNADU, INDIA Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………………3

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………..4

Methods ……………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Study Area …………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Results and Discussions …………………………………………………………………... 9

References …………………………………………………………………………………. 25

Acknowledgements

We thank ATREE for providing necessary funds for the study on “Promotion of Community Forest Management for Livelihood support of Paliyan Tribe throth Bio-diversity Conservation in Palni Hills- Anamalai Corridor, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu through CEPF small grant Program. This project promotes the lively hood options of Paliyan Tribes and also helps in conserving the near threatened grizzled giant squirrel in Plani Hills, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. We also thank The Chief Widlife Warden, Tamil Nadu Forest Department for The Disrtict Forest Officer, Kodaikanal and Dindigul for permitting us to carry out this project in Kodaikanal and Dindigul Divisions. We thank the Range Officers for their constant support through out the project period. We thank Dr.Bhakar Acharya for his full support during the project period. We also thank Dr.R. Ganesh, Dr. T. Ganesh and Dr. Jagdish Krishnasamy ATREE for his support and encouragement during the project. We thank Dr. Jack Tordoff, Program Director, CEPF. We thank Prof. Borian, Departmen of Tribal Studies, Gandhigram University, Dindigul. We also thank Mr. Elango, Consultant for Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques. We thank Mr. R. Arumugam, Wildlife Consultant, Pollachi for helping us in conducting Ecological survey of Grizzled Giant Squirrel and prpapring the final report on the ecological survey of grizzled giant squirrel work. We thank Prof. Stephen , American College, Madurai for identifying the plant specimens. We thank Mr. Davis Raja, Development Consultant, Nagerkovil for his hel in Socioal survey work. We thank all the Paliyan tribes for their support during this study without their whole hearted support it would not have possible to complete this project successful.

“Conservation of Near Threatened Endemic Grizzled Giant Squirrel through People Participation in Palni Hills, South Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu”

Paliyan Tribes are primitive hunter-gatherers residing in the South Western Ghats, Tamilnadu (Gardener, 1972). They are found in Dindigul, Theni, Madurai and Virudhunagar Districts of Tamil Nadu. After the enactment of Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and declaration of wildlife sanctuaries in most of the forests where they are living they have given up hunting and become settled agriculturalists and work as agriculture laborers in estates located near there settlements. They also collect Non-timber forest produce (NTFP) for their sustenance (John Kennedy, 2006). Presently, NTFP collection also legally not permitted in places where they are living. These people have a close association with protection and conservation of Grizzled giant squirrels (Ratufa macroura) in South Western Ghats, India. On the other side there is also an overlap in the NTFP collected by Paliyan tribes and the trees that are used for feeding and nesting In places like Senbagathoppu, Srivilliputhur they raise squirrel young ones fallen from the nest due to high wind velocity during the month of May (Arora, 2013). They even feed them high quality feeds like milk powder used for human infants to raise the squirrels and release them in the nearby trees that have got connectivity to the forest. On the other side their NTFP collection species are overlapped with food plants and nesting trees of grizzled giant squirrel. And hence this project was started to reduce the pressure on the food plants of grizzled giant squirrel and to provide alternate employment for them.

Grizzled giant squirrel is a near threatened (Molur, 2005 ; Joshua, 2010 & 2013), medium sized squirrel (Prater, 1971 ; Menon 2003) found in Cauveri wildlife sanctuary, (Kumara, 2006) Karnataka, Hosur Forest Division Baskaran, 2011), Anamalai Tiger Reserve ( Kumara, 2002) Kodaikanal Dindigul (Davidar, 1989, Sharma, 1992), Theni (Baskaran, 2011), Megamalai and Srivilliputhur grizzled squirrel wildlife sanctuary (Pulraj, 1991), Tamil Nadu and in Cavueri

4 wildlife sanctuary in Kerala state (Karthigeyan, 1992; Ramachandran. 1993; Senthilkumar, 1997). According IUCN. 2010 report there are only less than 500 squirrels left in wild in Western Ghats, India.

Methodology

Figure No. 1

Study Area

The study was conducted in 638 square kilometers of Kodaikanal, Dindigul Divisions and Revenue lands of Dindigul District (Fig 2.) between January 2014 and March 2015. The forest types of the study area varies from Tropical Dry Thorn forests found along the foot hills and near Kodaikanal the forest type is Evergreen Forests, and in the mid-elevations, dry- and moist deciduous forests are found. There are two distinct seasons in the foot hills, dry and rainy season. On the higher elevations near Kodaikanal, there are three seasons namely dry, rainy and short period of winter season. The maximum temperature of the study area is 38o C and the minimum temperature reaches 0o C during winter. The rainfall in the study area varies from below 1000mm along the foot hills to more than 3500 mm in higher elevations (Kodaikanal).

Transects were laid around the tribal hamlets to find out the biotic pressure due to NTFP collection, firewood collection, cattle grazing etc. Transects were laid around Kadamanrevu, Pattiyakadu, Kdaisikadu, Boodhamalai, Korankombu, Amaithisolai, Poolathur, Valagiri, Moolaiyaru, and Vadagaraiparai. The spatial locations of these villages are shown in Figure 2.

Figure No.2

Paliyan youths in the study area are given training to estimate the NTFP resources available in the jungle and to estimate the wildlife encounter rate especially the grizzled giant squirrel in the same area where they are collecting NTFP.

Estimation of NTFP Tree species density

Line transects of 50 x 4 meter size were laid in the study site to estimate the tree species density, NTFP species density, and the trees that are used as food and nesting trees by Grizzled giant squirrel. Plants above four meters were recorded as trees. Latitude, longitude and altitude of the transect locations were recorded using a Garmin Etrex- 20 Global Positioning System (GPS). A 50 meter rope was laid straight and tree species located in 2 meter width either side of the transects were recorded. Trees were identified by the Paliyan tribes by their local common name. Specimens were collected and preserved for identification of Botanical name by a botanist in Madurai American College. Saplings of the plants found within the transects were also recorded to find out the recruitment of various tree species found in the study site. The transect locations were superimposed on the study site map using mapping softwares like Global-mapper.

Figure -3 Estimation of overlap of NTFP collection with grizzled giant squirrel food plants

A list of species collected as NTFP by Paliyan tribes was prepared and also the plant species eaten by Grizzled giant squirrel was prepared (Table No. 1) with the help of Paliyan tribal youths. The density of NTFP species and the plants eaten and used as nesting trees density was calculated from the data collected along the transects.

Estimation of grizzled giant squirrel nest density

The project investigator and the trained tribal youths walked along the designated routes and looked for Grizzled giant squirrels and their nests. The latitude, longitude and the altitude of the nest locations were recorded using GPS. The local name of feeding and nesting tree species was recorded with the help of Paliyan tribal youths and the approximate tree height and the nest height were also recorded. There were large bird nests like crows and raptors were also found in the study site. By actually looking at the nests used by Grizzled giant squirrel during the time of nest survey and with the help of Paliyan tribes we differentiated the squirrel nests from the bird nests. The squirrels make hole nest using twigs in the first layer and in the next layer they used soft leaves, and in the inner layers they used soft materials like tree fibers (fig. ). In contrast, there was only a single layer in bird nests, and they were soccer shaped and open.

Habitat suitability analysis for grizzled giant squirrel

With the help of mapping software habitat suitable for Grizzled giant squirrel was analyzed. Parameters such as nest numbers, elevation, tree density, tree height, tree species, canopy density etc were used to find out the suitable habitat for grizzled giant squirrel in the study area. Canopy Density

Canopy density was estimated using a densitometer. Within each transect location, canopy cover was recorded for 25 random locations (Table No. 7). All the canopy cover data are added and canopy density was estimated for the study locations.

RESULTS

List of NTFP Trees and the Trees utilized by Grizzled Giant squirrel 89 tree species were found in the study site and they are shown in Table No. 1 . Out of these, 28 species used as feeding or nesting trees by Grizzled Giant squirrel. There is an overlap of 65 percent between the NTFP species collected by the Paliyars, and those used by Grizzled giant squirrels. This result indicates that there is a very high conflict. At the time of NTFP collection, collectors disturb the squirrel by cutting the branches for plucking and also beating branches for collection of products like tamarind (Tamarindus indica), kadukkai (Terminalia chebula) and gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica) also disturb the squirrel and their young ones. Sometimes the nest itself collapses. Apart from these disturbances the squirrel, also lose their food materials.

Table No. 1 List of NTFP Collected by Paliyan Tribes and Trees Utilized by GGIS

NTFP Eaten/used for SNO Scientific Name Tamil Name Species Nesting by GGIS 1. Ficus benghalensis Alamaram No Yes

2. Litsea floribunda Amaimaram No No

3. Ficus sp Athimaram No No

4. Coffea arbica Coffee Yes No Pteridium sp 5. Edavalai Yes No Bombax ceiba 6. Elavamaram Yes Yes Atlantia monophylla 7. Elumichai No No Xylosma sp 8. Ennasulunthu No No

9. Dalbergia latifolia Etti No Yes

10. Melastoma malabathricum Kadalamaram No Yes

11. Adina cordifolia Kadambu No No

12. Terminalia chebula Kadukkai Yes Yes

13. Unidentified Kalimullan No No

14. Unidentified Kallukoppai No No

15. Unidentified Kaluthaivittan Yes No Psycotria nilgirienesis 16. Kambi Maram No No Gymnosporia montana 17. Kanthamul No No

18. Randia sp Karai No No

19. Terminalia alata Karumaram No No

NTFP Eaten/used for SNO Scientific Name Tamil Name Species Nesting by GGIS Unidentified 20. Karunselai No No Unidentified 21. Karunthuvarai No No Unidentified 22. Karuvenbu No No Unidentified 23. Kathalai No No Unidentified 24. Kathirimaram No No Memecylon umbellatum 25. Kayamaram No No Cassia fistula 26. Konanmaram Yes Yes

27. Unidentified Kopala No No Aphanamixis folystachya 28. Koppaimaram No No Psidium guajava 29. Koyya Yes Yes Gmelina arborea 30. Kumil Yes Yes

31. Shorea roxburghii Kungiliyam Yes No Caryota urens 32. Kunthalpanai Yes No Flemingia strobilifera 33. Kurangumanjal No No Aglaia sp 34. Kurappu maram No Yes Cinnamomum verum 35. Lavangai Yes Yes

36. Mangifera indica Ma maram Yes Yes

37. Melia azedarach Malaivembu Yes Yes Stereospermum colais 38. Manjamayilan No No

39. Morinda citrifolia Manjanathi No No

40. Unidentified Mayilan No No

NTFP Eaten/used for SNO Scientific Name Tamil Name Species Nesting by GGIS 41. Randia sp Meenkarai Yes No

42. Bambusa arundinacea Moongil Yes Yes Litsea sp 43. Mugaravingi No No Zizyphus xylopyrus 44. Mulkottan No No

45. Unidentified Mullupalai Yes No

46. Erythrina variegata Mulmurngai Yes No Unidentified 47. Muralimaram No No Unidentified 48. Narathai Yes No Syzygium cumini 49. Naval Yes Yes Litsea insignis 50. Nedali No No Scolopia crenata 51. Neernelli No No Phyllanthus emblica 52. Nelli Yes Yes Citrus medica 53. Orange Yes No

54. Artocarpus heterophyllus Pala Yes Yes Cipadessa baccifera 55. Peipotti No No

56. Tamarindus indica Puilyamaram Yes Yes

57. Dillenia pentagyna Pinari No No

58. Pongamia pinnata Poongamaram Yes No Symplocos cochinchinensis 59. Poouruthi No No Antidesma menasu 60. Porinelli No No Clausena heptaphylla 61. Potti Yes Yes

NTFP Eaten/used for SNO Scientific Name Tamil Name Species Nesting by GGIS Alangium salviifolium Punamkatti 62. No No maram Unidentified 63. Pungalan No Yes Unidentified 64. Sambiranimaram Yes No

65. Toona ciliata Santhanavembu No Yes Unidentified 66. Selaimaram No Yes Unidentified 67. Sempatti No No Michelia nilagirica 68. Senbagamaram Yes No Unidentified 69. Silaimaram No No Unidentified 70. Silavagaimaram No No Unidentified 71. Simittankai No No Bridelia retusa 72. Singattan Yes Yes

73. Sapindus emarginata Soppukai Yes Yes Actinodaphne sp 74. Sudalai No No Grewia tiliaefolia 75. Thalnaru Yes Yes

76. Terminalia bellerica Thandrikai Yes Yes

77. Tectona grandis Thekku Yes Yes Unidentified 78. Themparamaram No No Unidentified 79. Thillai maram No No

80. Dalbergia latifolia Thothagathi No No

81. Unidentified Udumbanmaram No No Albizia lebbek 82. Vagai No Yes

NTFP Eaten/used for SNO Scientific Name Tamil Name Species Nesting by GGIS Macaranga peltata 83. Vattakani No No Chu krasia tabularis 84. Vedivembu No No Anogeissus latifolia 85. Vekkali No No Pterocarpus marsupium 86. Vengai No Yes Unidentified 87. Vilinganmaram No No Unidentified 88. Viscos No Yes

Estimation of Tree species density and Sapling density

The density of the trees and tree saplings were estimated by using the following formula D= N/L(2W) D- Density of Trees, N-Total number of plants, L- length of the transect, 2W- 2 width of the transect . There were 91 species of trees were found in the study area. The list of plant species found in the study area is given in Table 1. The density of the trees varies from 672 per hectare to 1430/ha. Maximum tree density was found in Amathisolai and the minimum density of trees was found in Manamthevu. The overall mean density of trees in the study area was 1060/ha. The density of sapling seems to be good except

Poothamalai and Vadakaraparai and in Manatevu[BA1]. The result of tree density and sapling density is shown in Fig 3.

Figure No.3

Tree Species and Their Sapling Density Per Hectare in The Study Area

2500

2000

1500

1000 Tree Density Sapling Density 500

Table No. 2

Density of Trees and Sapling Density in various locations within the Study Area

SNo Study Sapling Density / Tree Density/ Hectare Location Hectare 1 Kadaisikadu 1195 982.5 2 Pattiyakadu 1110 1062.5 3 Korankombu 1045 1737.5 4 Boothamalai 490 812.5 5 Moolaiyaru 1057.5 1980 6 Vadakaraparai 940 762.5 7 Valaigiri 1137.5 1027.5 8 Mananthevu 672.5 952.5 9 Amaithisolai 1430 267.5 10 Kadamanrevu 1200 850

Table No.3

Estimation of Grizzled giant squirrel nest density

Number of Nests found in Different Elevations in The Study Area

SNo Elevation (m) No of Nests

1 500-600 20 2 600-700 8 3 700-800 9 4 800-900 6 5 900-1000 15 6 1000-1100 2 7 1100-1200 15 8 1200-1300 10 9 1300-1400 5

Nest encounter rate was estimated by walking along the roads (routes) that are passing through the study sites, as given in table No. 4 and fig 3. The Grizzled giant squirrels seem to be using very high numbers long Ottanchathriam-Kadamanreu road (0.7/km). The habitat type found in these road is dry thorn forest in the foot hills (50-500m) and then it is followed by dry deciduous forest in the mid elevations 500 to 1300 meters. Very few squirrels are found in high elevation in the moist deciduous patches in higher elevations. Like in Srivilliputhur and Rajapalayam they are also using the riparian forests existing along Parapalar River in Ottanchathiram-Pachalur Road and Ottanchathiram to Chittur roads. There is a very high number of nests found along this road. The main reason for this is tall trees that are preferred by grizzled giant squirrels are found along this road. There is also a good number of food plants are available along these roads. Along Tharumatupatti to Pandrimalai the encounter rate of Grizzled Giant squirrel nest is moderate because the forest along this road is encroached and used for cultivation of silk cotton, tamarind, jack fruit, coffee and jamun and cashew trees that nevertheless provide food for squirrels throughout the year. There is also several dry river beds are found along these roads and since the riparian forest is a

18 preferred habitats of grizzled giant squirrel (Josua, 1992) the nest abundance is high along these roads. The nest abundance is very low along Tamtamparai to Pannaikadu because the availability of tall trees and food plants are very low along these roads. The nest density along different roads in the study site are shown in figure No. 4.

Table No.4

Grizzled Giant Squirrel Nest Distribution along various Roads in the study site

Distance Nest encounter S. No. Road Number of GGIS Nest (KM) Rate 1 Ottanchathiram to 32 48 0.7 Kadamanrevu 2 Dharumathupatti to 15 32 0.5 Pandrimalai 3 Chittoor to 21 26 0.8 Thadiyankudisai 4 Sowrikadu to 8 13 0.6 Vadakavunchi 5 Tamtampari to 1 14 0.1 Pannaikadu

Figure No.4

Distribution of Grizzled Giant Squirrel in Different Elevations in The Study Area (N=92)

500-600 600-700 700-800 800-900 900-1000 1000-1100 1100-1200 1200-1300 1300-1400

Figure No. 5

GGIS is found in the altitudes starting from 500m and it is found up to 1400 meters but the maximum number of nest is found in 500-600. The nest distribution in study site clearly shows that this squirrel is found in dry- deciduous forest that has moderate canopy cover. Like in Srivilliputhur and Rajapalayam,

Table No.5

Tree Height versus Nest Height

S.No. Tree Height Number of Nests 1 0-10 1 2 10-20 31 3 20-30 44 4 30-40 15 5 40-50 1

Approximate nesting tree’s heights along the roads in the study site was estimated . The nests were not found below 5 and above 45 meters[BA2]. Maximum number of nests were observed between 20-30 meters (44 nests) followed by 10-20 meters (31) and 30-40 meters (15). There were very few nests found above 30-40 meters. The main reason for this height preference is they are free from human disturbance above 15 meters. The details of the nest distribution are given in Table No. 5 and shown in figure No. 6.

Figure No. 6

TREE HEIGHT VERSUS NUMBER OF NESTS (N=92) 50

NUMBER NUMBER OF NESTS 10

0 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 TREE HEIGHT (M)

Table No.6

Nest Height and Number of Nests

SNo Nest Height Number of Nests Percentage 13 1 0-10 12 71 2 10-20 65 15 3 20-30 14 1 4 30-40 1

The nest height is given in Table No. 7 and shown in figure No.7. The squirrel nests were found between 5 to 40 meter height and most of the nests were found at a height of 10-20 meters (71%) and the remaining nests were up to 30 meters. These nest height class seems to be safer for Grizzled giant squirrel from human and other mammalian predators.

Figure No.7

Nest of Nest vs Nest Height (N=92) 70

30 Numberof Nests 20

0 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 Nest Height

Canopy Cover

The canopy density was estimated using a densitometer in 25 points along the transects that are laid for vegetation analysis. The canopy density varies from 32 to 72 percentage. The squirrels does not seems to be preferring any particular canopy density but they prefer trees having overlapping canopy cover. They do no not prefer to come down to the ground to move from one tree to the other for fear of being attacked by humans, mongoose and other lesser carnivores (Arumugam personal communication).

Table No. 7

Canopy Density in the study site

Canopy No cover canopy Grizzled points Points Canopy Giant Study Village (out of Remark (out of Density Squirrel twenty twenty Abundance five five) Locations Study site revenue la Kadamanrayu 8 17 32 High cover is converted in

Pattiyakadu 18 7 72 High Reserved forest

Boothamalai 18 7 72 High Reserved Forest

Kadaisikadu 17 8 68 High Reserved forest Forest land encroach Amathisolai 12 13 48 High converted into agricu Korankaobu 15 10 60 Very Low Reserved forest

Manatheyu 18 7 72 Low Reserved Forest Reserved forest but t Valagiri 11 14 44 Low dry-thorn forest Reserved Forest but Moolaiyaru 10 15 40 Low open and rocky Vadagaraparai 14 11 56 Low Reserved Forest

Conclusion

There seems to be a very high overlap between the NTFP species collected by the Paliyan tribes and the tree species preferred by grizzled giant squirrel for feeding and nesting. To reduce the pressure on NTFP collection, an alternate employment opportunity like ecotourism and using the tribal youth as anti- poaching watches, fire watchers and reserve watchers by Tamil Nadu Forest Department, needs to be in place. They can also be given vocational training like

24 driving and repairing four wheelers, bio-products manufacturing, value addition, and forest related self-employment schemes.

This study shows that the result of this study reveals that the grizzled giant squirrels are distributed between 500 and 1400 meters above sea level.

However in the present study site they prefer[BA3] to use an altitude between 900 and 1000 meters. They seem to be prefer dry deciduous forest habitat and moist deciduous habitats. There appears to be no correlation between the tree canopy density and Grizzled Giant Squirrel nest abundance but it can be said with certainty thatthey require tree canopy overlapping with each other.

This study is conducted in Palni Hills and there are studies on the Grizzled giant squirrel in other parts of South Western Ghats like Anamalai Tiger reserve, Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary and in Srivilliputhur Grizzled giant squirrel Sanctuary, but there are no comprehensive study to look at the Grizzled giant squirrel population connectivity from Anamalai, Chinnar to Srivilliputhur grizzled giant squirrel. There is gap in grizzled giant squirrel distribution between Kodaikanal and Theni forest divisions and the future study should find out [BA4]the limiting factor. And hence a study should be undertaken near future to find out the population connectivity between Kodaikanal and

Theni forest [BA5]to conserve this near threatened grizzled giant squirrel from extinction to due to[BA6] food scarcity[BA7] and habitat degradation[BA8]. There was pressure in the past (Joshua 1992 Johnsingh and Molur et al. 2005) but an interview with the Mr. Kannan, Pani Hills Conservation Council (PHCC), Kodaikanal shows that due to strict protection the athopogenic pressure has come down. [BA9]

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