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Home , Brown palm civet, Golden jackal, Kannavam, Leopard, Lion, Malabar Coast

Search for the Malabar civettina in and , , 2006-2007

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The Malabar Civet 9LYHUUDFLYHWWLQDLVDFULWLFDOO\HQGDQJHUHGVSHFLHVHQGHPLFWRWKH:HVWHUQ*KDWVRI,QGLD2XUVWXG\LVWKH¿UVWORQJ WHUPFRQVHUYDWLRQSURMHFWWRIRFXVRQWKH0DODEDU&LYHWDQGLWVFXUUHQWVWDWXV7KHVWXG\ZDVFRQGXFWHGLQWKHVWDWHVRI.HUDODDQG Karnataka for the duration of one , April 2006 to April 2007. Data relating to the were sought through various methods. The initial stage of the study comprised of a reconnaissance survey along the coastal of the two states. During this period, interviews were conducted with local communities about their knowledge of Malabar Civet. Intensive camera trapping, faecal collection and night transects were then carried out in selected areas to seek the species. As yet there has been no proof of persistence, but the faeces remain to be analysed.

Keywords: , faecal samples, camera traps, local names, lowland semi-evergreen , plantations

Introduction based in Karnataka from June 2006 to April 2007 to carry out the survey. Many species of in India have been pushed to the brink Eleven districts in Kerala were surveyed, namely Ernaku- of extinction. On current available information, the Malabar Civ- lam, Trivandram, , , , , et 9LYHUUDFLYHWWLQDFRXOGEHWKHODWHVWFDVXDOW\WRMRLQWKLVOLVW , Kasargode, Wayanad, , and Pathinamthitta. In The Malabar Civet is a small endemic to the Western Karnataka, coastal forests were given highest priority because his- , a hill range in south-. In 1978, IUCN listed torical reports of the species are from lowland forest tracts on the WKHVSHFLHVDVµSRVVLEO\H[WLQFW¶ 5DL .XPDU EXWLWZDV western aspect of the ranges. Most sites surveyed rediscovered by the Zoological Survey of India in 1987 (Kurup were either lowland evergreen or semi-evergreen forests, with the 1987). The few historical records available of the species are all exception of the forests in higher elevations such as in Birnani in IURPFRDVWDOIRUHVWV -HUGRQ3RFRFN3UDWHU 7KH Kodagu (Coorg). Six districts of Karnataka were covered during other species of found in southern India are the Small In- the survey: Kodagu, Dakshina , , Udupi, dian Civet 9LYHUULFXODLQGLFD, Common Palm Civet 3DUDGR[XUXV Shimoga, and Chikmangalur (Fig. 1). hermaphroditus and 3MHUGRQL, none of which is particularly similar to Malabar Civet in morphology or, presum- Survey methods ably, ecology. In recent two possible sightings of Malabar Civet have been published, one in Bhagavathy valley in Karnataka 5DSLGUHFRQQDLVVDQFHVXUYH\ (Karanth 1986) and the other in Tiruvalla, Kerala (Kurup 1987), The study began with a reconnaissance survey of forests in Kar- and continued presence was proven through two skin samples re- nataka and Kerala during the months of June–August 2006 and FRYHUHGIURPKXQWHUVLQQRUWK.HUDOD 5DL .XPDU$VKUDI January–March 2006, respectively. Local people, especially hunt- et al 1RSKRWRJUDSKLFHYLGHQFHRIWKHVSHFLHVKDVEHHQ ers, were interviewed for the occurrence of the species. The aim of established so far, and there is no published proof of survival for this survey was to identify areas where Malabar Civets potentially over a decade. This does not necessarily mean that the species is survive. Basic questionnaire surveys and informal interviews extinct, considering its longstanding rarity and the short duration were conducted. The initial questions pertained to wildlife in gen- of previous surveys; but equally this possibility cannot be dis- eral, such as what the person observed in the surround- counted. Therefore Wildlife Trust of India, with the support of the ing forests. Subsequently, questions narrowed down to civets and Ministry for Environment and Forests, India, initiated a two-year other smaller mammals. Most people were not prompted or given FRPSUHKHQVLYHVXUYH\WLWOHG³&RQVHUYDWLRQRIWKH0DODEDU&LYHW´ hints about Malabar Civet unless the conversation strayed far This report is based on the results of the survey conducted in the IURPWKHVXEMHFW7KHUHLVDSSDUHQWO\QRSKRWRRIDOLYH0DODEDU ¿UVW\HDURIWKLVSURMHFW ±  Civet; and using line drawings of the species or photographs of other civets was confusing to many people. During interviews, Survey areas and period therefore, people were encouraged to describe in detail each spe- cies they observed. This information was matched where possible The survey areas were determined by the past reports of the spe- to a particular species or group of species. For example in South cies’s sightings and the origins of museum specimens. Accord- India only two species of civets have ringed , the Small In- ingly, the lowland Western Ghats of Karnataka and Kerala were dian Civet and the Malabar Civet. So any reference to a ring-tailed surveyed. Besides reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries and na- (with and white bands) civet had to refer to one of these two tional parks, the survey also covered plantations and private for- . ests. Plantations surveyed included those of areca, coffee, coco- The methodology used for the questionnaire survey was: , cashew nut, rubber, and paddy. A. M. A. Nixon was based in 1. Respondents were initially asked to list the mammals that Kerala from April 2006 to March 2007 and Siddharth Rao was were found locally.

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2. Details of individual species were then recorded, in relation Camera trapping to: size, shape, colour, behaviour, habitat preference, rarity in Based on the recommendations of the reconnaissance interviews, sighting the animal, presence or absence of , local camera trapping was initiated in Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary name, and whether used for meat or other purposes. (Karnataka) and Reserved Forest (Kerala). Three other  3HRSOHZHUHWKHQDVNHGVSHFL¿FTXHVWLRQVLQUHODWLRQWRFLYHWV sites (Biligirirangana Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, and such as the different types of civets of which they were aware Kallikandi and Periya Reserved Forests in Kerala) were surveyed and details about them. later. Four thermal sensing (passive infrared) camera traps devel- 4. Respondents who did not provide any information apparently oped by Centre for Engineering Design and Technology (CEDT) relating to Malabar Civet were given an oral description of at the Indian Institute of were used in each location. Cam- the species and asked if they had any knowledge of it. HUDWUDSVZHUH¿[HGWRWKHWUXQNRIWUHHVDWDQDSSUR[LPDWHKHLJKW 5. Respondents who described animals consistent with Malabar of 2½ feet and tilted forward slightly; six feet in front of the lens Civet based on the criteria given above were considered as a bait/lure was placed. Two lures imported from the USA, ‘Saber respondents who ‘recognised’ the Malabar Civet. Tooth’ and ‘Alley ’, were trialled. ‘Saber Tooth’ attracted ani- mals to the trap with 70% more success than ‘Alley Cat’ when comparing the two lures over a period of 40 nights each. After this, ‘Saber Tooth’ was used on a daily basis for all camera traps. Traps were placed in relatively undisturbed natural habitat within protected areas or abandoned plantations, close to water ZLWKLQ  PHWUHV RI D ZDWHU VRXUFH  DW ORZ WR PLGHOHYDWLRQ (0–1000 meters), in areas with reports of sightings by local com- munities, trails used by animals, civetries or latrine sites of civ- ets, and a minimum of 500 metres from the nearest other camera trap.  )RUWKH¿UVWWUDSQLJKWVLQ6RPHVKZDUD:LOGOLIH6DQFWX- ary, the camera traps were placed every evening at approximately 17h00 and removed the next day at approximately 07h00. For the UHPDLQLQJWUDSQLJKWVWKHFDPHUDWUDSVZHUHOHIWRQGXULQJWKH day as a local hunter reported a sighting of Malabar Civet during the day. In Biligirirangana Temple Wildlife Sanctuary and Kerala it was not possible to operate camera traps by day, due to exten- sive movement of non-target species such as domestic cattle and , as well as risk of theft of the equipment.

Faeces collection Faecal samples of small , particularly civets, were col- lected and submitted to the National Centre for Biological Sci- ences (NCBS), ; results are awaited. A small portion of Malabar Civet skin from the specimen in Calicut University mu- seum has been made available to NCBS for use in genetic analysis of faecal samples.

Night transects Over 40 hours of night transects using spot lights were conducted in plantations and reserved forests in Kerala and Karnataka. This part of the survey was discontinued in Karnataka due to the vola- tile civil unrest in the region. A total of seven Small Indian Civ- ets, four Brown Palm Civets, 28 Bos gaurus, three Jungle chaus and 16 Black-naped Lepus nigricollis were sighted during these night transects.

Results and discussion

5HFRQQDLVVDQFHVXUYH\UHVXOWV In Kerala, the reconnaissance survey in 47 villages received re- sponses from 87 people. Each interviewee was considered as an independent sample. Respondents from districts in central Kerala such as , Thrissur and Palakkad were not aware of the Figure 1. Maps of Karnataka (top) and Kerala (bottom) showing H[LVWHQFH RI D VSHFLHV ¿WWLQJ WKH GHVFULSWLRQ RI 0DODEDU &LYHW VXUYH\ORFDOLWLHV PDSEDVHGRQ*RRJOH(DUWK  they had no knowledge that such an animal existed in India. In

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&DPHUDWUDSSKRWRJUDSKVRIFDUQLYRUHV FORFNZLVHIURPWRSOHIW %URZQ3DOP&LYHW6PDOO,QGLDQ&LYHW&RPPRQ/HRSDUG DOOIURP 6RPHVKZDUD:LOGOLIH6DQFWXDU\ DQG&RPPRQ3DOP&LYHW IURP%LOLJLULUDQJDQD7HPSOH:LOGOLIH6DQFWXDU\  contrast, 74% of respondents in (from 18 vil- served Forest as the best location in Karnataka for further studies: lages) claimed to have sighted the Malabar Civet, most popularly WZRRXWRI¿YHSHRSOHUHFRJQLVHG0DODEDU&LYHW%\FRQWUDVWLQ known as the ‘Jawad’. In people from the Kuruchi- Reserved Forest along Periyambadi lake, Kodagu, only one re- yar tribe were interviewed and 90% of respondents recognised the spondent out of twenty evidently knew the animal. Other areas Malabar Civet by the local name ‘Kannan Chaandu’. Therefore, with the possibility of Malabar Civet in the state are Honnavar Kannavam Reserved Forest (Kannur district) was chosen as the and Bhatkal Reserved Forest ranges, Uttara Kannada; Gerusop- best location in Kerala for camera trapping. In sum, local knowl- pa Reserved Forest, Uttara Kannada; National Park, edge apparently pertaining to Malabar Civet is extensive in Kerala Kodagu; Reserved Forest, Shimoga; and Mookambika especially among tribes living inside forests. :LOGOLIH6DQFWXDU\8GXSL7KHVHDUHDVZHUHLGHQWL¿HGEDVHGRQ  ,Q.DUQDWDNDYLOODJHVDQGWRZQVZHUHVXUYH\HG2QO\¿YH the habitat (predominantly lowland, evergreen forests) and prox- out of 100 people interviewed were knowledgeable about Malabar imity to areas with ‘possible’ sightings of the Malabar Civet. &LYHW)RXURIWKHVH¿YHZHUHKXQWHUVIURP8GXSLGLVWULFW  2QHLPSRUWDQW¿QGLQJLVWKDWSUHGRFXPHQWHGORFDOQDPHVIRU Table 1. Questions asked about the Jawadi and summation of Malabar Civet are not well known in Karnataka. Only two people UHVSRQVHVIURPORFDOKXQWHUV 1  LQWHUYLHZHGLQ.DUQDWDND interviewed, both in the vicinity of Someshwara Wildlife Sanctu- ary, gave a local name for Malabar Civet, ‘Kallu suniga’, by which Questions Responses they also referred to the Stripe-necked +HUSHVWHVYLW- Length (nose to tip ò±òIHHW ticollis. of ) Earlier surveys indicated that names such as Shape Short legs, elongated snout ‘Jawadi’/‘Jawadiyo’ and ‘Kutri’ applied to Malabar Civet in parts Colour Greyish to brown. Prominent black bands RI.DUQDWDND 5DL .XPDU EXWWKHSUHVHQWVXUYH\IRXQG on body and tail. More than six bands on that ‘Jawadi’ was used for in villages near Kar- tail. ZDU([SHULHQFHGKXQWHUV 1  LQWKLVDUHDFODLPHGWRKDYH trapped this animal and in size, shape, colour and behaviour, the Shoulder height 1–1½ feet described ‘Jawadi’¿WWHG6PDOO,QGLDQ&LYHW 7DEOH 7KHQDPH Behaviour 1RFWXUQDO HDWV FUDEV ¿VK UDWV IURJV ‘Kutri’ or ‘Bal Kutri’ was not known by any people interviewed. insects, and fruit. Inhabits forests and The survey indicated Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and Re- SDGG\¿HOGV

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Trap Successful Region & forest Period (dates) Place / locality nights trap nights* species photographed Karnataka Someshwara Wildlife 27 October Bandimata, 450 270 5HG0XQWMDF0XQWLDFXVPXQWMDN Sanctuary; Lowland 2006–25 2QHNDEEH+DQMD Gaur Bos gaurus Semi-evergreen forest March 2007 Kabinale 3DQWKHUDSDUGXV Sambar &HUYXVXQLFRORU -tailed Macaque Macaca silenus M. radiata Small Indian Civet Brown Palm Civet Hystrix indica Oriental Small-clawed cinerea Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata Indian Moschiola meminna Murid Biligirirangana 0DUFK± Doddasampige 40 16 5HG0XQWMDF Temple Wildlife April 2007 Gaur Sanctuary, Mixed Common Palm Civet forest Sambar 3DQWKHUDWLJULV Asian Elephas maximus Kerala Kannavam 9 May–21 Poovanthinkizhil;  11 Small Indian Civet Reserved Forest, November Nambuthiri EurasianWild Pig Sus scrofa Semi-evergreen to 2006 thotam; evergreen Valiyavelicham; Black-naped Lepus nigricollis Chruvanchery; Golden aureus Chambukavu; Ammapaambu RF Kallikandi ± NAM College,  4 Reserved Forest, November Scrub forest area Semi-evergreen to 2006 evergreen Periya Reserved 4–28 Elapeedika; 176 8 Common Palm Civet Forest, Semi- December Seminary Jungle Cat evergreen to 2006 Villa; Periya- 5HG0XQWMDF evergreen road; Sambar Periya Rodents Kannavam 9 January– 19 Poovanthinkizhil; 64 0 None Reserved Forest, February 2007 Nambuthiri Semi-evergreen to thotam; evergreen Ammapaambu RF

Camera trapping was obtained from interviews with the villagers. Sustained cam- No trap picture of a Malabar Civet was obtained in a total of 1,084 HUDWUDSSLQJHIIRUWVZHUHQRWSRVVLEOHLQWKLVDUHDGXHWRSURMHFW camera trap nights in the study areas spread across Kerala and constraints. However for a period of six days in March 2007, 24 Karnataka, although many other mammal species were trapped, FDPHUDWUDSQLJKWVZHUHUHFRUGHGLQFDVKHZSODQWDWLRQVDGMRLQLQJ including other endemic species (Table 2). Of particular note was 0LUMDQ5HVHUYHG)RUHVWVQHDU.XQGDSXU.DUQDWDNDWZRLPDJHV that Brown Palm Civets were frequently photo-trapped; this im- of Brown Palm Civet were obtained. plies that the same camera would have been triggered by Malabar Civets, were they passing. Conclusion and plan of action for 2007–08 The west coast of Karnataka between Bhatkal and Karwar has some of the last lowland forests at the foothills of the West- To further our understanding of the Malabar Civet and its current ern Ghats. These areas were covered during the initial reconnais- status there is a need to increase the intensity of camera trapping sance survey, but no information regarding the Malabar Civet HIIRUWVVFDWFROOHFWLRQDQGQLJKWVXUYH\VLQWKHLGHQWL¿HGDUHDV

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Equally important will be to have constant interactions with local megaspila Blyth) from Karnataka. Journal of the Bombay Natural communities living in these areas to gather information regard- History Society± ing possible sightings. Other methods of increasing information Kurup, G. U. 1987. Rediscovery of the Malabar Civet, 9LYHUUDPHJDVSLOD relating to the Malabar civet include creating awareness among FLYHWWLQD Blyth in India. Cheetal 28: 1–4. IRUHVWGHSDUWPHQWVWDIIORFDOFRPPXQLWLHV¿HOGUHVHDUFKHUVDQG Prater, S. H. 1971. The book of Indian animals, third edition. Bombay PHPEHUVRIWKHVFLHQWL¿FFRPPXQLW\7KHVHLQWHUYHQWLRQVZLOOEH Natural History Society, Bombay. NHSWLQPLQGZKHQLPSOHPHQWLQJWKHVHFRQGSKDVHRIWKLVSURMHFW 3RFRFN5,The fauna of British India including Ceylon and Bur- camera trapping efforts will be increased by using six more traps, ma. Mammalia, second edition, vol. 1. Reprinted in 1975 by Today giving a total of 14. The areas which will be given higher priority and Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers, New Delhi. for camera trapping in the next phase of the survey will be around 5DL1' .XPDU$$SLORWVWXG\RQWKHFRQVHUYDWLRQRI0DOD- Honnavar, Karwar, Bhatkal, and Kumta in Karnataka and areas bar Civet (9LYHUUDFLYHWWLQD %O\WK 3URMHFWUHSRUWSmall Car- surrounding , Neyyar, and in Kerala. QLYRUH&RQVHUYDWLRQ

Acknowledgements 1Siddharth Rao, Wildlife Trust of India, A-220, New Friends We thank the Karnataka and Kerala Forest Departments for the permits Colony, New Delhi 110065, India. DQG RWKHU ORJLVWLF VXSSRUW 7KH SURMHFW LV ¿QDQFLDOO\ VXSSRUWHG E\ WKH Ministry of Environment and Forests, India. We would like to thank the Present address: editors for their useful comments that helped improve the manuscript. 62 Mohini Apartments, No. 1 Rest House Road, Our sincere thanks to the local people for their co-operation during the Bangalore 560001, India. ¿HOGZRUN Email: [email protected]

References 2N. V. K. Ashraf, Wildlife Trust of India, A-220, New Friends $VKUDI19..XPDU$ -RKQVLQJK$-77ZRHQGHPLF Colony, New Delhi 110065, India. viverrids of the Western Ghats. Oryx 27: 109–114. Jerdon, T. C. 1874. A handbook of the mammals of India. Reprinted in 3A. M. A. Nixon, Wildlife Trust of India, A-220, New Friends 1984 by Mittal Publications, Delhi. Colony, New Delhi 110065, India. Karanth, K. U. 1986. A possible sighting record of Malabar Civet (9LYHUUD

OBITUARY

Dr. W. Chris WOZENCRAFT (1954-2007)

,WLVZLWKVLQFHUHUHJUHWZHLQIRUP\RXWKDW:&KULV:R]HQFUDIWGLHGRQ-DQXDU\DWDJH near Manistique, Michigan, USA. Chris was a native of Oklahoma and received a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas for his work on the of . Chris’s most recent position was Professor of Biology and Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences at Bethel College, Indiana. +HKDGSXEOLVKHGPDQ\VFLHQWL¿FDUWLFOHVLQFOXGLQJWKHQRWDEOHWD[RQRPLFUHYLHZRIWKHRUGHU&DU- nivora for the recent book Mammal Species of the World. Chris’s research elicited the and systematics of mammals, especially the , with which he was especially familiar and with which his name will long be associated. Chris was an active member of the Small Carnivore Special- ist Group, helping the group move forward in various ways, including maintaining the groups’ mem- bership directory. Last December, Chris was selected and accepted to serve as Chair of the Small Carnivore Specialist Group. Chris’s contributions to the profession were monumental. His untimely death was most unfortunate; he will be deeply missed.

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