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Population and Prey of the Bengal Tiger Panthera Tigris Tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carnivora: Felidae) in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh

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Population and Prey of the Bengal Tiger Panthera Tigris Tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carnivora: Felidae) in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh JoTT COMMUNI C ATION 4(2): 2370–2380 Population and prey of the Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carnivora: Felidae) in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh M. Monirul H. Khan Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh Email: [email protected] Date of publication (online): 26 Febryary 2012 Abstract: The results from intensive small scale surveys are often difficult to extrapolate Date of publication (print): 26 February 2012 to wider spatial scales, yet an understanding at such scales is critical for assessing the ISSN 0974–7907 (online) | 0974–7893 (print) minimum densities and populations of rare and wide ranging species. In this paper, the Editor: L.A.K. Singh minimum size of population and minimum density estimates of Bengal Tigers Panthera tigris tigris and its prey were conducted from 2005 to 2007 using camera traps for 90 days Manuscript details: Ms # o2666 and using distance sampling surveys for over 200 days, respectively. The results were Received 02 January 2011 extrapolated from the core study area in Katka-Kochikhali, southeastern Sundarbans, Final received 14 November 2011 to five additional sites using indices of abundance. With the use of 10 camera-traps Finally accepted 29 December 2011 at 15 trap-points, field data provided a total of 829 photos, including seven photos of five individual tigers. A total of 5.0 (SE = 0.98) tigers (adults and sub-adults) are thus Citation: Khan, M.M.H. (2012). Population and estimated in the core area with an estimated density of 4.8 tigers/100km2. Distance prey of the Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris tigris sampling surveys conducted on large mammalian prey species obtained an overall (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carnivora: Felidae) and their 2 2 prey in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh. Journal of density estimate of 27.9 individuals/km and a biomass density of 1,037kg/km . Indices Threatened Taxa 4(2): 2370–2380. of abundance were obtained by using tiger track sighting rates (number of tracks/km of riverbank) and the sighting rates of the prey species (number of prey/km of riverbank) in Copyright: © M. Monirul H. Khan 2012. Creative the core area and in five additional sites across the region. The densities of tiger tracks Commons Attribution 3.0Unported License. JoTT and sighting rates of prey were strongly correlated suggesting a wide scale relationship allows unrestricted use of this article in any me- between predator and prey in the region. By combining the estimates of absolute dium for non–profit purposes, reproduction and density with indices of abundance, an average of 3.7 tigers/100km2 across the region is distribution by providing adequate credit to the 2 authors and the source of publication. estimated, which given an area of 5,770km , predicts a minimum of approximately 200 tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. Author Details: The author is a wildlife biologist specializing in research and conservation Keywords: Camera-trapping, distance sampling, Panthera tigris, prey density, of tigers. Currently, he serves as Associate Sundarbans, tiger density track survey. Professor of Zoology in Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, and his activities include teaching and research on various aspects of wildlife and wildlife habitats. INTRODUTION Acknowledgement: I sincerely acknowledge the financial support from the Save the Tiger Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Sundarbans of Bangladesh and India is the world’s largest USA. Thanks to the Forest Department of Bangladesh for giving the official permission, tidal mangrove forest (Chaudhuri & Choudhury 1994; Khan 2002) and and providing the local support, that made the represents a region of international importance (Seidensticker 2004). It project successful. The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has provided administrative has been identified as a Level I Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU), because support, and Sarah Christie, Chris Carbone and Marcus Rowcliffe of ZSL have provided the habitat offers the highest probability of persistence of tiger population technical support to this project. My sincere in the long term (Wikramanayake et al. 1999) and holds one of the two thanks to Zahangir Alom and all other field assistants who were an integral part of the largest tiger populations globally (Seidensticker et al. 1999; WWF 1999; fieldwork of this project. Khan 2002, 2004a). Because unfragmented mangrove habitat is naturally inaccessible, this region offers a protected environment with the potential for the long-term conservation of tigers. The Bengal Tiger is catagorized as Endangered globally (Chundawat et al. 2011) and Critically Endangered nationally (in Bangladesh) (IUCN- Bangladesh 2000). It is listed in the third schedule of the Bangladesh Wildlife Act of 1974, implying its full protection by interdicting killing and capturing (MoEF-Bangladesh 2004). Despite its importance for tiger conservation, there have been a few OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD studies which have used robust and repeatable methods to estimate the 2370 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | February 2012 | 4(2): 2370–2380 Tigers in the Sundarbans M.M.H. Khan abundance of tigers in the region. MoEF-Bangladesh monitoring in the core study site, using mark-recapture (2004) has reviewed the previous attempts to measure analysis of data collected from camera-traps (Otis tiger population in Bangladesh and used the pugmark et al. 1978; White et al. 1982; Rexstad & Burnham tracking method extensively during 2004. The 1991) and estimates of the main prey species based method used is an extension of the ethnic methods on distance sampling (Eberhardt 1978; Burnham et al. used by tribal and shikaris in India. Mr. Saroj Rai 1980; Buckland et al. 1993). Then using an index- Choudhury (Choudhury 1970, 1972), a forester from based survey of tiger tracks and sightings of their main Orissa is responsible for scientifically establishing this prey species, I have extended these results to the wider postulate (MoEF-Bangladesh 2004). A number of region. practicing wildlife biologists have further intensified its use (Panwar 1979) or have refined the technique (Singh 2000). MATERIAL AND METHODS Previous attempts to measure tiger population in this area from pugmark censuses or interviews (Hendrichs Study Area 1975) have been shown to be unreliable (Karanth et al. The Sundarbans is a mangrove swamp comprising 2003; Khan 2004b). Other studies in the region have mainly holophytic trees with the average canopy been based on indirect evidences (Seidensticker & Hai height of less than 10m (Hussain & Acharya 1994). 1978; Seidensticker 1986, 1987; Tamang 1993; Reza The forest floor is approximately 0.9–2.1 m above 2000; Khan 2004b) or extrapolations from telemetry the mean sea level (Tamang 1993). The Bangladesh studies (Barlow et al. 2009). This paper presents the Sundarbans covers an area of 5,770km2, of which first estimate of tiger density based on camera-trap 1,750km2 is covered by rivers and creeks (Hussain surveys in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. & Acharya 1994). The banks along the shores are Since tigers depend on large mammalian prey, cleared by tidal cycles twice per day providing ideal the population density of large mammals should be conditions for tiger track counts. All tracks sighted assessed in order to understand the carrying capacity are guaranteed to be relatively fresh (maximum five and long-term conservation status of tigers (Sunquist days) because old tracks are washed away by the tides 1981; Karanth & Sunquist 1995; Sunquist et al. 1999). in about five days. Large mammals including Spotted Deer Axis axis, Wild The study was undertaken across six sites in the Boar Sus scrofa and Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta Bangladesh Sundarbans, of which three are in wildlife together comprise 95% of the biomass consumed by sanctuaries (Sundarbans East, Sundarbans South and tigers in the Sundarbans (Khan 2008). This study Sundarbans West) that form a UNESCO World Heritage uses estimates of abundance of these species to make Site with a total area of 1,397km2. The camera-trap inferences about tiger abundance in the wider region. survey was conducted in the Sundarbans East Wildlife Camera-traps are becoming established as one of Sanctuary (total area of 312km2, between 21049”– the major tools in wildlife monitoring (Rowcliffe et al. 21056”N & 89044”–89052”E), covering only the 2008) and have been extremely effective at monitoring southern part of the sanctuary. In five additional sites, individually marked species like tigers (Karanth & and in the core study area, lower intensity monitoring Nichols 1998; Karanth et al. 2006). However, most methods based on relative abundance of tiger tracks camera-trap studies focus on relatively small areas and prey sightings along the riverbanks were used to (e.g., typically under 300km2) (Carbone et al. 2001; assess relative abundance. All of the additional sites Karanth et al. 2004). Ideally, we need information on were of roughly equal size, approximately 170km2 wider spatial scales for wide ranging and rare species. (Table 1 and Image 1). Under such circumstances, it is useful to develop methods to extend camera-trapping results to wider Field study spatial scales through the use of calibrated indices The field study was conducted for more than 200 such as track counts (Stander et al. 1997; Stander days from October 2005 to January 2007 (camera-trap 1998; Karanth et al. 2003; Stephens et al. 2006). survey was conducted for 90 days from 06 September In this paper I present the
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