PREY SELECTION BY TIGERS (PANTHERA TIGRIS TIGRIS) IN SARISKA TIGER RESERVE, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

摘要

Prey selection by tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) was studied in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India, from November 2002 to April 2003. The line transect method was used for estimating prey availability and prey selection was determined from seats. Sariska was observed to have a high wild ungulate density of 42.8 animals/sq. kin, Chital (Axis axis) was the most common ungulate species (27.6/sq. kin) followed by Sambar (Cervits unicolor) (8.4/sq. km) and Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) (5.2/sq. km). Seventy-seven tiger scats were collected and analyzed for prey remains. Scat analysis revealed that Sambar constituted the major prey species in terms of number and biomass. It was the principal and preferred prey (P<0.05) of tigers. Other medium to large sized prey species, including domestic livestock, contributed significantly to the tiger diet. The order of selection on the basis of prey occurrence in scats was sambar>chital>nilgai>cattle>buffalo>common langur>wild pig. It was evident that tigers were heavily dependent on sambar in greater proportion to their availability. This study provides food habits of now extinct tiger population. Two tigresses and a tiger were recently reintroduced from Ranthambhore to revive the population.