Evidences Dependent Population Distribution Patterns of Tiger and Leopard in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha, India

摘要

TheTiger( ) isanendangered carnivorewithuncertaindemographicstatusspanning 13Asian countries. Due to its larger body size and carnivorous diet in nature it always occurs at lowpopulation densities. Further prey depletion due to overhunting (Karanth & Stith, 1998), poaching,habitat shrinkage (Kenny 1995, Wcs, 1995) and direct killing altogether have also become amajor factor fordepletion of wild tigerpopulations tiger. Monitoring the abundance and itsalterationis always important for the effective management of endangered species. Tiger is categorized as“Endangered” on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2008) and listed under Schedule-I of Wildlife(Protection) Act, 1972 in India and Appendix-I of the CITES. Leopard ( ) is alsoincluded in the Schedule- I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and is placed under “LeastConcern” category of 2002 IUCN Red List of threatened animals. Similipal Tiger Reserve is one of thelargest Tiger Reserves of India with an area of 2750 km . Therefore we have to depend mainly on thedirect sightings and evidence records of the animals to analysis the status and distribution pattern ofthese two big cats in thecoreareaof thisTigerReserve.