IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Thapa, T.B. | |
| Habitat suitability evaluation for leopard (_Panthera pardus_) using remote sensing and GIS in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal | |
| 2011 Full Book | |
This study evaluated landscape characteristics; determined distribution and relative abundance of leopards, analyzed diets of leopards and assess the extent, nature of human leopard conflicts and examined habitat use and preference in and around the Chitwan National Park and Buffer Zone (CNPBZ), Nepal. Methodologies used to accomplish these objectives included remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), ecological field work (line transect sampling for prey, camera trapping for leopard and scat collection), social surveys and lab work for diet determination using microhistological technique. Supervised maximum likelihood classification of ALOS image delineated 16 land cover types. Ungulate density and biomass in the study area was found to be high compared to those from other areas in the Terai and even south Asia. The density of ungulate prey species was reported to increase by 309% since 1982, probably due to effective management and removal of livestock and human pressures. Leopard density estimated during survey I and II was 4.24 and 3.11 per 100 km2 respectively using half MMDM method, 4.06 and 3.48 per 100 km2 for the full MMDM under Mh model and 3.12 and 3.45 per 100 km2 SECR method. Micro-histological scat analysis (n= 263) revealed that leopard consumed 15 different prey taxa (10 wild and 5 domestic) predominantly medium sized ungulates in Chitwan. At the species level, chital comprised 45.8% of the relative frequency of occurrence. Biomass contribution of wild ungulates, domestic prey and small sized wild prey were found to be approximately 84%, 13% and 3% respectively. Selectivity estimates using group density revealed that the leopard consumed chital in greater proportion than availability, and hog deer, barking deer and wild pig were taken less than expected and consumption of sambar was in proportion to its availability. Leopards and tigers were accounted for killing of approximately 57 and 54 livestock animals/year respectively. Livestock depredation by both cats showed seasonal, monthly and geographic variations. Reported loss amounted to US $ 13,727 per year, of which 36% accounted by leopards and 64% by tigers. Majority of local people expressed positive perceptions towards leopard (67%) and tiger (68%) due to the importance of these felids in the natural ecosystem, tourism and religion/culture. Though majority of respondents were not satisfied with current compensation system because of slow process and inadequate, still 47% accepted a slight increase in the population of large cats. Leopards used habitat disproportionately to their availability in Chitwan. Leopard utilized more often grassland and Sal forest habitats than expected, while riverine forest and riverbed complex were used less than availability. Leopards negatively associated with the distance to forest edge and jungle roads, while the topographic variables and distance to water did not significantly influence habitat use. |
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