IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Barlow, A.C.D.; Ahmed, M.I.U.; Smith, J.L.D. | |
| Formulating a monitoring program for tigers in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh | |
| 2007 Full Book | |
Base line data on distribution and spatial abundance of tigers in the Sundarbans is required to improve understanding of population status, resource requirements and threats. Monitoring change in abundance is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of management strategies. This paper outlines a river bank survey of track frequency carried out to estimate abundance throughout the Bangladesh Sundarbans and to aid in the formulation of a monitoring program that will provide the information needed to make management decisions. Three teams of two observers surveyed a total of 1,201 km of khal throughout the Sundarbans, recording 1,338 tiger track sets. Tracks became unrecognizable as tiger sign after 6-14 days. Proportion of detectable sign recorded was estimated as 0.91. Mean sample unit track sets/km of khal for 65 sample units was 1.2 (SD 0.86). The mean coefficient of variance in sample unit track rate, estimated by multiple counts of six sample units, was calculated as 0.21 (range 0.06-0.34). Track rate varied from low in the North East to high in the South and West. Monte Carlo simulation suggested that a monitoring program of one complete survey every two years would have sufficient power (>0.8) to detect declines in abundance of 12% and above ( = 0.2, ƒ = 0.2). This is more than adequate to achieve pre-determined management requirements of detecting a minimum decline of 30%. The monitoring scheme could also be implemented on the Indian side of the Sundarbans to give a full assessment of the tiger population and to form the basis for formulating management objectives and evaluating trans-boundary initiatives. |
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