IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Smith, J.L.D. | |
| Dispersal, communication, and conservation strategies for the tiger in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal | |
| 1984 Full Book | |
The ecology and social aspects of dispersal were studied in young tigers (_Panthera tigris_). From their natal area they made long distance movements until finally establishing their own territories. In Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal, 14 radio monitored subadults showed disassociation from their mothers at 17 to 24 mo of age and departed from her territory at 18 to 28 mo. Males dispersed farther (33 vs. 9.7 km), were more likely to engage in serious or fatal combat with members of the same sex, and took longer to establish breeding territories. Three of 4 females settled next to their mothers; and, in 2 cases, a daughter displaced her mother from a portion of the mother's territory. All habitats that tigers dispersed through were quantified with respect to prey density, cover, and human use. With the use of discriminant analysis it was possible to predict whether a site could support resident tigers. The Chitwan tigers typify conditions for most of this species today, being in a small localized population separated widely from other breeding groups. Furthermore, the Park itself does not have the ecological capacity to support 50 breeding adults, the recommended minimum for safeguarding against inbreeding or major stochastic perturbations. A conservation plan was developed, based on management of tigers in the entire Chitwan region rather than only on those within the Park. It also emphasizes that land-use schemes in some sectors adjacent to the park should be designed for compatibility between tigers and the economic activities of the local people. Concomitant with the dispersal research, extensive data on visual and chemical marking by tigers were recorded. Given the telemetry-based documentation of territorial boundaries, the study showed that marking was concentrated along frequently used contact zones where intrasexual territorie abut. Evidence also suggests that reproductive status of females is advertised through scent marking and is monitored by the resident male whose territory encompasses those of 2-7 reproducing females. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |