IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Dorji, D.P.; Wangchuk, T.R. | |
| Panthera tigris in Buthan - an overview of its status | |
| 1994 Conference Proceeding | |
Much like the sambar and wild boar, tiger has been known to thrive in a wide range of habitat in Bhutan. The presence of this largest carnivore of Bhutan has been observed in the savannah Grasslands with Careya arborea and Lagerstroemia, subtropical forests dominated by Pterospermum and Ficus in the south along the border with India. Direct and indirect observations (from scat, tracks and attacks on prey) have also been recorded in the Castanopsis-dominated and temperate Quercus forests to mixed coniferous forests at 3000m and above. This wide geographical distribution even within Bhutan underlines its versatility and ability to adapt to wide variations in environmental conditions (Dorji & Santiapillai, 1989) The tiger plays its role in the food chains of the various eco-systems in Bhutan it inhabits as one of the primary predators, in addition to leopard and wild dog Cuo11 alpinus. Now with the decline of wild dog populations the tiger and other predators play an even more crucial role of naturally controlling population of prey species such as wild boar and barking deer Muntiacus muntjak. The first tiger census in Bhutan, conducted by Dasho Paljor Dorji and Dr. Charles Santiapillai (1989), projected a minimum of at least 151 tigers observed in various parts of Bhutan in 1988. Method employed for data collection consisted primarily of interviews with local people and visits to the areas. Spoors and scat along transects were recorded in select areas (refer Dorji & Santialpillai 1989 for detailed methods). The next series of data collected from informants in 1993 showed a total of 237 tigers observed in different parts of Bhutan. Grouped data for 1988 and 1993 are presented in Table 1, sorted by Dzongkhags (districts) where observations were made. |
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