The study has the following objectives : (i) To determine the prey requirements for a minimum demographically viable tiger population in a Dry Tropical Forest, (ii) To evaluate tiger habitat suitability with special emphasis on its prey, (iii) To develop an understanding of the predator-prey relationship and to assess prey availability and the distribution pattern of tiger's major prey species, and (iv) To suggest strategies for the management of a demographically viable tiger population and its major prey species in Dry Tropical Forest habitats .

The intensive fieldwork in this project is being carried out in Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR), Madhya Pradesh. Tiger occupies an array of habitats and its response in terms of its survival or extinction depends on the quality of its habitat. The past records indicate that tiger has been most vulnerable in the dry forest habitats which forms nearly 40% of the tiger range in the country. This project has generated information on the responses of tiger in a dry forest habitat to the distribution, densities, and composition of its major prey and to different habitat conditions. Five radio-collared tigers were monitored and information on reproduction, home ranges, movement patterns, food habits and habitat use was collected. Major prey species of tiger were also radio-collared and monitored. Prey availability was estimated using line transacts. Estimated prey density of 32/km2, excluding langur, is relatively low in PTR, when compared to other high-density tiger areas. In the study area, sambar (9.16/km2), nilgai (6.02/km2) and chital (10.8/km2) were the most abundant prey. But contribution of medium sized prey (chital and pig) to the biomass is very low (20%) when compared to other high density tiger habitats. The study found that the distribution of tigers in PTR is closely related to high prey density areas of two species of deer - chital and sambar - and not to nilgai a potentially ideal prey because of its large body size. Because tiger has evolved as a specialized forest edge predator, its strategies are more cued to deer than to prey such as nilgai and chinkara which are largely found in open habitats. Although nilgai contribute substantially to the prey biomass, it plays a limited role in the ecology of tigers in Panna TR. Home ranges of tigers in Panna TR, especially those of females, are larger than other populations studied in the subcontinent. This is attributed to the low density of suitable prey and biotic disturbances. As a result, Panna TR supports less number of tigers than it could do otherwise. The study indicates that chital and sambar are prey of tiger but these deer species need managerial inputs so that the Reserve can support a much larger population of these prey enabling the tiger to reach its optimum density.

Evaluating Panna National Park with special reference to the Ecology of Sloth Bear - A.J.T. Johnsingh , Clifford G. Rice (Washington State Department of Fish
and Wildlife,Olympia, WA, USA) & T.R.K. Yoganand

The behaviour and ecology of the sloth bear was studied for five years (1996-2000) in the dry deciduous forests of Panna National Park, central India. 12 sloth bears (6 males and 6 females) were fitted with radio collars and were tracked to study their behaviour and habitat requirements. The productivity of the habitat, seasonality and distribution of resources were also studied. The information gathered would be used to address the following aspects of the sloth bear behaviour, ecology and conser vation: The behaviour of sloth bear: activity patterns, ranging behaviour, habitat use, feeding, breeding, social behaviour and interactions with predators.

Seasonal and spatial distribution of food resources that are essential for sloth bears. Habitat requirements of sloth bears and the distribution and influence of disturbance. The influence of thermoregulation on behaviour. People-bear conflict in relation to bear behaviour.

Developing methods for estimating relative abundance and monitoring population trends of sloth bear using sign indices.

The sloth bears in Panna occur in low density, range over large areas, mostly nocturnal and crepuscular and feed predominantly on fruits, ants and termites. The resources available to them were spatially and seasonally patchy, thermal environment constraining and social interactions affected their behaviour. The factors that influence the behavioural ecology of sloth bears in Panna were studied in depth. The data is being analysed and the project report and other publications are being prepared now. The information gathered would be useful for the conservation of sloth bears in Panna and in general, in other dry deciduous forest habitats, which hold more than 50% of the sloth bear population in India.

This project is a component of a collaborative program between the Wildlife Institute of India and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. We received funding support from the National Geographic Society, the Chicago Zoological Society and the Bevins Memorial Fund of the International Association for Bear Research and Management.

More information on this project is available at: http://www.olywa.net/cefprice/slothbear/sloth_bear_page.htm