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<p>Gaur (<i>Bos gaurus</i>), a key large herbivore in tropical forests and a Schedule I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is increasingly threatened by habitat degradation and human activities. To inform targeted management, we quantified how ecological and anthropogenic factors influence Gaur site use in the Palamau Tiger Reserve, Jharkhand, India. Using a resource selection function within a 1&#xa0;km × 1&#xa0;km grid (146 sampling units) across the Betla and Chhipadohar East ranges, we conducted ~ 5&#xa0;km random searches (April–June 2024) to locate fresh signs. At each detection, we established a 15&#xa0;m circular “used” plot and randomly placed two 15&#xa0;m “availability” plots within the same sampling unit. Gaur signs were detected in 29 of 146 units (56 used plots). The model selection identified three top models (ΔAICc &lt; 2). The best model (AICc = 68.5; weight = 0.44) indicated that site use increased with grass cover, decreased with the presence of livestock, increased with distance from roads, and increased with proximity to staffed watchtowers. The predictive performance was high (AUC = 0.94). These results highlight actionable levers for conservation in PTR: restoring and maintaining grass-rich patches, spatially and seasonally regulating livestock, mitigating road disturbance in high-use zones, and sustaining patrol-based protection centred on staffed watchtowers. Together, these measures provide an evidence-based foundation for improving habitat conditions and securing the Gaur populations in the region.</p>

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Investigating the role of ecological and anthropogenic factors in shaping the site use patterns of Gaur (Bos gaurus) in Palamau tiger Reserve, Jharkhand, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月8日

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  • Shahzada Iqbal,
  • Prajesh Kant Jena,
  • Rohan Desai,
  • Arshyaan Shahid,
  • Abhay Kumar,
  • Orus Ilyas

摘要

Gaur (Bos gaurus), a key large herbivore in tropical forests and a Schedule I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is increasingly threatened by habitat degradation and human activities. To inform targeted management, we quantified how ecological and anthropogenic factors influence Gaur site use in the Palamau Tiger Reserve, Jharkhand, India. Using a resource selection function within a 1 km × 1 km grid (146 sampling units) across the Betla and Chhipadohar East ranges, we conducted ~ 5 km random searches (April–June 2024) to locate fresh signs. At each detection, we established a 15 m circular “used” plot and randomly placed two 15 m “availability” plots within the same sampling unit. Gaur signs were detected in 29 of 146 units (56 used plots). The model selection identified three top models (ΔAICc < 2). The best model (AICc = 68.5; weight = 0.44) indicated that site use increased with grass cover, decreased with the presence of livestock, increased with distance from roads, and increased with proximity to staffed watchtowers. The predictive performance was high (AUC = 0.94). These results highlight actionable levers for conservation in PTR: restoring and maintaining grass-rich patches, spatially and seasonally regulating livestock, mitigating road disturbance in high-use zones, and sustaining patrol-based protection centred on staffed watchtowers. Together, these measures provide an evidence-based foundation for improving habitat conditions and securing the Gaur populations in the region.