Browsing by Author "E. C. Rao"

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Factors influencing livestock grazing in Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
(Springer Nature, 2025) Prabhu Nath Shukla; E. C. Rao; Virendra kumar Mishra
Livestock grazing is a globally common land-use practice, impacting the micro- and macro-ecological dynamics. It is one of the most important managerial issues in the protected areas of India, which are home to most of the floral and faunal biodiversity of country. This study examines the intricate relationship between livestock grazing and factors within the Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, focusing on the extent of grazing and its correlations with socio-ecological variables. We performed Spearman’s rank, Pearson, and Kendall’s Tau correlation tests, coupled with fixed kernel density analysis, and gathered empirical insights into grazing patterns. Results reveal that 15.33% of the total area of the PTR, and 9.12% of its core area, is subject to livestock grazing. Correlation analyses unveil nuanced associations between grazing and demographic variables. While the number of families and livestock numbers inversely correlate with grazing within the core, the percentage of tribal population exhibits a positive correlation, underscoring socio-cultural dimensions of grazing practices. Furthermore, environmental parameters such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and elevation exhibit significant correlations with grazing patterns, indicating ecological preferences and constraints. This study highlights the critical need for holistic management strategies that factor in socio-demographic dynamics and stakeholder engagement in forest management activities for sustainable conservation practices. © The Author(s) 2025.
First photographic record of a Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis (Kerr, 1792) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in central India
(Zoo Outreach Organisation, 2025) Prabhu Nath Shukla; Bilal Habib; Virendra kumar Mishra; Sumedh Lomesh Bobade; E. C. Rao; Kanishka
We report the first documented presence of the Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis in central India, significantly expanding the known range of the species. Camera trapping in Pench Tiger Reserve from 3 February to 3 March 2024, Maharashtra, revealed the presence of a Leopard Cat in one of 296 surveyed grid cells of 2 km2 each. The detection occurred in a seasonal stream with undulating, rocky terrain, and 40% canopy cover. The surrounding habitat was characterized by a mix of dense forest and human-dominated landscape, consistent with the species’ known adaptability and tolerance of human disturbance. This unexpected finding challenges previous assumptions about Leopard Cat distribution in India and has important implications for felid conservation in the region. Further studies would be required to ascertain whether this individual belongs to a distinct population or is an extension of already reported population in the country. © Shukla et al. 2025. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.