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Spatio-temporal overlap of leopard and prey species in the foothills of Shiwalik, Himalaya

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Abstract

Understanding the interspecific interactions (spatial and temporal) between predators and their prey species is important to understanding the prey preferences for conservation and management decisions. However, due to large predators’ wide-ranging, nocturnal, and cryptic behaviour, it is often difficult to assess their interactions with prey species. Therefore, we determined the spatial and temporal interactions of leopard (Panthera pardus) with potential prey species in Kalesar National Park (KNP) using camera traps from January 2020 to April 2020. KNP is situated in the foothills of the Shiwalik mountain range of Himalaya, North India. We used encounter rates and activity patterns to understand the spatial and temporal overlap between leopards and prey species. We used composite scores to predict the potential prey preferences using the photo-capture data. A total sampling effort of 1150 trap nights documented 92 photo-captures of leopards with a detection rate of 17.3 leopards per 100/trap nights. Leopards exhibited bimodal peaks and were active throughout the day and night but showed more diurnal activity. Leopards had the highest temporal overlap with chital (Axis axis) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) and the highest spatial overlap with wild boar, peafowl (Pavo cristatus), and sambar (Rusa unicolor). Due to their high composite scores, wild boar, sambar, peafowl, and chital were predicted the most preferred prey species for leopards. Our results suggest that effective management of preferred prey species in the area is required to ensure the conservation of the leopard population.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Haryana, for permitting us to work in the Kalesar National Park. We thank the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for funding. We thank Mr. Rajesh Chahal, Inspector Wildlife, and his staff at the National Park for providing us with much-needed assistance and logistic support during our study. We thank the Principal, Mukand Lal National College, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India, for providing facilities and support. Finally, we are grateful to the Director, Amity Institute of Forestry and Wildlife, Amity University, Noida, for encouragement and continuous support.

Funding

This study was funded and facilitated by the grant number EMR/2016/006340 from SERB, DST, Government of India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amity Institute of Forestry and Wildlife, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India, 201301

    Janam Jai Sehgal & Randeep Singh

  2. Department of Zoology, Mukand Lal National College, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India, 135001

    Janam Jai Sehgal, Deepak Kumar & Rajiv S. Kalsi

  3. Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, 1816S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA

    Maximilian L. Allen

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  1. Janam Jai Sehgal
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  2. Deepak Kumar
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Contributions

RSK developed the study design and secured the funding. JJS, DK, RSK, and RS contributed to the data collection. JJS, RSK, RS, and MLA participated in the data analysis. All authors participated in the draft and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Rajiv S. Kalsi or Randeep Singh.

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Sehgal, J.J., Kumar, D., Kalsi, R.S. et al. Spatio-temporal overlap of leopard and prey species in the foothills of Shiwalik, Himalaya. Eur J Wildl Res 68, 18 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-022-01568-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-022-01568-9

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