Monitoring of Reintroduced Tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Western India: Preliminary Findings on Home Range, Prey Selection and Food Habits

Abstract

Home range and food habits of tigers ( Panthera tigris tigris) were studied in Sariska Tiger Reserve from July 2008 to June 2009. Three tigers (one male and two females) were radio-collared and reintroduced in Sariska Tiger Reserve from Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, Western India during 2008-2009. The reintroduced tigers were monitored periodically through ground tracking using “triangulation and homing in techniques.” The estimated annual home ranges were 168.6 km2 and 181.4 km2 for tiger and tigress-1 respectively. The estimated summer home range of tigress-2 was 223.4 km2. In total, 115 kills and 103 scats of tigers were collected to study the food habits. The line transect method was used to estimate the prey availability. The density of peafowl ( Pavo cristatus) was found to be highest (125.2 ± 15.3/ km2) in Sariska followed by livestock ( Bubalis bubalis and Bos indicus) (59.9 ± 22.3/ km2), chital ( Axis axis) (46.7 ± 9.5/ km2), sambar ( Rusa unicolor) (26.2 ± 4.9/ km2), common langur ( Semnopithecus entellus) (22.8 ± 6.5/ km2), nilgai ( Boselaphus tragocamelus) (19.5 ± 3.3/ km2) and wild pig ( Sus scrofa) (15.4 ± 4.4/ km2). Tigers fed on seven prey species as shown by kill data. Tigers' scat analysis revealed the presence of five prey species. Prey selection by tigers based on scat analysis was in the following order: sambar> chital> nilgai> livestock> common langur. It is proposed to restock the tiger population initially with five tigers in Sariska and subsequent supplementation of two tigers every three years for a period of six years, which will allow the population to achieve demographic viability. Removal of anthropogenic pressure from the national park will be crucial for the long term survival of tigers in Sariska.