Wild-Buffalo A Status Report ( S.K.Singh, I.F.S., C.F.Working Plan, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh, INDIA.)

Transcription

1 Wild-Buffalo A Status Report ( S.K.Singh, I.F.S., C.F.Working Plan, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh, INDIA.) INTRODUCTION: - This paper discusses about the status of Wild-buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Udanti Sanctuary of Chattisgarh State in INDIA. The sanctuary derive its name from the river Udanti that originates from the Western part of the sanctuary and divides the sanctuary into two parts. In short we will call it UWLS. The declaration of the sanctuary was done by Government of Madhya Pradesh (State), INDIA in their Order No.15/4/83/10/2 dated The sanctuary is located in Raipur district of Chattisgarh, on Raipur-Deobhog Road at about 140 Km. South east from Raipur. Previously the area was under Bindranawagarh zamindar. Now the protected area is under the administrative control of Divisional Forest Officer, Udanti Division, Gariaband, District Raipur. The sanctuary lies between E to 82 0 E longitude and N to N Latitude. The superintendent of the sanctuary supervises the fieldwork and field staff. It comprises of only one range for which one range officer is posted, who executes the fieldwork. Range officer and Superintendent s head quarter is at Mainpur. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA : - The study area of Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary is Km. East to West and Km. North to South and its total geographical area is Sq. Km. It consists of 34 compartments of reserved forest having an area of Sq. Km. and 45 compartments of protected forest having an area of Sq. Km. S.N. Type of Forest Area (Hactares) 1 Reserved Forest Protected Forest New Protected Forest Total Or Sq. Km. According to Champion and Seth (1968), the forest of UWLS is classified in to the following classes: - (a) Dry Teak Forest - 5A/ c 1 b (III) (b) 1. Dry Peninsular Sal Forest - 5B / c2c (IV) 2. Moist Peninsular Sal Forest - 3C / c2e (II) The average annual rainfall of the area is about 1200mm. The maximum temperature is 44ºC and the minimum temperature is 5ºC

2 MATERIAL AND METHODS: - To assess the status of Wild Buffalo in Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary, population estimation of Wild-Buffalo has been done every year since The method for estimation is by direct count method. This estimation is usually done by the forest guards / foresters in the month of April every year. The forest staff goes to the compartments where the wild buffaloes are regularly seen. In summer season these animals are commonly seen in some of the water tanks like Nagesh Water Tank etc. Population estimation of other animals is done by block count method, in which compartments are treated as grids. Counting is done in these grids. Staff move in one direction at a spacing of 50 mts parallel to one-another. They traverse along the grid together at a given time and go on recording the animals sighted on their left or right, at distance of 50 mts. Then the data is compiled. Details of census figures are given below :- Population figures of last five years Species Wild Buffalo (+/- 5) 72 (+/- 5) 67 (+/- 5) Panther Gaur (+/- 2) 40 (+/- 2) 44 (+/- 5) Sambhar (+/- 10) 185(+/-10) 205(+/-10) Cheetal (+/- 10) 370(+/- 10) 385(+/- 10) Neelgai (+/- 10) 150(+/- 10) 145(+/- 10) Barking Deer (+/- 5) 128 (+/- 5) 142 (+/- 5) Sighting of the animals is difficult in rainy season. It is commonly seen in small grasslands and in water tanks in the sanctuary in dry season. It can be seen while raiding paddy crops in the fields. They raid the crops usually in the morning or in evenings. Details of sightings are given below :

3 Details of sightings of wild buffalo LOCATION COMPTT. NUMBER MONTH TIME SPOT NAGESH 490 MAY - JUNE 4.30 AM 6.30 AM MANDONGRI (AMAR) 374 JAN - MAY 5.00 AM 6.30 AM PATABAHAL 387 OCT -DEC 5.30 AM 7.30 AM NALLAH 5.00 PM 6.00 PM DEODHARA 372 MAR - MAY 5.00 AM 6.30 AM JUGAD 362 OCT -DEC 5.30 AM 7.30 AM Grassland and 5.00 PM 6.00 PM farmers fields. No sighting of wild buffalo is reported during rainy season (July September ). Usually the sightings are in morning or in evening at the waterholes. HABIT AND HABITAT OF WILD BUFFALO: - Wild buffalo in the Central Indian Highlands are found where there are natural swamps and marshlands. Unlike the gaur, Wild buffalo is largely a grazier and avoids hilly terrain (Brander, A. A. Dunbar, Wild Animals in Central India). Their habitat preferences are almost similar to barasinga, but their food requirement is high since the animals are very large (Gee, E. P., The Wild Life Of India). These animals thrive mainly on the grasses like Heteropogon contortus, Themeda triandra, Saccharum spontaneum Imperata cyllindrica (according to Daniel, J.C. and B.R. Grubh,1966). It prefers to eat the marshy grasses and dicotyledonous plants growing in swamps

4 Wild buffalo has affinity towards water and it prefers marshy places or swamps. It uses riverbanks, tanks, pools, ditches etc. for wallowing purpose. Up to January and February, water is available in almost all the areas in the sanctuary. But from March onwards water is distributed in selected water holes in the sanctuary and these buffalos utilize these areas. From study of available literature and observations in the field, it is clear that wild buffalo utilizes three types of habitat i.e. (a) Wood lands (b) Open Grasslands (c) Aquatic areas and riparian areas. FOOD AND FEEDING: - In general wild buffaloes are very shy in nature. They avoid the populated sites and keep themselves inside the deep woodland in daytime. The second reason of this habit is because it avoids heat. During daytime in winters and summer, they love bathing and wallowing in water polls and mud pits. This shows that there is a direct relation between the body temperature and environmental temperature it had been observed that in winter evenings when cooling of water starts it leaves water and goes inside the woodlands. Details about its food preferences have not been studied. From observations it is found that the animal loves to eat leaves (Ougenia oojeinensis, Shorea robusta, Indigofera cassioides), grass (Heteropogon contortus, Themeda triandra, Saccharum spontaneum Imperata cyllindrica) and kulthi (Brassica campestris). Raiding of crop fields especially in the rice-growing season is common. UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR: - From field encounters one can say that the behavior of the animal is very unpredictable. Solitary animal, specially the male in breeding season or the solitary discarded bull can attack or charge. They are very dangerous when injured. Even female with calf can also be dangerous. REPRODUCTION AND INTERBREEDING WITH THE DOMESTIC: - From the experience of forest personnel and villagers it is gathered that instance of interbreeding with domestic buffalo is very less but even if it occurs the foetus dies at a very early stage resulting in failure of breeding. But, the intermixing cases with females of wilder ones is yet to be studied. Genetic studies of this wild population is need of the hour. The pairing season is at the end of rains and calves are born usually between March and May. PREDATORS AND DISEASES: - Except the tigers, that too in very early stage of life (calf and newborn babies) it doesn t have any predator species. Among the diseases, foot and mouth disease, haemoragic septicemia are common in wild buffaloes

5 RESULT AND DISCUSSION: - Main threat to the surviving population of wild buffaloes in the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary is in form of anthropogenic pressures. Degradation of habitat due to grazing by the cattles living inside the sanctuary and the bovine diseases, which may spread from the domestic livestock population to the wild animals in the sanctuary. At present vaccination of live-stock of the villagers living in and around the sanctuary is been done regularly by the Vetnary Department. Forest Department not only provides vaccines, but it also assist in organizing health camps for the cattle's for promoting immunization. Regarding the genetic swamping, enquiries have been made, by the officials of the sanctuary from the local people and from senior forest officers, who have worked in this area and conclusion can be drawn, that the crossing of male wild buffalo with female of domestic buffalo had occurred once in this area and both the female and the new born did not survive. Some villagers say that crossing of domestic male with wild female buffalo is also not possible because of their different behavior. The number of wild buffalo is very low in Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary. It is 1/7 of the minimum viable population (i.e. # 500). This population is therefore highly endangered. Secondly this population is in a small pocket, thus conservation measures needs more attention. Widespread occurrence of any disease can sweep off the entire population. Rehabilitation of Wild Buffalo in the adjoining areas through a corridor can serve the purpose. Sitanadi Sanctuary has the areas which can be considered for Rehabilitation of Wild Buffalo. Other adjoining areas of the Torenga Range of Udanti Division and Sitanadi sanctuary / Nagari Range of Dhamatari Division, which form a link between Udanti and Sitanadi Sanctuary can be included in the sanctuary and this area could be treated as Wildlife Corridor. Regarding other possible conservation areas, it is well known that Wild Buffalo's were previously found in the adjoining part of Orissa i.e. in Sonabeda Sanctuary of Orissa, but now its presence is not reported. Therefore enhancement of area of this sanctuary by joining with Sitanadi and Nagri Range, Raipur will provide sufficient space to the existing population of Wild Buffalo s and help in the process of conservation of this species. REFERENCES: - Brander, A. A. Dunbar, Wild Animals in Central India. Champion H.G. and S. K. Seth, (1968). A Revised Survey of the Forest Types of India. Manager of Publication, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Daniel, J.C. and B.R. Grubh,1966. The Indian wild water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis(linn.) in peninsular India: a preliminary survey. Bombay Natural History Society's Journal 63: Gee, E. P., The Wild Life Of India