DISTRIBUTION AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF KASHMIR RED DEER OR HANGUL (Cervus elaphus hanglu) AT DACHIGAM NATIONAL PARK, KASHMIR, INDIA

ABSTRACT We assessed the distribution and relative abundance of Kashmir Red deer or Hangul Dachigam were used to record sightings and signs of Hangul. The study area was divided into 23 (2x2 km) grids and in each grid a camera trap was deployed. The distribution pattern and relative abundance of Hangul varied seasonally. In spring and autumn, Hangul sightings and signs were distributed uniformly in the study area whereas in winter, they were clumped in the riverine valley. During summer, we recorded low number of sightings and signs and most of these were distributed in the upper reaches of the study area. The overall encounter rates (#±SE) based on scan and transect sampling were 3.01±0.49 individuals/hr and 1.37±0.22 individuals/km, respectively. The encounter rate was highest in spring followed by winter, autumn and summer. The overall Hangul density (/km²) was 3.09±0.66. The density was highest in spring (16.91±5.2) followed by winter (12.55±3.32), autumn (10.31±2.8) and summer (4.15±1.35). Hangul group sizes ranged from 1-52 and the mean group size changed across seasons. Females formed the largest proportion of individuals that could be put into different age categories (52%). Adult males accounted for 27% of the population while fawns accounted for 21%. Hangul presence and the human disturbance, calculated in the form of photo capture rates were negatively correlated (R²=0.41), P=0.084. 172 Galemys 22 (nº especial), 2010 km) instalándose una cámara trampa en cada una de ellas. La distribución y la abundancia relativa del Hangul varía estacionalmente. En primavera y otoño, los rastros de Hangul se distribuyen uniformemente por toda el área de estudio, mientras que en invierno se concentran en el valle del río. Durante el verano, hemos registrado un bajo número de señales y observaciones y la mayoría de estas se distribuyen por la zona superior del área de estudio. Las tasas globales de encuentro (±ES) basadas en barridos visuales y recorridos de transectos fueron de 3,01±0,49 ejemplares/hora y 1,37±0,22 ejemplares/km recorrido respectivamente. La tasa de encuentro fue la más alta en primavera seguida del invierno, otoño y verano. La densidad global fue de 3,09 ±0,66 (ind/ km 2 ). La densidad fue la más alta en primavera 16,91±5,2, seguida del invierno 12,55±3,32, otoño 10,31 ±2,8 y verano 4,15 ±1,35. Los grupos oscilan entre 1 y52 individuos, variando estacionalmente el tamaño medio de los mismos. Las hembras representan la más alta proporción de ejemplares clasificables en categorías de edad (52%). Los machos adultos representaban el 27% de la población y las crías el 21%. La presencia de Hangul y las perturbaciones humanas, calculadas a través de los índices de foto captura, está correlacionada negativamente (R 2 = 0,41), P=0,084. Palabras clave: Abundancia relativa, Cervus elaphus hanglu, distribución, tamaño de grupo

Data from: Conflict bear translocation: Investigating population genetics and fate of bear translocation in Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, India

The Asiatic black bear population in Dachigam landscape, Jammu and Kashmir is well recognized as one of the highest density bear populations in India. Increasing incidences of bear-human interactions and the resultant retaliatory killings by locals have become a serious threat to the survivorship of black bears in the Dachigam landscape. The Department of Wildlife Protection in Jammu and Kashmir has been translocating bears involved in conflicts, henceforth ‘conflict bears’ from different sites in Dachigam landscape to Dachigam National Park as a flagship activity to mitigate conflicts. We undertook this study to investigate the population genetics and the fate of bear translocation in Dachigam National Park. We identified 109 unique genotypes in an area of ca. 650 km2 and observed bear population under panmixia that showed sound genetic variability. Molecular tracking of translocated bears revealed that mostly bears (7 out of 11 bears) returned to their capture sites, possibly due to homing instincts or habituation to the high quality food available in agricultural croplands and orchards, while only four bears remained in Dachigam National Park after translocation. Results indicated that translocation success was most likely to be season dependent as bears translocated during spring and late autumn returned to their capture sites, perhaps due to the scarcity of food inside Dachigam National Park while bears translocated in summer remained in Dachigam National Park due to availability of surplus food resources. Thus, the current management practices of translocating conflict bears, without taking into account spatio-temporal variability of food resources in Dachigam landscape seemed to be ineffective in mitigating conflicts on a long-term basis. However, the study highlighted the importance of molecular tracking of bears to understand their movement patterns and socio-biology in tough terrains like Dachigam landscape

Bear 12 loci_109 genotypes data_MT_02022016

Sheet 1- 12 loci_109 genotypes; sheet 2- 17 loci_18 genotype

Conflict Bear Translocation: Investigating Population Genetics and Fate of Bear Translocation in Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, India

<div><p>The Asiatic black bear population in Dachigam landscape, Jammu and Kashmir is well recognized as one of the highest density bear populations in India. Increasing incidences of bear-human interactions and the resultant retaliatory killings by locals have become a serious threat to the survivorship of black bears in the Dachigam landscape. The Department of Wildlife Protection in Jammu and Kashmir has been translocating bears involved in conflicts, <i>henceforth ‘</i>conflict bears’ from different sites in Dachigam landscape to Dachigam National Park as a flagship activity to mitigate conflicts. We undertook this study to investigate the population genetics and the fate of bear translocation in Dachigam National Park. We identified 109 unique genotypes in an area of <i>ca</i>. 650 km² and observed bear population under panmixia that showed sound genetic variability. Molecular tracking of translocated bears revealed that mostly bears (7 out of 11 bears) returned to their capture sites, possibly due to homing instincts or habituation to the high quality food available in agricultural croplands and orchards, while only four bears remained in Dachigam National Park after translocation. Results indicated that translocation success was most likely to be season dependent as bears translocated during spring and late autumn returned to their capture sites, perhaps due to the scarcity of food inside Dachigam National Park while bears translocated in summer remained in Dachigam National Park due to availability of surplus food resources. Thus, the current management practices of translocating conflict bears, without taking into account spatio-temporal variability of food resources in Dachigam landscape seemed to be ineffective in mitigating conflicts on a long-term basis. However, the study highlighted the importance of molecular tracking of bears to understand their movement patterns and socio-biology in tough terrains like Dachigam landscape.</p></div

Select panel of seven polymorphic microsatellite loci used for individual identification of Asiatic black bears.

<p>Select panel of seven polymorphic microsatellite loci used for individual identification of Asiatic black bears.</p

Digital elevation model of Dachigam National Park and other conservation reserves in Dachigam landscape, J& K. (all dots on map depicts the sampling location of individual hair tuft collected and black dots inside the sampling points represent position of translocated bears used in molecular tracking).

<p>Digital elevation model of Dachigam National Park and other conservation reserves in Dachigam landscape, J& K. (all dots on map depicts the sampling location of individual hair tuft collected and black dots inside the sampling points represent position of translocated bears used in molecular tracking).</p

Bayesian clustering patterns of black bear population of Dachigam landscape.

<p>Bayesian clustering patterns of black bear population of Dachigam landscape.</p

Map showing the capture sites of conflicting individuals and their center of activity over LULC classes in Dachigam landscape.

<p>(4a for bears that remained in DNP and 4b for bears which moved back to their capture sites after translocation).</p

Genetic polymorphism of 17 microsatellites screened with 18 reference blood DNA extracts of black bears.

<p>1—observed number of alleles</p><p>2—effective number of alleles</p><p>3—observed heterozygosity</p><p>4—expected heterozygosity</p><p>5—polymorphic information content</p><p>6—inbreeding coefficient</p><p>7—probability of identity (locus)</p><p>8—probability of identity for sibs (locus)</p><p>9—probability of identity (cumulative)</p><p>10—probability of identity for sibs (cumulative)</p><p>11—allelic dropout rate</p><p>12—false allele rate</p><p>13—predicted frequencies of null alleles.</p><p>H—locus used for individual identification</p><p>† HWE deviation (<i>P</i> <0.05).</p><p>* Significance level was calculated using 10, 000 randomization, 500 batches and 10,000 iterations (<i>P</i> < 0.01).</p><p>Annealing temperature (T_A) for multiplexes–MP 1 (50°C), MP 2 (56°C), MP 3 (64°C), MP 4 (45°C), MP 5 (62°C) and MP 6 (55°C).</p