Factors associated with co-occurrence of large carnivores in a human-dominated landscape

• DOI: 10.1007/s10531-019-01737-4
• Publication Date: 2019-03-18T11:05:01Z
• Authors: Babu Ram Lamichhane; Herwig Leirs; Gerard A. Persoon; Naresh Subedi; Maheshwar Dhakal; Bishwa Nath Oli; Simon Reynaert; Vincent Sluydts; Chiranjibi Prasad...; Laxman Prasad Pou...; Sabita Malla; Hans H. de Iongh
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Chemistry; 15. Life on land; Biology; 01 natural sciences

We investigated the factors facilitating co-occurrence of two large carnivores, tigers (Panthera tigris) and common leopards pardus), within a human-dominated landscape. estimated their density population size using camera-trap photographs examined spatial segregation habitats, temporal activity pattern, diets in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. A Bayesian spatially-explicit capture-recapture model densities 3.2–4.6 (3.94 ± 0.37) 2.6–4.1 (3.31 0.4) per 100 km2 with abundance 70–102 66–105 leopards. Tigers occupied prime habitats (grasslands riverine forests) alluvial floodplains Park whereas appeared Sal forests marginal areas where livestock are present. Both showed crepuscular patterns high overlap but were less active during day compared to Leopards' increased presence tigers. Tiger leopard diet overlapped considerably (90%). Compared leopards, consumed higher proportion prey smaller livestock. Our study demonstrates that sympatric carnivores can coexist rich contain mosaics habitats. To increase resilience carnivore population, strategies needed biomass prevent depredation adjacent forests. Long-term monitoring is also required obtain detailed understanding interaction between effects on local communities living forest fringes