Assessment of large mammals of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh with emphasis on tiger (Panthera tigris)

Abstract

Biodiversity assessment is the first step of conservation and monitoring of an ecosystem. Scientific information like ecological requirements of a species helps conservation practitioners to monitor the changes over time, but it is almost true that assessment of each and every species in an area is not necessary and impractical. Globally tiger is an endangered species and tiger density strongly correlated with prey densities. The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh is considered as Tiger Restoration Landscape. Neither tiger nor prey abundance has been assessed for the CHT. The overall goal of this study was to assess the conservation potential of medium (> 5 kg) to large mammals (>20 kg) across the CHT with special emphasis on tiger (Panthera tigris). A total of 3800 km² area has been surveyed from March, 2010 to July 2011. I have collected presence absence data using signs (tracks, scats, scrapes) survey and analysed using programme PRESENCE by applying occupancy models and figures using programme R. In addition to signs survey camera trap survey was also conducted, and compared the effectiveness of two methods. Relative Abundance Index (RAI) and activity patterns of medium to large mammals were quantified. Potential conservation areas assessed following The Nature Conservancy (TNC) guidelines and finally formulated conservation recommendations.