Population Status and Habitat Preference of Spotted Deer (Axis axis Elxreben, 1777) in Ghailaghari Buffer Zone Community Forest, Chitwan, Nepal.

Abstract

The population status, habitat preference and the crop loss by Spotted Deer (Axis axis Erxleben, 1777) in marginal agricultural land was studied in Ghailaghari Buffer Zone Community Forest, Jagatpur, Chitwan from May 2012 to February 2013. Direct count method was used to estimate the population, quadrate sampling method was used for vegetation analysis, faecal pellets observation through line plot transect method was used to study habitat preference and questionnaire survey was used to evaluated the crop loss. A total of 70, 77, 84 and 94 Spotted Deer were observed in Spring, Rainy, Autumn and Winter seasons during study period. The crude density was 44.87 individual/km , 49.35 individual/km 2 , 53.84 individual/km 2 and 60.89 individual/km 2 in spring, rainy, autumn and winter season respectively. The male to female ratio was 1:1.29, 1:1.4, 1:1.344 and 1:1.343 and young to female ratio was 1:2.06, 1:2.05,1:2.44 and 1:2.15 in spring, rainy, autumn and winter season respectively. The one way ANOVA test concluded that the calculated value(0.139) with df (3, 32) at 95% level of confidence signifies that there is no significant difference in number of Spotted Deer in different seasons. There was no significant difference in number of Spotted Deer in different blocks where calculated value was 1.051 having df (8, 27) at 95% confidence level.Total floral species that occur in study area were 88 including 54 species of herbs, 23 species of shrubs and 11 species of trees. Trewia nudiflora was dominated tree (IVI= 75.82).Grassland was mostly preferred habitat with HP value 39.03 which was followed by Bhellar (Trewia nudiflora)-Sisoo (Dalbergia Sisoo) mixed forest (HP =33.8). Simal (Bombax ceiba)dominated forest was least preferred (HP= 27.55). It was observed that the crop loss was more in ward no 1 (108.4) > ward no 2 (97.45) of Jagatpur VDC. The crop loss was estimated to be NRs 6,00,090 which was loss of NRs 9,676.87 per household. Result obtained from this study can be effective in conservation and management to enhance long-term survival of this species in the study area.