अमूर्त

DISTRIBUTION PATTERN AND HABITAT UTILIZATION OF VULTURES IN SATHYAMANGALAM TIGER RESERVE, TAMIL NADU, SOUTHERN INDIA

Samson A*, Ramakrishnan B

Vultures are nature’s most successful scavengers, and they provide an array of ecological, economic, and cultural services. The present study was aimed to attempt on the status, distribution, and habitat utilization of various vulture species in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve from November 2018 to March 2019. In STR, vultures were counted on-road transects; tarred roads and metal roads are maintained by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to provide easy access to the villages in the protected areas of STR. Throughout the survey, a total of 612 (6.43 ± 0.59) individuals of vulture species were recorded in a 1500km Transect in STR. Of which in 80 sightings a total of 497 (6.21 ± 0.56) White-rumped vultures were recorded with an Encounter Rate of 0.331 individuals/Km. Maximum 36 vultures and minimum one vulture was recorded in the survey. Range wise distribution of vulture in STR shows that in six ranges vultures were observed of which Bhavanisagar range has more number of sightings (n=50) as well as individuals (n=365 7.83 ± 0.92). As considers the presence of vultures within different vegetation structures in STR, most vulture sightings were recorded in Scrub and Thorn Forest (n=291 8 ± 1.18).