Fecal Pellets used for the determination of habitat use by Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Saheel Ahmad Bhat, Sanjay Telang, Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh and Muzaffar Ahmad Wani
Department of Zoology, Govt. Benazir Science and Commerce College, Bhopal, M.P. (India)
ABSTRACT
Between July 2010 and June 2011 the habitat utilization of nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) were studied in Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal, using “Fecal Pellet Sampling”. Nilgai used different habitat types in Van Vihar National Park such as grassland, savanna, scrubland and woodland. Besides, nilgai were also used marshland but very rarely. The grassland and scrubland were highly preferred by the nilgai, while as savanna and woodland were less preferred by the nilgai. Nilgai showed seasonal variation in the habitat utilization. In monsoon, the grassland was overutilized by the nilgai, and the savanna, scrubland and woodland were underutilized by the nilgai. In winter, scrubland was overutilized, while as the grassland, woodland and savanna were underutilized by the nilgai. In summer, the scrubland and woodland were overutilized by the nilgai, and the grassland and savanna were underutilized by the nilgai. Creation of more grass plots, extension of the area of National Park and plantation of more trees would improve the overall quality of the habitat and make more space available for the nilgai antelopes.