Search

Activity patterns of sympatric ungulates is poorly known from the territory of Bangladesh. We quantified the diurnal activities of two ungulate species, Axis axis (Spotted deer) and Bubalus bubalis (Buffalo), in a national park of Bangladesh. Buffaloes appeared as a major competitor of spotted deer in the park as both compete there for resources and arises a complex interaction. Activity patterns of these two species has been investigated through the scan sampling technique from direct field observations. Spotted deer spent maximum time in foraging (50.33%) followed by moving (17.36%), ruminating (14.08%), resting (13.9%), alarming (2.72%) and social behaviour (1.61%); whereas buffaloes spent maximum time in foraging (36.41%) followed by resting (22.49%), moving (14.53%), ruminating (12.92%), social behaviour (9.94%) and alarming (3.7%). Monthly and seasonal variations of different activities were calculated, no significant difference in the majority of the activity types and categories were found (P > 0.05). Several activities (Social behaviour, total movement and total resting) differed significantly among the seasons (P < 0.05) for both species. Spotted deer and buffaloes showed differences in different activities to various extent during the study period. In most cases these differences were highly significant (P < 0.01) (standing-resting, standing-ruminating, grazing, browsing, total resting, forging, social behaviour, overall movement, overall resting and overall standing); whereas in five activities (walking, laying-resting, sniffing, total movement and ruminating) the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Spotted deer spent more time in browsing (32.90%) than grazing (17.43%), whereas buffaloes employed more time in grazing (28.19%) than browsing (8.82%); indicate shifting of foraging behaviour towards browsing by spotted deer due to competition., Характер активности симпатрических копытных малоизвестен на территории Бангладеша. Мы провели количественную оценку суточной активности двух видов копытных Axis axis (пятнистый олень) и Bubalus bubalis (буйвол) в национальном парке Бангладеш. Буйволы оказались главными конкурентами пятнистых оленей в парке, поскольку и те, и другие соревнуются там за ресурсы, и возникает сложное взаимодействие. Активность этих двух видов была исследована с помощью метода сканирования выборки при прямом полевом наблюдении. Пятнистый олень проводил максимальное время в поисках пищи (50.33%), за ним следовали движение (17.36%), пережевывание пищи (14.08%), отдых (13.9%), тревога (2.72%) и социальное поведение (1.61%); тогда как буйволы проводили максимальное время в поисках пищи (36.41%), за которыми следовали отдых (22.49%), движение (14.53%), размышления (12.92%), социальное поведение (9.94%) и тревога (3.7%). Были рассчитаны месячные и сезонные вариации различных видов деятельности, достоверных различий по большинству видов и категорий деятельности не обнаружено (P > 0.05). Некоторые виды деятельности (социальное поведение, общее движение и общий отдых) значительно различались в зависимости от сезона (P < 0.05) для обоих видов. Пятнистые олени и буйволы в разной степени различались в разных видах активности в течение исследуемого периода. В большинстве случаев эти различия были очень значимыми (P < 0.01) (стояние-отдых, стояние-пережевывание пищи, пастбище, просмотр, полный отдых, ковка, социальное поведение, общее движение, общий отдых и общее стояние); тогда как в пяти видах деятельности (ходьба, лежание-отдых, обнюхивание, общее движение и размышления) различия не были статистически значимыми (P > 0.05). Пятнистые олени тратили больше времени на поиск пищи (32.90%), чем на выпас (17.43%), тогда как буйволы больше времени на выпас (28.19%), чем на поиск пищи (8.82%). Полученные данные указывают на смещение поведения при поиске пищи в сторону поиска пятнистыми оленями из-за конкуренции.

Axis axis (Erxleben, 1777) is an Old World deer commonly known as chital, Indian spotted deer, or axis deer. It is one of five species in the genus Axis and is native to the Indian subcontinent, occurring in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Free-ranging and confined populations of A. axis have been established in Europe, Australia, and both North and South America. Globally, it is considered “Least Concern” (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

We assessed the status and distribution of mammals using camera traps in Ramnagar Forest Division between February and June 2017. A total of 2656 independent photographs representing herbivores (57.2%), carnivores (7%), omnivores (6.8%), birds (2.0%), cattle (5.6%), humans (18.7%) and free-ranging stray dogs (2.7%) were recorded from 96 trap stations. Tiger (Panthera tigris) was trapped more often than other carnivores. Spotted deer (Axis axis) stood first among the herbivores and rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) among the omnivores. The Relative Abundance Index (RAI) for spotted deer was highest at low anthropogenic disturbance sites, while for other members of cervidae (barking deer Muntiacus muntjac; sambar Rusa unicolor and Himalayan goral Naemorhedus goral), it was highest at sites free from the disturbance. Tiger was most abundant at low while leopard (Panthera pardus) at high anthropogenic disturbance sites. Except for leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), other small carnivores including Jungle cat (Felis chaus), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica) and yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula) and omnivore; golden jackal (Canis aureus) was photo captured mostly at medium human anthropogenic disturbance sites. The current information is expected to help in the formulation of management strategies for long-term conservation of mammals outside the protected areas in Terai-Arc Landscape.

A cross-sectional, coprological survey of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites of wild mammals in four major National Parks in Sri Lanka: Wilpattu, Udawalawe, Wasgamuwa, and Horton Plains was carried out during November 2016 to August 2017. Fresh fecal samples were collected and analyzed using sedimentation technique, iodine & saline smears, and Sheather’s sucrose flotation for morphological identification parasite eggs, cysts, and larvae. A modified salt flotation was carried out for egg counts. Seventy samples from 10 mammal species: Asian Elephant, Spotted Deer, Water Buffalo, Sambar, Indian Hare, Asian Palm Civet, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Grey Langur, Leopard, and four unknown mammals (two carnivores, one herbivore and one omnivore) were analyzed. Most were infected (94.3%) with more than one GI parasites. The highest prevalence of infection was recorded in Horton Plains (100%), followed by Wasgamuwa (92.8%), Wilpattu (90.4%) and Udawalawe (75.0%) with a significant difference among four parks (Chi square test; χ2=35.435; df=3; p

Exotic woody weed plants are a very serious threat to seed dispersed by ungulate in the tropical forest of Asia. The ungulates in Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (PCWS) are a significant role in native indigenous seed dispersal. The exotic woody weed tree Prosopis juliflora prevalence distributed in the PCWS and they might potentially alter the native medicinal plant species. In the present investigation, we have assessed the seed dispersal by ungulates in PCWS from January to March 2017. Four different ungulate species were selected to understand their seed dispersal rate of different plant species in selected sanctuary. This investigation was planned to confirm the seed dispersal by ungulates of blackbuck, spotted deer, wild boar and feral horse. Among the four different ungulates tested, the maximum numbers of pellets collected from blackbuck and no seed found in their pellets. The low quantities of pellets were collected from wild boar and this study has recorded medium-sized ungulates which dispersed variety of plant. However, the dispersal of the seed of medicinal plants were not considerably high and relatively moderate percentage of seeds dispersal occurred in medium-sized ungulates like wild boar and spotted deer. P. juliflora had 100% seed germination rate were observed from the faecal samples of wild boar and feral horse. The control seed achieved maximum seedling rate than the ungulates seeds.

Spotted deer (Axis axis) is one of the component forming forest ecosystems and has a very important role in the food chain cycle. However, excessive and uncontrolled use of deer by humans can result in a decline in the animal population in nature. One of the conservation efforts that can be done is by captivity (ex-situ conservation). This study was conducted to determine the daily activity of the spotted deer in captivity of the City Forest in Langsa Baro Subdistrict, Langsa City on 8 - 22 February 2018. Data on the daily activities of the spotted deer were obtained through direct observation using the animal sampling scan method for 15 days. The study found that eating was the highest daily activity, namely male 30,84%, female 32,84%, pregnant deer 34,17%, and young deer without horns were 29.08%. The highest activity time is at 08.30-10.30 and the lowest activity time is from 06.00-08.00.

Blastocystis sp. is a protozoan parasite, commonly found in the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and humans globally. The parasitic species has wide genetic diversity. Currently the mammalian and avian isolates of the parasite are grouped into 17 well known subtypes (STs), of which ten (ST1-ST9, ST12) are reported in humans. To assess the genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in wildlife, a total of 200 fresh fecal samples were collected from 32 mammalian wildlife species in Bangladesh National Zoo. Blastocystis sp. was screened and subtyped by PCR amplification and sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The minimum prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection was 15.5% (31/200) in zoo animals. Eight out of 32 wildlife animal species (25.0%) were infected with Blastocystis sp. Among them, the occurrence of Blastocystis sp. was higher in non-human primates (NHPs) (31.8%) than that in herbivores (4.9%) and carnivores (0). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene revealed seven different Blastocystis sp. subtypes, such as ST1, ST2, ST3, ST10, ST11, ST13 and ST14 in the wild animals. ST3 was the dominant subtype (41.9%, 13/31) being detected in NHPs. Of the 31 Blastocystis sp. isolates from the wild animals, 24 (77.4%) isolates belonged to the most common subtypes (ST1 to ST3) found in humans. This is the first molecular study of Blastocystis sp. in wild animals in Bangladesh. This study highlights the remarkable genetic diversity in Blastocystis sp. isolates from zoo animals and provides the first molecular evidence from spotted deer, gayal and grey langur. Due to circulation of large percentage of potentially zoonotic subtypes in the wild animals, there is a higher risk of zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis sp. in the zoo keepers and visitors., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • First report of Blastocystis sp. infection in wild animals in Bangladesh. • Minimum prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection was 15.5% in wildlife. • ST3 was the dominant subtype in wildlife in Bangladesh. • Majority of the Blastocystis sp. isolates belonged to the most common human subtypes. • Non-human primates with high prevalence and zoonotic significance.

We developed a protocol which determines age in spotted deer, Axis axis (Erxleben, 1777) through cementum layers in the tooth which is economical and requires lesser time (±19 hours). The permanent first incisor teeth from mandibles of known estimated ages (2, 4, 5, 8 and 9 years) were ground longitudinally on median plane on a set of sandpapers with hand to a thickness of around 57 μm, decalcified, stained with hematoxylin, differentiated in acid alcohol and mounted on a glass slide and count cementum layers under microscope at 100 or 200× magnification. Presence of 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 cementum layers was observed for the tooth of ages of 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9 years, respectively. The final age in the year was calculated by adding one to the counted number of cementum layer. Our results were in compliance with the pre-estimated age of the mandibles. This suggested protocol saves time and money and is easy to perform with minimum requirements. The technique was validated using “blind” duplicate test (n = 2) and the first molar tooth of known estimated age (n = 1). Our suggested protocol has significant relevance for estimating the age of other animals and wildlife forensics.

Understanding niche overlap with other wild species and domestic cattle is useful to conserve and manage the wildlife in their natural habitat. We assessed habitat niche breadth and overlap among the two sympatric wild ungulates: spotted deer (Axis axis) and swamp deer (Cervus duvaucelii) and, indigenous intermediate ruminants, and domestic cattle in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal during the dry season. Our objective was to explore the interspecific competition by studying the habitat use by these species. The assumption was made that the presence of pellets is a proof for habitat used by species. Grid based surveys with total 96 sample plots each of size 20 m * 20 m in 6 sample grids (2 * 2 km2) with 24 sub-grids (500 * 500 m2) were used for locating pellets group. Levin’s niche breadth and Morisita’s overlap index were calculated to determine the niche breadth, and the habitat overlap respectively. The Levin’s measure of niche breadth suggested that spotted deer had the highest adaptability with an index value of 0.94 followed by domestic cattle 0.50, and swamp deer 0.33 in our study area. Thus, it was concluded that spotted deer is a habitat generalist whereas swamp deer are specialists and mostly preferred grasslands after a fire. Also, there was high habitat overlap index value of 0.83 between domestic cattle and spotted deer whereas the swamp deer and the spotted deer showed moderate habitat overlap of 0.57. The swamp deer had low habitat overlap as well as spatial overlap with domestic cattle. Grassland management should be carried out for the benefit of ungulate species as the study showed the preference of swamp deer on grassland after a fire. Similar studies should be conducted including seasons and places prior to implementing appropriate habitat management activities intended to reduce interspecific competition for co-existence.

Center for Agrotechnology Innovation, Gadjah Mada University (PIAT), one of the place for development and breeding ground of spotted deer in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The study of blood profiles was intended to allow veterinarian to understand the normal profile of the spotted deer. Fifteen healthy spotted deer belonging to PIAT were used as experimental animals. The deer were drawn its blood through the jugular vein without the use of anaesthesia. Blood was then accommodated in an EDTA tube, centrifuged at 2500 RPM and analyzed using a Mindray BC-2800 haematology analyzer machine. Based on the results of the study of the blood it were known that Haemoglobine (Hb) was: 11.5 ± 1.703 g/dl, Red blood cells (RBC) was: 9.3 ± 3.580 106/ml, Packed cell volume (PCV) was: 30.8 ± 6.035 %, Mean corpuscular Volume (MCV) was: 36.8 ± 11.102 fl, Mean corpuscular haemoglobine (MCH) was: 15.0 ± 7.313 pg, Mean corpuscular haemoglobine concentration (MCHC) was: 40.0 ± 14.657 g/dl, White blood cells (WBC) was: 6.4 ± 3.096 103/ml , Neutrophils was: 43.4 ± 21.646, % Basophils was: 0.2 ± 0.168 %, eosinophils was: 0.4 ± 0.447 %, lymphocytes was: 53.4 ± 21.546 % and monocytes was: 2.6 ± 2.394 %. From all of the datas it indicated that blood profiles of PIAT’s spotted deers are different from similar spotted deer blood profiles in India.

The reproductive season of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has been hypothesized to be aseasonal south of about 14°–18°N latitude, where annual variation in day length is low. We tested this idea by using camera-trap data (1,336 photographed individuals identified by age and sex) collected during 2011–2017 in the dry tropical forest of Santa Rosa National Park, northwest Costa Rica, where wet and dry seasons are welldefined. We identified variation in monthly occurrence of spotted deer fawns, as well as the status of antler growth of male deer, specifically related to the very seasonal environment of the region. Year-round reproduction likely occurs, but the rainfall pattern in the area greatly influences the relative frequency of reproductive indicators, with most births occurring during the dry season, and a second peak occurring toward the latter part of the wet season. We speculate that food resources are the major influence on reproductive patterns, and that variation in types and timing of food resource availability likely account for the variation in reproductive patterns. La temporada reproductiva del venado de cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus) se ha hipotetizado como algo estacional al sur de aproximadamente 14°–18° de latitud norte, donde la variación anual en el largo del día es baja. Pusimos a prueba esta hipótesis usando datos de captura de cámara (1.336 individuos fotografiados identificados por edad y sexo) recolectados durante 2011–2017 en el bosque tropical seco del Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, en el noroeste de Costa Rica, donde las estaciones húmedas y secas están bien definidas. Encontramos variación en la incidencia mensual de cervatos manchados, así como el estado del crecimiento de las astas de machos de venado, específicamente relacionados con variaciones estacionales en el medioambiente de la región. Es probable que se de la reproducción durante todo el año, pero el patrón de precipitación en el área influye en gran medida en la frecuencia relativa de los indicadores reproductivos: la mayoría de los nacimientos se dan durante la estación seca, con un segundo pico hacia la última parte de la estación lluviosa. Especulamos que los recursos alimenticios son la principal influencia en patrones reproductivos, y que la variación en los tipos y el tiempo de disponibilidad de recursos alimenticios probablemente explica la variación en patrones reproductivos. Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica University of Massachusetts, United States Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre

The Sundarbans is the only mangrove habitat in the world to support tigers Panthera tigris, whose persistence there is believed to be dependent on a very limited number of prey species. Conservation managers therefore need to understand how tigers utilise available prey species on a spatial scale in order to formulate a prey-based protection strategy for this global-priority tiger landscape. A total of 512 scat samples were collected during a survey of 1984 km2 of forest across 4 sample blocks in the 6017 km2 of the Bangladesh Sundarbans. Analysis of scat composition and prey remains reliably identified 5 major prey species, of which spotted deer Axis axis and wild pig Sus scrofa contributed a cumulative biomass of 89% to tiger diet. Tiger preference for prey species was highly skewed towards spotted deer and wild pig, but the relative contribution of these 2 species differed significantly across the 4 study areas, which spanned the Sundarbans, demonstrating important spatial patterns of tiger prey preference across the Sundarbans landscape. Given the comparatively limited number of prey species available to support the dwindling tiger population, different strategies are needed in different parts of the Sundarbans to support tiger populations and to protect spotted deer and wild pig populations from unabated poaching.

The purpose of this study was to identify the type of gastrointestinal worms egg of Spotted Deer (Axis axis) and Bawean Deer (Axis kuhlii) at Wonorejo Bibit Park and Surabaya Floral Park. The research was conducted in October-December 2017 used total 50 specimen of sample faeces, 40 sample faeces from Surabaya Flora Park and 10 sample faeces from Wonorejo Bibit Park, the samples analyzed at the Department of Parasitology Veterinary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University. The results showed that the degree of helmint gastrointestinal in Bawean Deer and Spoted Deer at Wonorejo Bibit Park showed 0% while at the Surabaya Flora Park is 15%. The type of worm found were Trematoda class it was Fasciola sp. The resuls of the analysis used Chi-Square test and showed no significantly differences degree of gastrointestinal helminth infection (p>0.05) .

Ex-situ habitat conditions that are different from in-situ habitat will affect its social behavior patterns within the captivity Cage In Gunung Madu Plantations Inc. Sanctuary. The aim of the research was to identify social behavior of Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) and spotted deer (Axis axis) in Gunung Madu Plantations Inc. Sanctuary, Lampung Tengah. To collect the data, Adlibitum sampling and scans sampling method was used in the research, which done in January 2016. Social behavior occurs: (1) grooming behavior mostly done by doe N (69.64%) and the smallest carried by deer A, B, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, P, Q (0%). (2) The results shown that rubbing antlers behavior mostly done by K (41.94%) and the smallest carried by deer A, B, C, D, L, M (0%).(3) while interacting with human behavior was done by doe O and P (8.8%) and the lowest is done by doe B (2.9%), away from human interaction highest deer carried by stag 16 , 4% and the lowest carried M male spotted deer, spotted deer male N, O, P and Q of 0.00%. (4) grazing behavior mostly done by doe Q (8.67%) and the smallest carried by stag A (2.58%). Keywords : Social Behavior, Rusa Sambar, Rusa Totol

The dorsal guard hair is considered as a mammalian exoskeleton. The anatomical feature of the three concentric layers of the mammalian hair, viz., medulla, cortex, and cuticle vary considerably with different species. The characteristics features of cuticular scales and medullary pattern can be used as an important tool for species identification by using various methods for hair analysis. The morphological features of cuticle and medulla of dorsal guard hair samples of Sambar (Rusa unicolor), Nilgai/blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and Spotted deer (Axix axis), six each, were studied during post-mortem examination. The microscopic studies showed a difference in some of the cuticular scale and medullar cells among three species. Hence, a single morphological feature of hair may not be a confirmative tool for species identification but multiple morphological features can be used as a confirmative tool of species identification. This study provides pictographic details in eead of some wild species which can be used to curb criminal acts against wild animals.

Difficult terrain and inclement weather limit our knowledge of large predators, such as the tiger Panthera tigris, in the Himalayas. A lack of empirical data on large carnivores can lead to mismanagement of protected areas and population declines. We used non-invasive genetic and remote sensing data to inform the management of such high-altitude protected areas. We used the tiger as a focal species to investigate prey preference and habitat suitability in India's Buxa Tiger Reserve, which encompasses several eco-geographical regions in the Himalayan and subtropical zones. During 2010–2013, 909 faecal samples were collected, of which 372 were confirmed, using genetic analysis, to be of tiger origin. Fourteen prey species/groups were identified in 240 tiger faecal samples, largely dominated by goats Capra spp. (26.59%), rhesus macaques Macaca mulatta (22.22%) and cattle Bos spp. (20.63%). Considering only the wild prey species for which survey data are available, however, and frequency of occurrence of prey in faecal samples, hog deer Axis porcinus, sambar deer Rusa unicolor and spotted deer Axis axis were the most preferred prey species. Using faecal sample locations to examine the relationship between tiger presence and environmental features indicated that the niche for tigers is narrower than the available protected area: c. 62% of core protected area is suitable, of which only 17% is highly suitable for tigers. Tigers prefer dense vegetation, open forests, riverine vegetation and areas close to water sources. Faecal sample-based studies have the potential to generate data that can help us understand the ecology of elusive carnivore species inhabiting high-altitude landscapes.

Assessment of the daily foraging areas of spotted deer that belonged to groups of different sizes was performed in the Ussuriiskii Nature Reserve (Primorskii krai) during the period with permanent snow cover. Calculations showed that the foraging area size per individual was inversely correlated to the number of individuals in the group. We hypothesized that large groups of Spotted deer are capable of more efficient use of the living range for foraging than the groups composed by smaller numbers of individuals.

Chital occur in Nepal throughout the Terai lowland and adjoining Siwalik hills up to an altitude of 1200 meters. It is widely distributed and abundant in Terai protected areas of Nepal. Chital is generally found in densest and dry deciduous forest. The species display a number of preferences which influence its distribution. Four factors are limited for Chital: nee for water, need for shelter, avoidance of high rugged terrain, and the preference for grass as forage. Chital drink water at least once a day and usually twice a day during summer, which under dry conditions would tend to localize the animals around the waterhole.Academic Voices Vol.6 2016: 21-23