Status Survey of Small Mammals in West Coastline tract of ... · clearing of swamps and bushes due...

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 4, No 5, 2014

© Copyright by the authors - Licensee IPA- Under Creative Commons license 3.0

Research article ISSN 0976 – 4402

Received on February 2014 Published on April 2014 875

Status Survey of Small Mammals in West Coastline tract of Southern

Western Ghats, India Sanil R*., Shameer T. T., Mohan G., & Ebanasar J.

Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, Government Arts College, Udhagamandalam -

643 002, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India.

[email protected]

doi: 10.6088/ijes.2014040404526

ABSTRACT

A comprehensive schedule/questionnaire survey was conducted among the populace of the

Coastline districts of Western slope of Southern Western Ghats to appraise the subsistence of

diverse small mammalian fauna in this area. For analysis, the coastline districts were

considered as three divisions, the Northern end as Malabar Coast, Southern end as

Travancore coast and center as Cochin coast. Survey was conducted in every Panchayath

revenue division by two to five independent observers by Schedule/questionnaire methods

and direct habitat assessment. Along with this a detailed appraisal of the habitat coverage and

various pressure to the existing habitat were studied, in order to assess the possibility of

existence of small mammals, especially of small carnivores like civets and lesser cats. Threat

Index (TI) and habitat vulnerability index (HVI), was estimated based on anthropogenic

stress (AS), habitat cover (HC), poaching (P) and opinion of existence (OE). The report

implies that Malabar Coast is diverse with almost every sort of small mammal, in particular

small carnivores, followed by the Travancore coastline tract. Reason correlates with the

continuance of superior habitat cover and moderately lesser threat. From the study it is

recommended that the rare and nocturnal animal like rusty spotted cat and fishing cat may

exists in these areas, nevertheless, ruling out the possibility of Malabar civet cat. The study is

reminiscent of a continuous in depth monitoring of small mammals, especially petite

carnivores and to recognize and safeguard the habitats of this animals in view of conservation.

Key words: Coastline tract, Habitat threat, Small mammals, Western Ghats.

1. Introduction

Small mammals of the Western Ghats are the less studied group of animals (Balakrishanan P.,

2005; Kumara H. N., and Singh M., 2007). Only a few reports are there regarding their status

and distribution (Nameer P. O et al, 2001), especially carnivores like lesser cats (Johnsingh A.

J. T., 1986; JohnSingh A. J. T., 2001; Kumara H. N., and Singh M., 2007) and civets (Ashraf

N. V. K et al, 1993; Muddappa D., 1998; Muddappa D., and ChellamR., 2001). Many of the

small mammals are critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable as per the IUCN status.

Western Ghats is famous for high level of endemism and harbor many endemic and

endangered species (Nameer P. O et al, 2001). The western slopes of the Western Ghats

mountain ranges continue to the coast of Arabian Sea and henceforth the edge effect is high.

The coastline tract is lush green with variety of moist deciduous and semi evergreen flora due

to the availability of rain.

Mangroves, other marshy halophytes and a multiplicity of wet lands; including coocunut

lagoons, Pokkali, Punja and Kol fields along with traditional sacred grooves make this

mailto:[email protected]

Status Survey of Small Mammals in West Coastline tract of Southern Western Ghats, India

Sanil R et al

International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 4 No.5, 2014 876

landscape a unique one. These areas are diverse not only in terms of flora but very rich in

faunal composition too. However, the faunal studies in these areas restricted mainly to birds

(Sivaperuman C., and Jayson E. A., 2000; Jayson E. A., 2001; Praveen J., and Nameer P. O.,

2009), herpetofauna (Daniels R. J. R., 1992; Oommen O. V et al, 2000; Zachariah A et al,

2011), fishes(Easa P. S., and Shaji C. P., 1997; Bhat A., 2003) and invertebrates (Geetha R. N

et al, 2009). Many of the rare small mammals like Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus,

Malabar civet Viverra civettina, and Rusty spotted cat Prionailurus rubiginosus are

hypothesised to be present in this area (Nameer P. O et al, 2001). They live closely to the

human habituation and there are many reports like road kill, poultry and cattle picking

incidence. In most cases news paper reports describes the presence of unidentified animal in a

particular area. Coastline tracts have evergreen, semi evergreen and halophytic vegetation

forms a suitable habitat for these animals to thrive successful in this area. So, the current

study was undertaken to conduct a questionnaire survey to assess the presence of small

mammals especially lesser carnivores like lesser cats and civets in the coastline tracts. The

study also aims to assess various anthropogenic stress to the habitat and there by correlating

the possible threats to the rare small mammals in this area.

2. Study area

The study was conducted in the western coastline tracts of Southern Western Ghats, which

starts from the Malabar Coast and extends up to the Kanyakumari. The coastline tracts

include the various districts in the Kerala state which have sea shores, bar mouths or estuarine

habitats. The Kanyakumari district in the Tamil Nadu state also has been surveyed since it is

the continuation and the southern tip of coastline stretch. The habitats of the coastline tracts

include mangrove vegetation, various obligatory or facultative halophytes, grasslands;

Pandanus dominated halophytic vegetation, the remnants of evergreen vegetation commonly

referred as sacred groves and coconut grooves or lagoons.

3. Methodology

In order to assess the possible pockets a schedule/questionnaire survey was conducted in all

parts of the coastline districts. Schedule/Questionnaire was prepared based on the ideas

reviewed by White P. C. L et al 2005. The questionnaire includes the details of small

mammals in the area; observed directly, indirectly or heard in the past by the respondent, or

reported by other peoples to the respondent; the details of the existence of animal in the past;

the stress to the existing population; the nature of the habitat; extend of habitat cover; stress

to habitat; filling, destruction and reclamation of wetlands, mangroves and sacred grooves;

other anthropogenic stress including poaching. The survey was conducted in every

Panchayath of all the coastline districts in Southern Western Ghats. The survey sheets were

completed in quadruplicate by two to five independent observers in order to the reduce

probability of fake reports. The details were also collected from NGO’s, environmental

activist, National Green corps members and eco-club members of various colleges,

Fishermen, Night watchers, riverine sand extractors, traditional aqua culturists and self-help

groups. While collecting data from each Panchyath care was taken to collect the data from

old and permanent residents who were staying in that area for more than 40 yrs. The survey

results were tabulated by Microsoft Excel 2010 software of Office Suite. The odd or

unbelievable data’s were avoided and the final district wise of the existence of the animals

were tabulated. Resurvey was conducted in those areas where discrepancy or inadequate data

were obtained. The observers’ were appointed from the same district and were trained to

assess the habitat quality in the area were survey was conducted.


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The threat index (TI) of lesser cats and civets is estimated by analyzing the Anthropogenic

Stress (AS), Habitat cover (HC), the aspect of Poaching (P) and the opinion of existence (OE).

Threat Index is calculated as the product of OE to the sum of all the above (AS, HC & P)

calculated in the point scale with maximum value of 10 and expressed as index.

Anthropogenic stress is estimated as the average of stress due to urbanization, filling and

clearing of swamps and bushes due for real estate business, reclamation or conversion of wet

lands, destruction of mangroves, destruction of sacred grooves and all the other minor stress.

Each of this stress is assessed in a 5 point scale from 0 to 4, with 0 value for no stress and 4

for maximum stress. Similarly the habitat cover is expressed as the average of cover of

mangroves, sacred grooves, mixed vegetation, plantation, riverside habitat and grassland each

of which assessed in a 0 to 4 point scale, with 0 for continuous large coverage and 4 for

absence of concerned vegetation. Poaching is estimated in 3 point scale from 0 to 2. The

habitat vulnerability is estimated as the sum of anthropogenic stress and habitat cover and the

habitat vulnerability index (HVI) is estimated as percentage of sum towards the maximum

value of 8 points. Two points was given if intentional poaching like trapping if observed in

the study area, one point was given unintentional poaching if occurs and zero was given if

there is no report of poaching. The opinion of existence suggest the probability of existence

of the animal in an area, else other threats are insignificant, Hence it is estimated if the

opinion of existence is positive from an area a point score of “1” was given and if the opinion

of existence from the survey is negative the value assigned is “0”.

Threat Index (TI) = 10{(HV+P) OE}, (since maximum score is 10), where HV= AS+HC,

(1)

(where n is the cover of various habitat) and

(2)

(where n is various types of anthropogenic stress) therefore Habitat Vulnerability Index

(HVI) = HVx12.5 (since maximum score is 8). The threat index of 0 indicates the complete

absence of threat from an area or the existence of animal in that area, a value above zero up to

25 indicates lower level of threat, above 25 up to 50 indicates medium threat and any value

above 50 is considered us high threat index. G.I.S maps were constructed using the survey

data by Arch View licensed to Tropical Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kottayam.

4. Results

Table 1 shows the details of survey conducted in the districts which have coastline tracts. The

surveyed districts include Kasargod, Kannur, Calicut, Malappuram, Trichur, Eranakulam,

Alleppey, Quilon and Trivandrum districts in Kerala state and Kanyakumari district in Tamil

Nadu State. The survey shows Jungle cat (Felis chaus) and Feral cats (Felis cattus) are

present in all the survey areas and the informants are aware of these cats. However, in some

urbanized areas, it is observed that informants are not familiar to differentiate between these

cats. However the other lesser cats like Rusty spotted cat, Fishing cat and Leopard cat

(Prionailurus bengalensis) are not familiar to the informants of the most study areas other


Sanil R et al


than Kannur and Kasargod. It was reported by them that it may have been existed in the past.

People are well aware of the civet cats, especially the Palm civet (Paradoxurus

hermaphrodites) and are of the opinion that the Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica)

population is drastically decreased in the last 30 years. However most of the participants of

the survey are not aware of the Malabar civet cats. Some informants of the Malappuram

district reported that they have heard about such an animal in the past, during their childhood

days. The also opined that the reduction of the cashew trees is one of the reason for the

absence of the animal. Regarding the Palm civet people opined that there are lots of

variations among the palm civet. According to them the locally named Karumkalli verugu

(the black palm civet) is a common one which is a threat to their poultry. The informants

from the Kanyakumari, Kannur and Kasargod reported the presence of Pangolin (Manis sp.)

in their area at the same time, most of the informants from other districts have opined that it

was existed in the area approximately forty years ago. Jackal (Canis sp. locally called

“Kurukkan”) is reported by the participants to be present in the Kanyakumari, Trichur and the

Malabar coastline districts. From the survey the volunteers had reported from the description

of the volunteers that the Indian fox (locally “Kurunari”) is reported to be present in Malabar

Coast. Otter (Lutra sp.) is reported to be present in all the coastline areas including the highly

urbanized Eranakulam district. Giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) and Flying squirrel (Petinomys

sp.) is also reported to be present in many of the study districts. But most of the reports

mainly came from the mountain adjoined villages. Palm squirrel (Funambulus sp.),

Mangoose (Herpestes sp.), Bandicoots (Bandicota sp.), rats (Rattus sp.) and mice (Mus sp.)

are present in all the study areas and almost all the informants have sited them directly.

Figure 1 & 2 is depictive of the distribution of various small mammals in this area.

Table 1: Survey results of the existence of the small mammals

Mammals

Kan

yak

um

ari

Tri

van

dru

m

Quil

on

All

eppy

Era

nan

kula

m

Tri

chur

Mal

appura

m

Cal

icut

Kan

nur

Kas

argod

Jungle cat YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY

Rusty spotted cat NY NN NN YY YY NN NN NN NN NN

Fishing cat NN NN NN NN YY NN NN NN YY YY

Leopard cat YN YY NN NN NN NN YN NN YN YN

Malabar civet NN NN NN NN NN NN YN NN NN NN

Small Indian

civet YY YY NN YN YN YN YY NN YY YN

Palm Civet YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY

Porcupine YY YY YN YN YN YN YY YN YY YY

Pangolin Y N N N N N N N Y Y

Mongoose YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY

Rats &

Bandicoots YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpestes


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Palm Squirrel YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY

Flying Squirrel YY NN NN NN NN YY YY NN YN YY

Jackal YY YN YN YN YN YY YY YY YY YY

Feral cat YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY

Giant Squirrel YY YN NN NN NN YN YY NN YY YY

Otter YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY

Bats YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY

YY: Animal is present now and was there in the past, NN: Animal is absent now and was

absent in the past,

NY: Absent now and was there in the past, YN: There now and absent in the past

Table 2 shows in Kanyakumari, Trivandrum, Kannur and Kasargod approximately 75% of

people participated in the survey noted the presence of Jungle cat in their area. Similarly, in

Alleppey 50% opined the presence of rusty spotted cat in their area. In case of leopard cat in

Kannur and Trivandrum below 50% people told leopard cat (locally Vallipuli) is there and in

Kasargod 75% confirmed the presence of leopard cat. In case of fishing cat survey shows

only people below 25% opined the existence of fishing cat in Eranakulam, Kannur and

Kasargod. Above 75% of people in the study area confirmed the presence of feral cat, palm

civet, palm squirrel, bats, rats, mice and bandicoots are there in all the study districts. Only in

Kasargod district 75% people of the opinion that small Indian civet is present in their area. In

other areas where the civets are reported to be present, only 25% have the opinion that Small

Indian Civet is present in their area. In case of otter, 25-75% people confirm the presence of

otter in all the districts. Similar is the case of porcupine also, except in the Eranakulam

district. Above 50% respondents in the survey confirm the presence of Jackal in the Malabar

coastal area. Below 25% people of Kanyakumari confirmed the presence of Jackal in their

area. In Kanyakumari, Kannur and Kasargod above 50% of people reports the presence of

flying squirrel and Giant Squirrel in their area. However, only 25% of people of Trichur and

Malappuram are of the opinion that these squirrels are present in their area and the report

mainly came from the mountain adjoined villages.

Figure 3 shows the comparison of relative abundance of these animals as opined by the

respondents of the survey in Malabar, Cochin and Travancore coast. The Cochin coast

includes Eranakulam and Trichur Districts and Malabar coast is categorized as the remaining

district towards North from cochin coast. Travancore as other districts towards south from

Cochin coast. Cochin coast is less diverse in terms of small mammals. The animals like Feral

cats, Palm civet, Mongoose, Palm squirrel, Bats (Chiropterans), Rats, Mice and Bandicoots’

forms the major share of animal present in this area followed by Otter and Jungle cats in a

very less fraction. Even though Malabar Coast also have the common small mammals present,

but the diversity is more and the animals like Jackal, Porcupine (Hystrix indica), Giant

squirrel, Jungle cats are also present in a laudable fraction. The Travancore coast is more

diverse than the Cochin coast and shows there is an excellent proportion of the presence of

the jungle cats.


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Table 2: Survey results shows the density of animals

Mammals

Kan

ya

kum

ari

Tri

van

dru

m

Quil

on

All

eppy

Era

nak

ula

m

Tri

chur

Mal

appura

m

Cal

icut

Kan

nur

Kas

argod

Jungle cat H H M L L M M L H H

Rusty spotted cat N N N M N N N N N N

Leopard cat N M N N N N N N M H

Fishing cat N N N N L N N N L L

Feral cats H VH H H VH VH VH VH H H

Palm civet H H H H H H H H H H

Indian civet L L N L L L N L L H

Pangolin M N N N N N N N M H

Mongoose H H H H H H H H H H

Palm squirrel VH VH H H H H H H H H

Jackal L N N N N N H M H H

Otter M H M H M M H M H H

Porcupine H M M M L M M M H H

Flying squirrel M N N N N L M N H H

Giant squirrel H L N N N M L N H H

Bats H H H H H H H H H H

Opinion of occurrence above 60%; H: 60-40%; M: 40-20%; L: 20-0%; N: 0%

Table 3 shows the Threat index to various civets and lesser cats in terms of habitat

destruction, anthropogenic stress and poaching. In the study areas the threat is observed to be

more at Eranakulam district followed by Quilon and Trivandrum district. When considering

the threat for each animal it can be assumed that the common plam civet is facing severe

threat than the other species. The threat for the Small Indian civet cat is high when compared

to the other animals in almost all district except Kannur, Kasargod and Kanyakumari.

Urbanization and real estates forms the major share of threat to the various wetland

ecosystems like mangroves. It is also revealed from the studies sacred grooves are now a days

declining owing to urbanization and construction, especially in Travancore and Cochin coast.

Conversions of wet lands are at an alarming pace for various developments and private needs.

The stresses on other forms are also numerable, even though stresses are minor, when join

together it forms major threat to the existing habitat.

4.1 Discussion


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Jungle Cat is reported to be commonly distributed throughout the study area in fewer or hefty

number. Jungle cats, like its bigger counterpart leopard (Johnsingh A. J. T., and Negi A.S.,

2003) is an easily adaptable species to any kind of habitat (Duckworth J. W et al., 2005). The

figure 3 shows the reports of observation of jungle cats is more in Travancore and Malabar

Coast than the Cochin coast. Many reasons can be attributed for the presence of the jungle

cats more in Malabar and Travancore area.

Figure 1: Relative abundance of animals in coastline areas

Figure 2: Cochin coast


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Figure 3: Malabar Coast

Table 3: Habitat vulnerability and Threat for lesser cats and civets

Study Area

Habitat

Vulnerability

Index

Threat Index (TI) for lesser cats & Civets)

Palm

Civet

Indian

Civet

Jungle

Cat

Rusty

Spotted

cat

Leopard

Cat

Fishing

Cat

Kanyakumari 35.42** 48.33** 48.33** 48.33** 0.00 0.00 0.00

Trivandrum 39.58** 51.67*** 51.67*** 51.67*** 0.00 31.67** 0.00

Quilon 54.17*** 53.33*** 0.00 53.33*** 0.00 0.00 0.00

Alapuzha 47.92** 48.33** 58.33*** 38.33** 38.33** 0.00 0.00

Eranakulam 62.50*** 70.00*** 70.00*** 50.00*** 0.00 0.00 50.00***

Trichur 47.92** 48.33** 58.33*** 38.33** 0.00 0.00 0.00

Malappuram 45.83** 46.67** 0.00 36.67** 0.00 0.00 0.00

Calicut 45.83** 46.67** 56.67*** 36.67** 0.00 0.00 0.00

Kannur 29.17** 33.33** 43.33** 33.33** 0.00 23.33* 23.33*

Kasargod 27.08** 31.67** 41.67** 21.67* 0.00 21.67* 21.67*


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***>50: Heavy Threat, **50-25: Moderate Threat, *25>: Minimal Threat, 0 indicates

absence of animal from the area.

It is evident from the table 3 that the wet lands and forest cover is more in these area than the

Cochin coast and the rate of urbanization is more in Cochin. The availability of the food

competition with the co-predators and the intensity of poaching decide the existence of an

animal in an area. Mukherjee S., et al., (2004) reported that rodents form the main food of the

jungle cat and act as a biological control over the increase of pest population. Jungle cats are

nocturnal felids and are highly specialized to catch the nocturnal rodents like rats (Ludlow M.

E., and Sunquist M. E., 1987; Sunquist M. E., and Sunquist F., 2002; Mukherjee S., et al.,

2004). Khan A. R., and Beg M. M., (1986) observed that small mammals and birds form 70%

of the diet of the jungle cats. Though the jungle cats can survive in the urbanized area, the

presence of feral cat and dogs cause major threats to the existence of these animals. Feral cats

can compete with jungle cats and the contribution of other factors like anthropogenic stress

and loss hiding places can eliminate the species from urbanized environment. The data from

the Cochin coast shows that the numbers of feral cats are more in this area. Feral cats are

considered as predators which are able to feed on any animal ranging from insect to

mammals (Tidemann C. R., et al., 1994; Turner D. C., and Bateson P., 2000; Bonnaud E., et

al., 2007). Feral cats can adjust to any available diet and is an opportunistic feeder and can

thrive in any harsh environment (Apps P. J., 1983; Bonnaud E., et al., 2007).There are also

reports stating that the feral cats can cross with jungle cats resulting in the loss of the species

from the particular area.(Oliveria R., et al., 2008). The key problems that can cause

hybridization are the fragmentation of habitat, change of home ranges, decreased availability

of prey and the increased structuring of small and isolated natural populations (Rhymer J. M.,

and Simberloff D., 1996; Allendorf F. W et al., 2001). These factors can cause a frequent

contact between Jungle cats and feral cats resulting in hybrid individuals that may eventually

culminate the existence of wild populations (Oliveria R., et al., 2008).

Rusty spotted cat is spotted by the people only in some places belongs to Alleppey district.

The previous reports on the rusty spotted cat from the peninsular India (Rao K. T et al., 1999;

Kumara H. N., and Singh M., 2007) and Sri Lanka (Weerakoon D. K et al., 2006) explains

that the cat exists mainly in the reserve forest areas like Kallakkad Mundanthurai Tiger

Reserve (Johnsingh A. J. T., 2001; Mudappa D., 2002). Alleppy, especially the Kuttanad is a

low lying wet land (below MSL) harbouring mangroves, and varieties of halophytic

vegetation especially Kumarakom and Pathiramanal areas claims for the existence for this

animal. Small carnivores occupy a variety of habitats ranging from dry plains, thick

evergreen forests to coastal plains. (Kumara H. N., and Singh M., 2007). Fishing cats are

claimed to be spotted by the people only in certain districts of the Malabar Coast, Manjapara,

Eloor areas of the Eranakulam district. Fishing cat are strongly associated with wetlands like

coastal areas, riparian areas, marsh areas, tidal creeks and mangrove forests (Jutzeler E et al.,

2010) There are a few reports that fishing cats is existing in the coastal areas of Kerala

(Nameer P. O et al., 2001) and Karnataka (Prater S. H., 1971; Kumara H. N., and Singh M.,

2007). But other than speculations and unauthorized reports no authentic literature is

available regarding the existence of this animal. Karanth K. U., (1986) also reported no

reliable information on this species in recent years from the West coast, and he suspects that

the species could be locally extinct. However, in the current survey people reports the animal

is still present in the Malabar Coast and some pockets of Eranakulam district. The north

Malabar Coast having undisturbed wetland vegetation exists for many square kilometers may

have presence of this animal.


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Palm civet is noted by in all the study area and are claimed to be there on the roof of all tiled

housed and asserted to be the major reason picking of domestic fowls. There are two species

of palm civets supposed to be present in the peninsular India; Common palm civet and the

brown palm civets. Brown palm civet (Paradoxurus jerdoni) and the Malbar civet cat (Viverra

civettina) are endemic to Western Ghats (Ashraf N. V. K., et al., 1993). The common palm

civet (Paradoxurus hermaphrodites) is even considered as a pest (Bhat A et al., 1981) of

many crops like cocoa. The number of the small Indian civet as observed by the people is

getting vanished from the coastline areas. The data also shows that presence of the Small

Indian Civet cat (Viverricula indica) is less in the coastal areas than the other animals. Civets

are omnivorous and can thrive on a widespread natural habitats even to the rocky and tree

hideouts, bush and grassy habitats around human dwellings (Balakrishnan P., and Sreedevi M.

B., 2007). In the survey from hilly side of the Malappuram a few people suspected that the

Malabar Civet cat still exists and claimed to present if searched. The only evidence in last

twenty years about the Malabar Civet is the recovery of two skins from Nilambur in northern

Kerala by Ashraf N. V. K., et al., 1993.

5. Conclusion

Mangoose (Herpestes javanicus) is reported to present in almost all the areas where survey

was conducted. The reason for the wide spread occurrence may be due to the capability to

adapt to any habitat. But pangolin is claimed to be existing in Kanyakumari, Kannur and

Karsargode area. The report of squirrels like giant and flying mainly comes from the non

coastline hilly areas of the study district. Jackal is less towards the south and more towards

the north. The reason attributes can be the presence of more bushes and small forests in the

northern coastline areas. However many report suggests that Small Indian Fox (Malayalam:

Kurunari) is found to exist in the north Malabar. Otter is a common occurrence in all the

study areas, may be due to the reason that all the study areas have wetlands and estuarine

mouths. Porcupine which is adaptable to bushy habitat and small forest is found to be present

in all study areas. In total our coastal tract is rich with varieties of mammal’s especially small

mammals. An in-depth study using camera traps and direct and indirect sign study

authentically proves the existence of diverse group of animals in the coastline tracts of

Western Ghats. Awareness about the conservation of this animals and the conservation with

community participation seems only the possible way of conservation in this thickly

populated area.

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi for

providing financial assistance; Kerala Forest Department for necessary permission; Dr. P.S.

Easa, Scientist, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Pechi; Mr. Ajith Kumar, Dr. Franklin C.

Jose, all the volunteers, local peoples and NGO’s who helped us to carry out the work in the

field.

6. References

1. Allendorf F.W., Leary R. F., Spruell P., and Wenburg J. K., (2001), The problems

with hybrids: setting conservation guidelines, Trends Ecology, Evolution, 16, pp 613–

622.


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Figure 4: Comparative distribution of lesser cats in coastline tract of southern western coasts


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Figure 5: Comparative distribution of small camivores in the coast line tract of southern

western coasts

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