Direct and Indirect Evidence of Wildlife Presence in Corbett National Park Ramnagar

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Introduction
Corbett National Park Uttarakhand covers an area of about 520.82 sq. km (latitude 29°13'-29°35'N and longitude 78°33'-79°46'E), spread across the districts of Nainital, Almora, and Pauri Garhwal [1]. The Himalayan and peninsular flora and fauna both are found in the Reserve on account of their location in the foothills [2]. The Jim Corbett National Park is famous for the presence and abundance of Tiger (Panthera tigris) and also various mammals like Cheetal in abundance and Sambar deer and large groups of elephants, with many types of bird species and reptiles species [3]. There is some evidence of the presence of a diversity of animals (big mammals, herbivores, reptiles, birds etc.) which had been seen directly or indirectly in Corbett Park. The indirect evidence like scat, digging marks, pug marks, and scrapping marks on trees etc. very useful in the annual data of wildlife found in Jaldapara National Park [4]. The experience forest people identify the footprints of several tigers in a forest [5].
The presence of wild animals and their behaviour is also identified with a density of scat, dung, and marking droppings [6]. Wildlife monitoring is commonly performed by visual or acoustic, camera traps and passive acoustic sensors methods by human beings [7]. Sometimes photographic evidence is useful in capturing endangered species in forest areas [8].

Study area
The Bijrani and Jhirna tourism zones of Corbett National Park were selected for this study. The total area of Bijrani zone is 117.77 sq. km. with latitude 29.4613°N and longitude 79.1478°E. The total area of Jhirna zone is 56.99 sq. km. with latitude 29.26°N and longitude 78.56°E [9]. There are certain points (padaw) at a distance of every 8-9 kilometers in Bijrani zone, from which direct observation were done. These points are Aandabda, Semalchaur, Bijrani, Malani, Jamnagwar, Gaujpani, Pathharpani, Sadildam then Kalagarh dam. Similarly in Jhirna zone, there are also some points named Dhela, Kharagate, Kothiro, Jhirna, Dhara Gate, and Kalagarh.

Methodology
The direct observation method in the field survey (in forest) is used for this study. The field visits were conducted by a gypsy safari in Corbett Park in 2019 (12 months). The observations were done with the help of binocular in different vegetative sites like grassland, dense shrub areas, Sal-forest, water side sandy areas [9]. In this study, some direct and indirect evidence of wild animals are commonly seen during field visits. This evidence is collected by clicking photos and recording videos with the help of binocular (Pantax s10×50 S-series S P WP), mobile phone and Nikon digital camera (D3400 with lens mega pixel-24.2MP, LCD screen-7.5cm) [10].

Direct evidence of wild animals
The direct evidence includes seeing the animal (directly), hearing its voice, remaining of the whole body or body parts like skin, hairs, nails, antlers and teeth etc. Some animals are directly visible in Corbett, in which herds of Cheetal, pairs of Sambar, Neelgai, Barking deers, Tiger, Jackal, herds of Elephants, herds of wild boar, Rhesus monkeys, and Langur etc. are common. Along with this, some reptiles like snakes, lizards, Varanus, spotted turtle, birds like Peafowl, Red Jungle fowl, hawk eagle, red wattled lapwing, Asian green bee-eater, cranes, hummingbirds, common crow, Bee-eater birds, Kingfishers, etc. are also directly seen in Corbett Park.
Sometimes the animal is not visible but its sound is heard, these sounds are recognized by an experienced nature guide/ gypsy driver and the presence of that animal is known. Biodiversity Act 2002 is strictly followed in Corbett National Park; hence the collection of fallen body parts of wild animals is prohibited. These fallen parts include bones, skull, teeth (tusker teeth), antlers (deers), nails/claws (Tiger), dead skin (snake), feathers and beaks (birds) etc. which directly show the presence of a particular animal in this forest. The dead body after a predatory attack shows the particular predator by its killing style (predation style).

Indirect evidence
There is some indirect evidence like fecal matter, footprints, digging, scrapping, claw marking, nest, shelter hols/pits on soil, Blood spots, bite marks on leaves and grasses etc. which indicates the presence of a diversity of animals in Corbett Park. The footprints/pug marks in Tigers are identical (size, and shape for particular Tiger/Tigris), Elephant footprints are useful in measuring its size, deer footprints for group size (population), and other footprints for the presence of a particular animal. According to the perception, the pugmarks are indistinguishable and no two pugmarks were same [11].
The bite marks on the green leaves of trees indicate the presence of a herbivore and its height, the peeled barks indicate the presence of mainly Sambar deer and Elephant, the same cutting of grasses indicates the grazing of a herd of Cheetal deer, bite marks also indicating the most preferred food species of herbivores (like bite marks on Peelu leaves, Curry plant, Vasaca leaves and Jujube etc.). Claw marks and peeled barks on tree trunks indicate the presence of the dominant tiger, its height, and teeth sharpness. The large holes under the roots of old trees (digging) indicate the presence of wild bears (shelter) and some other animals.
Fecal matter for every animal species is identical so fecal matter indicates that particular species like carnivores (tiger, Jackal, wild dogs etc.), herbivores (Deers, Elephants, Rabbit etc.), birds and reptiles, and amphibians. Certain animals rub their body on trees and give their scent to other animals. Some animals urinate in the boundaries of their area, to fix their territory in a forest, this smell of urination indicate their presence to other animal. In the case of the aves group, the different types of nests are found on trees, the specific nest showing the presence of a particular species. The nest is identified by its color, different fibers, dried leaves, and grasses. Some pits are also found in the soil of this forest, which indicates the presence of different varieties of snakes depending its size and depth. Also some large hols under the roots of old trees dug by wild bears (shelter). In some places the blood spots are found after a predator attack, this indicates the presence of a predator.

Conclusion
This study concluded that there are many direct and indirect evidences of wildlife found in Corbett National Park. Many animals are seen directly in this forest or their voices, body parts, and dead bodies are seen. There is some indirect evidence i.e., footprints/pug marks, fecal matter, scrapping marks, claws markings, Nest/hol/pits, blood spots etc. found which also indicates the presence of a particular species in the forest. These evidences are helpful in study of researchers and in conservation projects also.