Article's of Gaurang

INDIAN WILD BOAR

2021-01-30T12:30:00.003+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRlc

Schedule : III

Population : Over 26,000

Activity : Crepuscular to Nocturnal

Social Group : Sounder of 5 to 30 individuals

👉Local name : Bhund, Dukkar, Jungli suvar

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 90 - 135 cm

Weight : 90 - 110 kg

Height : 90 cm

Gestation : 4 months

Life span : 8 - 10 years

Breeding : Any time years.

👉Description : Wild boar is larger than domestic pig. Body colour is black mixed with grey, brown and white hairs. The male has well-developed tushes. It lacks tufts on tail unlike its domesticated counterpart.

👉Food : Omnivorous. It consumes grainy crops, roots, rhizomes, insects, snakes etc.

👉Distribution : It exists in all forest areas of the state of Gujarat.

👉Habitat : Grassland and open scrub forest.

👉Behaviour : Crepuscular to nocturnal. It lives in sounder of 10 to 30 or more individuals. During the mating time, males can be seen fighting with each other. Generally they camp near water-hole in muddy area. Their olfactory sense (i.e. sense of smell) is very sharp which helps to find out food beneath surface soil. It wallows in mud/ water.

👉Signs of presence : Dug up soil, high pitched long "teeinee" call.

Population : Year 1990 1995 2001

Nos. 505 (Gir) 1,214 (Gir) 25,500 (Present population is over 26,000 individuals in Gujarat)

👉The Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig. The difference between the wild and domestic animals is often challenging. Both are described as Sus scrofa, and domestic pigs readily become feral creating confusion about their status especially near the settlements at the edges of forests. Few important morphological differences have been provided in the text. Apart from those, one more characteristic by which domestic breed and wild relatives are differentiated is coats. Wild boars unlike domestic pigs almost always have thick, short bristly coats ranging in colour from brown through grey to black. A prominent ridge of hair matching the spine is often conspicuous in wild boars. Wild animals often tend to have longer legs than domestic breeds and a longer/ narrower head and snout. The farmer considers it as his enemy due to its crop destructive nature. It is a fearless animal with lot of strength and agility. It is seldom that any of the big cats will wittingly attack a wild boar as the boar knows well how to make use of its razor-sharp weapon-the tushes.

BLACKBUCK

2021-01-30T12:08:00.008+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : NT

CAMP : LRnt

ZSI : Vulnerable

CITES : Appendices III

Schedule : I ( Part I )

Population : 26,000 in Gujarat

Activity : Diurnal

Social Group : Herds

👉Local name : Kaliyar, Khaliya, Reda

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 120 cm

Tail : 10 - 17 cm

Weight : 30 - 40 kg

Height : 60 - 80 cm

Horns : 50 - 70 cm

Maturity : 2.5 - 3 years

Gestation : 165 days

Litter size : 1

Life span : 10 - 13 years

Breeding : Round the year, late winter is peak breeding season.

👉Description : Round the year, late winter is peak breeding season. Sexually dimorphic, fully grown adult male is chiefly black above with spiral horns. It has white under parts and buttocks. Females and young-one have brownish/ yellowish coat instead of black. Female usually lacks horns (though a female with horns has photographed in Velavadar).

👉Food : Herbivorous. Feeds on fresh grass, leaves grains, crops etc.

👉Distribution : been Saurashtra and North Gujarat regions. Ahmedabad and Vadodara districts.

👉Habitat : Grasslands and fields, not noticed in hilly area.

👉Behaviour : Diurnal lives in herds. Occurs either as a mixed herd of females and fawns or as a male-only herd.

👉Signs of presence : In grassland, male blackbuck makes "Aakhali", i.e., a spot without grass by rubbing its body in lying position. Using this type of the spot as a clue, one can infer its presence. Foot-prints near water-hole and droppings also can indicate their presence.

👉Population : Year 1995 2001

Nos. 14,000 25,025

( In India, it's population is about one lakh. )

👉Blackbuck is a species of antelope found mainly in India. There are also introduced populations in various parts of the world including numerous game ranches in Texas in the United States of America. Game ranch raised blackbucks are plentiful. In 2007, a blackbuck hunt in U.S.A. for a male trophy ranged in price from $750 - $2,500. On the open plain, the blackbuck is one of the fastest mammals and can outrun most predators over long distances. It can run at the speed of 80 km/hour. According to the Hindu mythology blackbuck is considered as the vehicle ('vahana') of the Moon-god (i.e., 'Chandra dev'). Its protected status has gained publicity through a widely reported court case in which one of India's leading film stars was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for killing blackbuck in Rajasthan state.

CHINKARA

2021-01-29T14:15:00.001+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LC

CAMP : LRnt

CITES : Appendices - None

Schedule : I ( Part I)

Population : 5,500 - 6,000

Activity : Diurnal

Social Group : 3 to 6 members

👉Local name : Chinkara, Chhinkara

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 100 - 110 cm (tail length : 20 cm)

Weight : 15 - 20 kg

Height : 55 - 70 cm ( horns : 25 - 30 cm)

Maturity : 25 - 26 months

Gestation : 165 days

Litter size : 1 - 2

Life span : 20 years

Breeding : No definite season, post - monsoon to winter is the peak period.

👉Description : It has brown-rufous body. It is the only antelope in the state in which both male and female have horns. This animal is smaller than blackbuck and bigger than 'chausinga'. It has white belly and white streaks on each side of face. Horns of female are smooth whereas in males they are ringed.

👉Food : Herbivorous. It feeds on grass, leaves and fruits.

👉Distribution : Distributed in Gir, Girnar, Hingolgadh, little and great rann of Kachchh, Narayan sarovar sanctuary, grass 'bids' of Saurashtra and Kachchh. A small population in Panchmahal.

👉Habitat : Grassland, open thorny forest with undulating terrain.

👉Behaviour : A diurnal shy animal that keeps distance from the human population. Chinkara inhabiting the "rann" (saline desert) can survive without water for long time. Generally comes out early in the morning for feeding. Generally lives in a group of 3 to 6 individuals.

👉Signs of presence : Hoof mark on the border of saline desert and near water-hole, "chhink" like call.

Population : Year 2001

Nos. 5,500

👉Apart from India, Chinkara is found in grasslands and desert areas in parts of Iran, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Certain researchers consider the decline in the Chinkara population as the reason behind the extinction of the Cheetah in India. A reason for its population decline is its hunting for game. A well-known Indian film star was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for chínkara hunting in September, 1998 at a small village called Ujalia Bhakhri in Jodhpur District in the northern Indian Rajasthan state.

FOUR - HORNED ANTELOPE

2021-01-28T11:40:00.004+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : VU

CAMP : LRnt

CITES : Appendices III

Schedule : I ( part I )

Activity : Crepuscular

Social Group : Solitary or in pairs

Population : 700 in Gir + 300 in other areas

👉Local name : Chowsinga, Ghuntadu, Ghutar

👉Physical measurements & life cycle :👇

Length : 95 cm

Weight : 15 - 20 kg

Height : 60 cm

( horns : front - 3 cm, back - 10 cm)

Gestation : 3.5 months

Litter size : 1 - 2

Life span : January - May

Maturity : 20 - 22 months

👉Description : This is the only antelope in Gujarat (and India) with two pairs of horns. It is reddish brown from above and white below. Its horns are not ringed. A pair of glands exists in hind-legs. The female is similar to the male but do not have horns and is slightly shorter.

👉Distribution : It occurs in South Gujarat, Gir and Girnar forests in Saurashtra, as also in Sabarkantha, Panchmahals and Vadodara districts.

👉Habitat : It is found in open to dense forests in hilly and undulating country.

👉Behaviour : Crepuscular. It is seen usually solitarily or in pairs. It prefers areas not far from a waterhole. Usually, comes out in open areas for feeding, but does not wander too far from the edge of the forests. This is quite a shy animal that defecates at one place.

👉Signs of presence : Small "Aakhali" (a place for defecating)

Population : Year 1990 1995 2001 2005

Nos. 427 441 1,952 700 in Gir

(300 in other areas)

BLUE BULL

2021-01-28T10:52:00.003+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LC

CITES : Not listed

Schedule : III

Population : Over 97,000

Activity : Crepuscular

Social Group : Solitary or in pairs

👉Local name : Nilgai, Roz

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 200 - 215 cm

Weight : Male - 200 - 300 kg, Female - 120 - 150 kg

Height : 130 - 135 cm (horn : 20 cm)

Maturity : Female - 25 montha, Male - 30 - 35 month

Gestation : 9 months

Litter size : 2

Life span : 20 years

Breeding : No definite season or period of a year.

👉Description : This antelope having horse-like build is sexually dimorphic. Male has bluish black coat. It has two white spots on each of the two cheeks and white on lips, chin, ankle and under-surface of tail. It has black tuft of stiff hair on throat. Young and sub-adult males are greyish-brownish with small cone like horns. Females have dark brown or pale rufous colour.

👉Distribution : Almost entire Gujarat if suitable habitats exist.

👉Habitat : It inhabits grasslands, open countryside, open forests, scrub forests etc. It avoids dense forests and steep with terrain.

👉Behaviour : Crepuscular. Usually in small herd of 5-25 individuals. Makes a grunting sound on sensing a danger. Visits the same spot fol defecating (dropping) and it is known as "Akhali". It can jump more than 2 meters.

👉Signs of presence : Hoof marks, "Akhali."

Population : 2001 2005

77320 more than 97,000

(Population of this antelope is increasing in some areas and it is main cause of man-animal conflict.)

👉Nilgai is the tallest antelope of India. It is found only in the Indian peninsula from the base of the Himalayas to Mysore. In many parts of India (including Gujarat) Nilgai enjoys complete immunity. The phrase "gai" in its name influences many rural people of Gujarat to believe it as a sacred animal like a cow (i.e. 'Gai').

BARKING DEER

2021-01-27T14:30:00.003+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRlc

CAMP : LRlc

Schedule : III

Activity : Diurnal

Social Group : Single or in pairs

👉Local name : Bhenkadu, Bhekhar, Jakar

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Weight : 18 - 25 kg

Height : 50 - 70 cm

Antler size : 10 - 13 cm

Gestation : 6 months

Litter size : 2

Life span : 15 - 20 years

Breeding : It breeds round the year. However, winter is the peak breeding season.

👉Description : It is an animal of deer family that is dark red or reddish brown in colour. Males have small bifurcated antlers.

👉Food : Herbivorous. It feeds on leaves, grass and fruits.

👉Distribution : It is recorded in Shoolpaneswar sanctuary and in the forests of Panchmahals, Dangs and Vyara.

👉Habitat : Dense forests.

👉Behaviour : Diurnal. Its call resembles barking of a dog and hence the name. It is a very shy animal that is usually seen singly or in pairs. It gives out barks that resemble barking of dogs. On suspecting a danger, it runs away fearfully b arking continuously.

👉Signs of presence : Shed out antlers etc.

👉The barking deer prefers thickly wooded hills. Like other smaller deer and unlike larger species of deer, this species is far less gregarious. It is also known as Muntjac that occurs in countries like China and Japan apart from India. If it occurs in a small family group, the stag assumes the leadership role and the female and her fawn/yearling follow the stag.

SPOTTED DEER

2021-01-26T15:26:00.002+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRIC

ZSI/CAMP : Common

Schedule : III

Population : Over 43000

Activity : Crepuscular

Social Group : Heards of 10 to 30

👉Local name : Chittal or Cheetal, Chitra, Pashu

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Weight : 55 - 90 kg

Height : 65 - 90 cm (horns : 85 cm)

Gestation : 210 - 225 days

Litter size : 1

Life span : 15 - 20 years

Breeding : Any time of a year.

👉Description : Chital is the most beautiful animal in the deer family. It looks extraordinarily beautiful due to white dots on its golden coat. Male gets large branched antlers. Newly grown antlers are velvety.

👉FoodHerbivorous. It grazes grass, browses leaves and also consume tender shoots, bark etc.

👉Distribution : In Gujarat, Chital was found in the forests of Valsad, Dangs, Bharuch, Surat, Panchmahals, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts as also in Barda, Gir and Girnar. Currently, it occurs in Gir, Girnar, Mitiyala, Hippavadli and Vansda National Park. A small group was also recently seen in the forests of Vyara Division in South Gujarat. It is recently introduced in Barda in Saurashtra region of the state.

👉Habitat : Chital is an inhabitant of the dry deciduous forests and semi-moist forests.

👉Behaviour : Crepuscular. This animal prefers to graze in the mornings and in the evenings. It usually rests by day. It spends the nights in a group in an o pen area keeping vigil in all directions. Produces an alarm call like a shrill "Poohoo". During rutting period the stag has a rutting call that resembles "Onhoo-Onhoo"

👉Signs of presence : Hoof marks, alarm calls, rutting call, shed/fallen antlers.

Population : Year 1990 1995 2001 2005

Nos. 27,600 32,061 46,211 43,200 (in Gir)

(A small population of 60-70 animals in/around Vansda N.P. and small population in Mitiyala & Hippavadli.)

👉Sambar, Cheetal and Barking deer are the three species of deer found in India. Dunbar Brander wrote in "Wild Animals of Central India" that in grace and beauty, the chital rivals, if it does not surpass, any deer in the world." It is believed that the "Kanchan Mruga" that tempted Lord Rama's wife Sita as per the epic Ramayana was a Chital/Spotted deer. Old bucks of chital are darker and more brownish in colour. Chital are less nocturnal than sambar. Chital are seen in herds of 10 to 30 deer, which may contain 2-3 stags. They do not hesitate to come in human proximity and therefore they enter his cultivation fields. Chitals freely associate with other forest animals, particularly monkeys.

SAMBAR

2021-01-26T14:53:00.003+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRIC

CAMP : LRIC

CITES : Appendices

Schedule : III

Population : Over 3,800

Activity : Crepuscular to Nocturnal

Social Group : Small Group

👉Local name : Sambar, Sabar

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 150 - 200 cm

Weight : 225 - 320 kg

Height : 135 cm

Antlers : 105 cm

Maturity : Not Known

Gestation : 6 months

Litter size : 1

Life span : 20 years

Breeding : November - December

👉Description : This is the largest deer in India that has long and round ears. Male sambar can be identified by its dark brown body and long branched antlers. Female lacks antlers. Male has mane around neck and throat.

👉Food : Herbivorous (grazer and browser). Feeds on grass, leaves, wild fruits etc.

👉Distribution : At present this deer occurs in Gir, Mitiyala and Girnar only. In the past, sambar was distributed in parts of South Gujarat, Saurashtra, and North Gujarat.

👉Habitat : Rocky and hilly area of dense and open deciduous forests.

👉Behaviour : Crepuscular to nocturnal. It rests between morning and evening m forest. It grazes from evening to early morning. Prefers wallowing In pool. Makes loud "Bhoonk"/ "Dhank" call when frightened. Usuany found in small groups in our area.

👉Signs of presence : Shed antlers, hair in wallowing area and droppings.

👉Population : Year 1990 1995 2001 2005

Nos. 1,764 2,262 2,550 3,670 - 3,870

(In Gir / Girnar)

👉Sambar is the largest deer in India. Sambar is the forest-loving deer. Forested hill-sides, preferably near cultivation are the favourite haunt of the sambar. Sambar has acute sense of smell and hearing, though that of sight is moderate. The adult stag is grand looking animal that cast their antlers between March and mid-April. Sambar is one of the poachers' favoured animals on account of the amount of meat it carries-a stag may weigh up to 320 kg. The sharp, short "dhank"-"dhank" call of the sambar is a thrilling jungle sound as it suggests the proximity of a tiger or a leopard. As per an anecdote the name of the river Sabarmati in N. Gujarat has originated due to sambars inhabiting shore areas of this river.

SLOTH BEAR

2021-01-26T11:23:00.005+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : VU

CAMP : Vulnerable - C2a

CITES : Appendices I

Schedule : I (Part I)

Population : 230 250

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Group : Single or family

👉Local name : Bhalu, Rinchh

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 150 - 160 cm

Weight : 110 - 170 kg

Height : 70 - 100 cm

Maturity : 2 - 3 years

Gestation : 7 months

Litter size : 2

Life span : 35 - 40 years

Breeding : Summer

👉Description : Long black hairs on entire body except mouth. White "V" shaped patch on breast. Muzzle and lower lip elongated.

👉Food : Omnivorous. It consumes flowers, fruits, honey, various types of insects and termites.

👉Distribution : Sloth bear exists in the forests of Banaskantha, Panchmahal, Dahod and Sabarkantha districts, Chhotaudepur and Shoolpaneshwar. There might be 230-250 bears in Gujarat.

👉Habitat : Prefers rocky forest area with caves.

👉Behaviour : Chiefly nocturnal. Sloth bear generally lives in and around dense forest area having rocks and where water is available. It comes out of its den/cave and moves in search of food after the sun-set. It can be seen near fruit trees/shrubs like 'ber' (Zyziphus spp.), 'mahuda' (Madhuca latifolia), mango (Mangifera indica) & 'jamun' in fruiting season. During the cloudy weather, it also wanders diurnally.

👉Signs of presence : Foot prints, "whoo-whoo" like sound, fallen hair on ground or hair entangled in thorny bushes or fences and drops containing seeds of fruits, broken termite mounds, claw markings on bark of trees.

👉Sloth bear is an omnivorous animal. Usually insects and fruits constitute its main food, but also feed on honey and carrion. To maintain its huge body, it needs considerable amount of food and to get it, the bear walks a lot and work hard every day. By climbing up the trees/ rocks, it knock down honeycombs of the large rock bee (Apis dorsata) and small forest bee (Apis indica) using its paws and eat them after descending from trees/rocks. Among the insects, termites are the favourite food. The bears living in the human vicinity can enter sugarcane and maize fields or steal the toddy.

PALE GREY MONGOOSE

2021-01-26T10:53:00.003+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRIC

ZSI/CAMP : LRIC

CITES : Appendices III

Schedule : II (Part II)

Population : Not known

Activity : Diurnal

Social Group : Solitary or in pair

👉Local name : Noliyo, Raato noliyo, Kariyo noliyo

👉Physical measurements & life cycle :👇

Length : 60 - 80 cm

Weight : 2 kg

Gestation : 60 days

Life span : 10 - 15 years

Breeding : It breeds at any time of a year

👉Description : It is a variety of Common mongoose. Its body colour is reddish brown with rusty fur coat. Its tail becomes darker reddish towards its tip.

👉Food : Rats, hares, snakes, lizards, crabs, eggs of small birds etc.

👉Distribution : Occurs in Danta and Palanpur of Banaskantha district. It may be present on fringes of the Rann of Kachchh.

👉Habitat : Scrub for ests and grasslands in desert/ Rann areas.

👉Mongooses were killed in India before the total ban on the mongoose hair trade in the country. Previously, Indian companies supplied mongoose brushes to Nepal, but since the mongoose was put in Schedule Il of the Indian Wildlife Act, the trade was restricted and local establishments in Nepal have opened in Kathmandu to make mongoose paintbrushes. Three factories operate in Kathmandu that deal with mongoose hair. It is very much likely that mongoose hair trade still exists illegally in India as in a major raid on stationery and hardware stores, the Rajasthan police recently seized 1,254 illegal Mongoose hair brushes and detained five shopkeepers.

SMALL INDIAN MONGOOSE

2021-01-25T16:23:00.002+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRIC

ZSI/CAMP : Common

Schedule : II (Part II)

Population : Common

Activity : Diurnal

Social Group : Solitary or in pairs

👉Local name : Nano noliyo, Nevla

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 65 cm (tail length : 25 cm)

Weight : 750 - 900 gm

Gestation : 40 - 42 days

Life span : 9 - 10 years

Breeding : 2 - 3 time in a year

👉Description : Smaller size, shorter tail, brownish grey colour of the body speckled with blackish dark brown hairs.

👉Food : Mainly carnivorous. Feeds on hares, rats, snakes, frogs, eggs of birds and insects.

👉Distribution : All over the state.

👉Habitat : It inhabits fields, farms, grasslands, forests and thorny area.

👉Behaviour : Diurnal. It lives in burrows dug by itself.

👉Signs of presence : Pugmarks, track along hedges.

👉There are two races of this species. One of them lives in/near desert areas and has pale coat, whereas other one that lives in fertile areas of North India has dark brown coat minutely speckled with golden colour. It is a cautious animal that always lives under some cover. The young ones are quite helpless and dependent on mother. Like a mother cat, the mother mongoose restlessly moves her young ones from one place to the other.

RUDDY MONGOOSE

2021-01-25T12:25:00.001+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRIC

CAMP : LRIC

CITES : Appendices III

Schedule : Il (Part II)

Population : Not known

Activity : Diurnal

Social Group : Solitary or in pairs

👉Local name : Soneri noliyo

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 85 cm (tail length : 40 cm)

Weight : 1 - 1.9 kg

Gestation : Nearly 60 days.

Litter size : 3 - 4

Life span : 9 - 10 years

Breeding : No definite season

👉Description : Ruddy mongoose is of the size of the common mongoose. However, it differs by its tail which has black tip. Whitish red and dark brown dots on light brownish grey body.

👉Food : It consumes rats, snakes, frogs and bird eggs.

👉Distribution : It is distributed all over the state.

👉Habitat : It dwells in forested areas, dense scrublands , woodlands etc.

👉Behaviour : Almost similar to that of Common mongoose. However, it kills more than its actual need.

👉There are two races of this species (i.e. Ruddy mongoose), one living in India and the other one in Sri Lanka. Though the mongoose can take vegetable matters as food, it favours meat. Unlike civets and cats that hunt by stealth, the mongooses kill the prey by attacking on it openly. Apart from small mammals and birds, ruddy mongoose also preys upon giant snails and for this purpose it breaks protective shell of the snail by knocking it against hard stones/rocks.

COMMON MONGOOSE

2021-01-25T12:03:00.005+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRIc

CAMP : LRIc

CITES : Appendices II

Schedule : Il (Part II)

Population : Common

Activity : Diurnal

Social Group : Solitary or in pairs

👉Local name : Noliyo, Nevla

👉Physical measurements & life cycle :👇

Length : 69 - 80 cm (Tail : 35 - 40 cm)

Weight : 0.8 - 1.5 kg

Gestation : 2 months

Litter size : 10 - 15 years

Breeding : There is no definite breeding season

👉Description : This is a yellowish grey mongoose that is commonest for all areas. Due to light/ dark rings on hairs, this animal has got grizzled appearance. Its tail is tipped with white or yellowish-red.

👉Food : Omnivorous. Consumes rats, snakes, frogs, eggs of birds, fruits, roots etc.

👉Distribution : It is distributed over all parts of Gujarat.

👉Habitat : Open forest, grassland and thorny forests. It can be seen in agriculture land, near human population.

👉Behaviour : This mongoose is more diurnal than crepuscular. It can be seen singly or in pairs. It takes shelter under rocks, in hedges, under bushes or in burrows dug by itself. As it predates upon snakes, there are many folklores about mongoose-snake fights.

👉Signs of presence : Killing of poultry birds in villages at night, pugmarks.

👉There are three races of this mongoose. Mongooses are not completely free from the deadly effects of snake venom. However, they (as also pigs and hedge hogs) are certainly less affected by the snake venom as compared to other animals. It is only a belief (not a fact) that the mongoose chews roots of some 'mysterious' plant when bitten by a snake during its fight with a snake. It is a fact that during snake fights, hair of its body rise in an erect manner and such erected hair can protect it from snake bite

COMMON PALM CIVET / TODDY CAT

2021-01-25T11:39:00.003+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRIC

CAMP : LRIc

CITES : Appendices III

Schedule : Il (Part II)

Population : Not known but very low

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Group : Solitary

👉Local name : Taad biladi, Taad nu vaniyar

👉Physical measurements & cycle : 👇

Length : 100 cm

Tail length : 45 cm

Weight : 3 - 4 kg

Maturity : 11 months

Gestation : 75 days

Litter size : 4 - 5

Life span : 10 - 15 years

Breeding : No definite season

👉Description : The Toddy cat is black or blackish brown in colour. It has got long, coarse hair and short, black/ brownish black limbs. It has varied facial markings. Pattern of markings on the body is variable. When the coat is new, stripes and spots in rows are distinctive, but they become inconspicuous later.

👉Food : Omnivorous. It feeds on rats and other small mammals, birds, fruits and toddy juice.

👉Distribution : In the districts of Panchmahals, Dahod and Vadodara and in the forests of South Gujarat. It also occurs in Tunkner and Kalvat areas of Shoolpaneswar sanctuary and in the forests of Valsad, Dangs etc.

👉Habitat : The Palm civet inhabits dense forest as also orchards of coconuts and mangoes.

👉Behaviour : Palm civet is nocturnal and arboreal. It lives on trees. It steals toddy from containers kept on palm trees for toddy collection.

👉Signs of presence : Pugmarks, broken toddy pots/containers near a toddy tree.

👉Palm civets living in the vicinity of human settlements can become poultry or toddy thieves. Moreover, such palm civets kill mice/rats in good numbers. Palm civets can be tamed easily and a tamed civet can become a nice 'friend' of human being. In South India's dense forest a species called Brown palm civet occurs. As it is a shy animal, it rarely approaches human settlements. Apart from Common Indian civet, Palm civet is the only other civet species that has country wide distribution.

SMALL INDIAN CIVET

2021-01-24T15:39:00.004+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRIC

CAMP : LRnt

CITES : Appendices III

Schedule : II (Part II)

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Group : Solitary

Population : In thousands. Common throughout Gujarat.

👉Local name : Vij, Vaniyar, Jabadiu, Kasturi,

👉Physical measurements : 👇

Weight : 3 kg

Length : 90 cm (tail length : 40 cm)

Litter size : 3 - 5

Life span : 10 - 15 years

Breeding : No definite season.

👉Description : This civet has greyish brown to sandy brown coat with dark blackish lines and streaks in rows. It has few black bars on its neck and its tail appears ringed with black, red and dark brown or blackish.

👉Food : Omnivorous. This civet feeds on rats, squirrels, small birds, lizards, insects, fruits, roots and rhizomes.

👉Distribution : It occurs all over the state.

👉Habitat : It inhabits forest areas, grasslands, scrub forest, ravines, wastelands etc.

👉Behaviour : This animal is nocturnal and usually solitary. It takes shelter in holes, under rocks, bushes etc. It can climb up the trees. It is fond of 'bers' (i.e.., berries of Zyziphus plant). As a last ditch defense, it uses discharge (i.e., secretion with peculiar smell) from its stink gland.

👉Signs of presence : Pugmarks, scat etc.

👉This civet can easily climb up straight boles of trees. Even though it is a good climber, it finds its food on the ground. The civets living in the vicinity of human settlements pose threat to the poultry. This species can be easily tamed. Civets are the nearest relatives of the cats. However, unlike cats it is not wholly a hunter. Only one species of the civet, namely, Spotted linsang does not have stink glands. The secretion from civets' stink gland is used by man for perfumery and medicines. Due to this, the small Indian civet is hunted and sometimes kept in captivity for milking. There are about six species of civets in India (i.e., Spotted lisang or Tiger-civet, Large Indian civet, Small Indian civet, Common palm civet/Toddy cat, Himalayan palm civet, binturong/bear-cat.

SMOOTH INDIAN OTTER

2021-01-24T15:11:00.002+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : VUA2acd

CAMP : Not evaluated

CITES : Appendices

Schedule : II (Part II)

Social Group : Group

Activity : Diurnal

Population : Not known but a few may be surviving in Gujarat

👉Local name : Jal Biladi, Jal marjar

👉Physical measurements:👇

Length : 120 cm

Weight : 7 - 12 kg

Gestation : 63 - 65 days

Litter size : 1 - 4

Breeding : winter

👉Description : This otter has long, slim and hairy body including a long tail. Its neck is white, whereas the remaining body is grey.

👉Food : It hunts fish, crabs, frogs, rats and waterbirds.

👉Distribution : In Gujarat, it occurs in the river Narmada.

👉Habitat : Large rivers and lakes.

👉Behaviour : It can be seen catching and eating fish. It makes a hole near the river bank in which, the female gives birth to young ones. Several families of this otter may come together while fishing. Otters can walk considerably on the land apart from having excellent swimming and diving abilities.

👉Signs of presence : One can infer its presence by noticing its droppings/excreta and/or pugmarks (i.e., mark of five nails).

👉When excited, this otter produces short yelping barks. It also produces a type of whistle as an alarm note to their fellows. In Orissa and Sind, these otters are kept by fishermen and employed to drive fish into their nets. These otters also are used as decoys by the 'Muhana' people of Sind to capture River dolphins. Three species of otter occur in India, viz., Common otter, Smooth Indian otter and Clawless otter. None of these species are plentiful in the modern time due to human activities.

RATEL OR HONEY BADGER

2021-01-24T11:45:00.004+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRIC

CAMP : LRnt

ZSI : IK

CITES : Appendices

Schedule : I (Part I)

Population : Not known but declining

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Group : Paps

👉Local name : Ghor khodiu, Venzu, Butadu,

👉Physical measurements:👇

Body length : 60 - 75 cm

Tail : 15 cm

Height : 25 - 30 cm

Weight : 10 - 12 kg

Gestation : 6 months

Litter size : 2

Life span : 15 - 20 years

👉Description : White and blackish (i.e., pied) colour pattern. It is whitish above and has black on under parts. It has short legs and small tail.

👉Food : Omnivorous. It feeds on small mammals, reptiles including python, carrion, corpses, insects, fruits, honey etc.

👉Distribution : All over state excepting the 'Rann' areas.

👉Habitat : Scrub forest, dry and moist deciduous forests, wastelands with some vegetation, ravines.

👉Behaviour : Nocturnal animal. It is bold and fearless. Prefers hilly broken country where it digs burrows for shelter. It can run fast.

👉Signs of presence : Pugmarks, burrows and dug out vegetation can give clues about its presence.

👉Ratel is a courageous and fearless animal. It does not hesitate attacking human beings if the need arises. It inhabits varied habitats, but avoids very wet areas. It can pretend as a dead animal if it comes across a dangerous animal and if it can not find a way to escape. The belief that it steals human dead bodies by digging out the graveyard has no scientific background. This animal is fond of honey and is known to follow a bird known as honey guide to reach a honey comb. However, this bird species does not occur in Gujarat.

STRIPED HYENA

2021-01-22T15:54:00.002+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LRnt

CAMP : LR

Schedule : III

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Grup : Solitary or Pairs

Population : About 900 in 2001 though exact population is not known.

👉Local name : Jarakh

👉Physical measurements & life cycle :👇

Length : 115 - 150 cm (Head to tail)

Height : 65 - 70 cm (At shoulder)

Weight : Male : 30 - 40 kg, Female : 25 - 35 kg

Gestation : 84 days

Life span : 15 - 20 years

Breeding : winter

👉Description : Hyena has aesthetically unpleasing and strange-looking dog- like appearance. Head and front portion of the body are massive. Its front body portion is taller; hind parts are lower. It has heavy dorsal crest of long hair. Its coat is dirty white to greyish with blackish stripes on body and limbs.

👉Food : Carnivorous. Chiefly a scavenger and thus feeds on carrion, bones, carcass etc. Occasionally, it also preys on live sheep, goats and village dogs etc.

👉Distribution : Hyena occurs all over the state.

👉Habitat : It inhabits forests, open areas, grasslands, ravines, wastelands etc.

👉Behaviour : Nocturnal. It rests in grass and thickets, under the bushes, or in dens. Usually found solitarily or in pairs. It can break, crush, chew or swallow bones. It makes chattering noise.

👉Signs of presence : Pugmarks (Marks of fore-feet are larger than those of hind- feet).

👉Population : About 900 individuals was estimated in 2001.

👉Striped hyena not only looks weird, but also produces some 'unearthly' weird calls. Usually, this animal avoids to confrontation with other bigger animals like leopard or dogs. However, when the need arises of defending the food, it doesn't hesitate to attack strong/bigger animal like a leopard. When it does not see any chance of escaping from a pack of dogs, it often pretends dead. India has only Striped hyena as Brown and Spotted hyenas occur in Africa.

DESERT FOX

2021-01-21T19:22:00.004+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LC*

CAMP : LRnt

ZSI : VU

CITES : Appendices III

Schedule : I (Part I)

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Group : Lack (small group)

Population : Not known but very low and declining

👉Local name : Ran ni lokadi, Lonkado lunri, Lokari

👉Physical measurements & life cycle :👇

Length : 70 - 80 cm

Tail length : 30 cm

Height : 40 cm

Weight : 46 kg

Maturity : 12 - 13 months

Gestation : 50 - 53 days

Litter size : 56

Life span : 6 years

Breeding : winter

👉Description : Appearance is somewhat similar to that of Indian fox, but desert fox is bit larger in size. It has grey or light yellow body, with larger hair. Tail is bushy and has white tip.

👉Food : Omnivorous. It feeds on small birds, rats, mongoose, lizards, insects, fruits, berries and Honey comb.

👉Distribution : Kachchh and north-west Banaskantha. It was recently seen near Kala Dungar by K. Tatu during an ecological study in the Rann of Kachchh.

👉Habitat : This fox occurs in dry grassland, dry thorny forests, sandy desert, wasteland etc.

👉Behaviour : Hunts singly or in pairs. It is mainly a nocturnal animal.

👉Signs of presence : Burrows with multiple openings that exist under brush- wood or thorny bushes in desert area can give clues about the existence of this fox.

👉Desert fox is in fact, a sub-species of Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), that has very wide-spread global distribution. It is also known as White-footed fox. In desert, this fox inhabits sand dunes, scrub covered wastelands or sandy beds of dried rivers. In India, the red fox exists only in the Himalayas and unlike its desert relative, it is a richly çoloured mammal.

INDIAN FOX

2021-01-21T13:57:00.006+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LC

CAMP : LRnt

ZSI : IK

CITES : Appendices

Schedule : I (Part I)

Population : In thousands

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Group : Pack

👉Local name : Lonkadi

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 80 cm

Height : 80 cm

Weight : 3 - 5 kg

Maturity : 12 months

Gestation : 50 days

Litter size : 4

Life span : winter

👉Look : Brownish-grey coat, hairy tail with dark maroon-black tip and slender limbs.

👉Food : Omnivorous. Preys on small birds, eggs, snakes, rats, white ant, fruits and shoots.

👉Distribution : Throughout Gujarat.

👉Habitat : In habits dry open forest areas, grasslands, ravines, countryside, wasteland etc.

👉Behaviour : It is usually seen in pairs. It is more crepuscular than nocturnal. Lives in burrows with multiple openings and a central chamber.

👉Signs of presence : Burrows and repeated barking-like sharp yelp

👉Indian fox prefers to inhabit open areas and therefore it rarely occurs in dense forest. It is a pretty animal that prefers small mammals, reptiles and insects over birds. It should be considered to be a friend of farmers because rats and land crabs constitute its preferred food. It is very much attracted by flights of termites or white ants that are common before the onset of the rains. It either gobbles up the insects as they emerge from the termite mounds or snap at them as they fly past. It is an agile mammal in its movement and if chased, it flees with awesome twisting and turnings.

JACKAL

2021-01-21T13:22:00.007+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LC

CAMP : LRnt

CITES : Appendices III

Schedule : II (Part I)

Activity : Diurnal

Social Group : Solitary / Pairs / Packs

Population : Not known but still common in North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kuchchh, but number is on decline.

👉Local name : Shiyal

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 100 cm

Tail length : 25 cm

Height : 40 cm

Weight : 7 - 15 kg

Maturity : 12 months

Gestation : 63 days

Breeding : Any time of a year

Life span : 8 - 10 years in wilderness, 15 years in captivity.

👉Description : Smaller than the village dog. It has long mouth, bushy tail having thick hair and greyish brown body with buff wash on ears, shoulders and legs.

👉Food : Omnivorous. It is mainly a scavenger. It also preys upon birds. Fallen fruits are also consumed.

👉Distribution : All over the state but common in Saurashtra, Kachchh and North Gujarat.

👉Habitat : Open forest and grassland, outskirts of human settlements etc.

👉Behaviour : Jackals can be seen near villages in the evenings. They often gather in groups near villages in the evenings and howl. At times, one can see them moving around dead animals (including dead cattle). Eats 'ber'(i.e., berries of Zyziphus) during fruiting season.

👉Signs of presence : Howling and presence of 'ber' seeds in droppings.

👉Biologically, the jackal is the nearest relative of the wolf. It can live in any type of environment ranging from deserts to open, dry plains to humid forests. Though jackals are usually solitary, they some times move and hunt in groups. Not much is known about jackal's family life due to its secretive habits. With regards to its feeding habits, it may be interesting to note that besides shrubs of Zyziphus ("ber"), jackals often raid melon patches and sugarcane fields

DHOLE/INDIAN WILD DOG

2021-01-21T12:22:00.007+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : EN C2a(i)

CAMP : LRnt

ZSI : -

CITES : Appendices II

Schedule : I (Part I)

Population : Perhaps extirpated in Gujarat

Activity : Diurnal

Social Group : Packs

👉Local name : Jungli Kutaro, Dhole

👉Physical measurements & life cycle :👇

Length : 50 - 60 cm

Tail length : 40 - 45 cm

Height : 40 - 50 cm

Weight : 12 - 20 kg

Maturity : 12 months

Gestation : 60 - 62 days

Litter size : 4 - 6

Breeding : November - December

👉Description : The wild dog looks like the domestic dog. Its reddish grey body, thick and hairy tail, round ears, six molar teeth in the lower jaw and 10-12 teats are distinctive.

👉Food : Carnivorous. Hunts in a pack. It can hunt almost all kinds of animals depending on pack size.

👉Distribution : Occurs in the forested region of Central and South Gujarat. Most likely, the species is now extirpated from Gujarat.

👉Habitat : In habits forests, ravines and in the vicinity of rivers. Occurs less in dense forests.

👉Behaviour : Diurnal. On seeing a human being, these dogs warn each other by making sound like sharp whistling. They eat all parts of their prey except bones of larger size. They can kill big animals if they occur in a large pack. Live in closely bonded packs.

👉Signs of presence : Sharp, repeated 'whistling' cries and pugmarks can give clues.

👉Wild dogs live in groups (packs). Each group is constituted of a family. A pack is a tireless 'hunting mechanism'. Usually, a pack hunts a pig or a deer. However, 2-3 families often get united to form a large pack. Such a large pack of Wild dogs can kill large beasts like gaur and wild buffalo. There are records of wild dogs attacking and killing the leopard, the bear or the tiger. Wild dogs are social creatures and the bond between young ones and their parents is often long lasting.

WOLF

2021-01-21T10:01:00.005+05:30

STATUS

CAMP : LC*

CITES : Appendices II

Schedule : I (Part I)

Population : About 500

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Group : Solitary or pack

👉Local name : Nar, Varu, Bhedia,

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length : 100 - 140 cm

Weight : 15 - 20 kg

Height : 65 cm

Maturity : 2.5 - 63 days

Gestation : 61 - 63 days

Life span : About 10 - 15 years in wilderness, and

20 years in captivity.

Breeding : October - November

👉Description : Wolf's body is yellow-brownish and sandy fawn. Its coat is striped with black. It has a long bushy tail with darker tip and a large skull.

👉Food : Carnivorous. Preys upon deer, blackbuck, gazelle, hares, foxes, birds, sheep, goats etc.

👉Distribution : In Gujarat, grasslands of Kachchh and Saurashtra regions including Velavadar National Park. Also occurs in Banaskantha, Surendranagar, Dahod, Panchmahal disttricts.

👉Habitat : In habits the grassland area and scrub forest, prosopis thickets.

👉Behaviour : It is usually crepuscular to nocturnal. It may hunt diurnally also. Takes shelter in caves, crevices, thickets of reeds and scrub etc. Digs burrows in sandy area during summer. Usually lives in closely bonded family packs.

👉Signs of presence : Pugmarks, droppings.

👉Population : About 400 - 500 in Gujarat.

👉The wolf is probably the most widely distributed truly carnivorous mammal in the world. Those individuals living in the vicinity of human settlements pose threat to the livestock as also small children. If such individuals are undergoing hunger, they prove to be a curse for people. The wolves living in the remote areas away from the human settlements hunt blackbuck, chinkara, hares, foxes and birds.

JUNGLE CAT

2021-01-19T13:45:00.006+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LC

CAMP : LRnt

CITES : Appendices II

Schedule : II (Part I)

Population : Unknown but declining

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Group : Solitary

👉Local name : Jungali billi, Vagh biladi, Vaghar billo

👉Physical measurements & life cycle:👇

Length : 70 - 80 cm

Weight : 5 - 6 kg

Tail length : 30 cm

Gestation : 60 - 63 days

Litter size : 3 - 4

Life Span : 10 - 15 years

Breeding : No definite breeding season

👉Description : About the size of domestic cat, colour of the coat varies from sandy and yellowish grey to brown and tawny red; tail with dark rings and black tip. The tip is black, ears are darker with black tips on the backside of ears.

👉Food : Rodents and other small mammals, small birds and also fruits.

👉Distribution : All over Gujarat.

👉Habitat : Thick to open forest, grasslands.

👉 Behaviour : Crepuscular to nocturnal in habit; very swift, strong and quite bold.

👉 Signs of presence : Pugmarks, Voice.

👉In some parts of India (e.g. Kashmir), the Jungle cat does not hesitate to inhabit old houses or in the vicinity of towns/cities. There is a record of the fearlessness of this cat according to which the cat had captured a pet animal in presence of its owner.

LEOPARD - CAT

2021-01-19T13:21:00.004+05:30

STATUS

IUCN : LC

ZSI : Vulnerable

CITES : Appendices II

Schedule : I (Part I)

Population : Unknown

Activity : Nocturnal

Social Group : Solitary

👉Local name : Chaktavali biladi, Cheetah biladi

👉Physical measurements and life cycle:👇

Length : 60 cm

Tail length : 15 - 40 cm

Weight : 4 - 5 kg

Height : 30 - 35 cm

Maturity : 18 months

Gestation : 65 - 72 days

Litter size : 3 - 5

Longevity : 10 - 15 year

Breeding : Throughout the year, especially

Summer

👉Description : Upper parts yellowish and the under parts are white, with black to dark brown spots and blotches throughout the body giving appearance of a miniature of panther, tail appears barred with black.

👉Food : Hares, birds, reptiles, rodents, fishes.

👉Distribution : Narmada district, Shoolpaneshwar sanctuary

👉Habitat : Prefers open patches within dense forest.

👉Behaviour : Nocturnal in habit, takes shelter in hollows of trees, preys upon small mammals and birds, quire shy.

👉Signs of presence : Pugmarks (smaller than leopard's 2 to 3 cm wide), voice/call, killing of poultry on the outskirt of villages.

👉 It has been recorded that if the Leopard cat is kept and reared as a pet in very young age, it would return to its owner even if driven away. Breeding between domestic cat and Leopard cat has also been recorded