Feeding ecology of Indian leopard (Panthera pardusfusca) in the Hirekallugudda sloth bear sanctuary (Proposed sanctuary)in Arasikere, Karnataka, India

Abstract

The feeding ecology of the Indian leopard (Panthera pardusfusca) was studied from February 2016 to September 2016 a total of 54 scat samples. These leopards feed on a variety of wild and domestic animals. Diet composition of the leopard will be primarily studied through scat analysis will be collected from well-defined sampling areas within the study period. A total of 12 prey species were successfully identified based on the microscopic hair analysis, percentage frequency of occurrence of prey hair, bones, or claws, in the scats and estimation of standard error using a regression equation and relative biomass consumed also recorded. However, the data regarding their diet composition is scanty and scat analysis revealed that the wild animals (45.00%) was their preferred diet, and domestic species including with dog and livestock were more frequently consumed (52.00%) while Sambar deer (23.70 %) and Goat (21.30 %) was most commonly used as diet during seasonal variations. Other species include porcupine, wild boar, hare, monkeys, peafowl, spurfowl, and mongoose some domestic species of sheep, cow, and some unknown species. Furthermore, the questioner’s survey is recorded for human-leopard conflicts with investigations to cattle watchers also assessed.