Carnivore Chronicles: Co-occurrence and habitat use in the tropical forest of Manas National Park, North-East India

Research in Manas National Park, India, reveals that most carnivore species exhibit random co-occurrence patterns with limited spatial overlap, suggesting minimal antagonism among them despite shared habitats. The study, using camera-trap data from 37 species over 11,388 trap nights, found that large carnivores like tigers and leopards show distinct habitat preferences influenced by prey availability, elevation, and human presence. Tigers favor areas with abundant large-medium prey but avoid forest roads, while leopards prefer habitats with medium and small prey. Small and meso-carnivores, including clouded leopards and dholes, thrive in dense vegetation and regions rich in small prey. The findings underscore the importance of protecting diverse habitats, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, and maintaining healthy prey populations for the long-term conservation of carnivores in tropical forests.

Bhatt, U., & Lyngdoh, S. (2024). Carnivore Chronicles: Co-occurrence and habitat use in the tropical forest of Manas National Park, North-East India. Journal of Wildlife Science, 1(1), 16–30. https://doi.org/10.63033/jwls.gctq1198