COUNTING TAILS: ESTIMATING RATUFA INDICA POPULATION DENSITY IN SRIVILLIPUTHUR GRIZZLED GIANT SQUIRREL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, TAMIL NADU

Аннотация

INTRODUCTION The Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Accurate population density estimates are vital for Sanctuary, situated in Tamil Nadu, India, is home to effective wildlife conservation and habitat the Ratufa indica, commonly known as the Indian management. This study aims to estimate the Giant Squirrel or Grizzled Giant Squirrel. This population density of Ratufa indica within the charismatic arboreal rodent is a flagship species of sanctuary using a combination of field surveys, the sanctuary and plays a crucial role in camera trapping, and spatial analysis. By maintaining the health and diversity of forest quantifying the population density, the research ecosystems. However, due to habitat loss and other contributes to informed decision-making for the anthropogenic pressures, the population of Ratufa conservation and sustainable management of this indica is facing challenges. ecologically important species and its habitat. https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajvswd 21 THE USA JOURNALS THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCES AND WILDLIFE DISCOVERY (ISSN – 2689-0968) VOLUME 06 ISSUE03 METHOD By combining these methodological approaches, this research endeavors to provide a robust Study Area Selection: The Srivilliputhur Grizzled estimation of Ratufa indica population density Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary is selected as the within the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel study area due to its significance as a protected Wildlife Sanctuary. The results of this study habitat for Ratufa indica. The sanctuary contribute valuable information to the encompasses a range of habitats, including dense conservation efforts of this iconic species and its forests, scrublands, and water bodies. habitat, aiding in informed management decisions Field Surveys: Line transect surveys are conducted for the long-term sustainability of the sanctuary's along predetermined paths within the sanctuary. ecosystem. These surveys involve systematic walking and