Article

Arockianathan Samson, Mammalogy and Forest Ecology Wing, Department of zoology and wildlife biology, Government Arts College (Udhagamandalam-643 002, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India); e-mail: kingvulture1786@gmail.com
Balasundaram Ramakrishnan, Mammalogy and Forest Ecology Wing, Department of zoology and wildlife biology, Government Arts College (Udhagamandalam-643 002, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India)

Samson A., Ramakrishnan B. 2018. Population status, habitat selection and people's perception on Pavo cristatus (Aves: Phasianidae) in Sigur Plateau, the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India. Nature Conservation Research 3(1): 80–87. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2018.010

The present study aimed to estimate the population status, habitat utilisation and threats to the Indian peafowl in Sigur Plateau, Tamil Nadu from November 2016 to March 2017. A total of 1091 individuals of peafowls were recorded in 487 sightings in 1080 km (2.28 ± 0.05) with the encounter rate of 1.01 individuals / km. In Dry Deciduous Forest a total of 570 individuals of peafowls were recorded in 224 sightings in 460 km (2.28 ± 0.05, ER = 1.01 individuals / km). In Dry Thorn Forest a total of 521 individuals of peafowls were recorded in 254 sightings in 620 km (2.05 ± 0.06) ER = 0.84 individuals / km. A total of 19 roosting trees species were identified, all recorded in thorn forest; similarly nine species were recorded in dry deciduous forest. The highest number of roosts were recorded in Tectona grandis (n = 27); the average height of the tree species was 14.46 m and the average Indian peafowl roost height was 11.25. The Indian peafowl has decreased; the reason for invading the human habitation was the loss of food (n = 60). Crop damage by peafowl shows that beans (50%) were highly damaged followed by chilly (37%), tomato (5%) and ragi (4%) and corn (1%). Drivers (n = 25) noted that under some circumstances Pavo cristatus could be killed due to its sudden appearance on the roads.

habitat, India, Indian Peafowl, Nilgiris, population, Sigur Plateau, Tamil Nadu

Received: 12.11.2017

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