Seasonal Variation in Population Density of Sus Scrofa (Wild Boar) Across Habitats in Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is an adaptable, widely distributed ungulate, and estimating how its density varies across seasons and habitats is relevant to prey-base monitoring and management in tiger reserves. We describe seasonal and habitat-wise variation in estimated wild boar density in Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (ATR), Chhattisgarh, India, across five habitat types (grasslands, mixed forest, Sal forest, teak plantations and bamboo forest) and three seasons (post-monsoon, winter and summer). The habitat-wise seasonal mean density rose from 3.76 individuals/km² in the post-monsoon season to 4.56 individuals/km² in winter and 4.96 individuals/km² in summer, and the same ordering appeared in every habitat. Average density was highest in grasslands (5.437 individuals/km²) and mixed forest (5.350 individuals/km²) and lowest in bamboo forest (2.690 individuals/km²); mixed forest had the highest group density (2.500 groups/km²). ANOVA indicated seasonal differences within all five habitats (p = .0059 to .0473). The causes of the seasonal pattern, whether changes in resources, movement or detectability, were not tested directly. These estimates provide a baseline for monitoring wild boar in ATR.