An insight intopopulation structure and seasonal herd pattern ofblackbuck Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Artiodactyla:Bovidae) in semi-arid region of western Haryana, India

• Published in: Tropical ecology Vol. 65; no. 1; p. 92
• Main Authors: Delu, Vikram, Singh, Dharambir, Dookia, Sumit, Priya, Godara, Avinash, Karwasra, Vinod
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Varanasi Scientific Publishers 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Age groups; Antilope cervicapra; Arid regions; Arid zones; Categories; Females; Human settlements; Intensive farming; Population number; Population structure; Semi arid areas; Semiarid lands; Semiarid zones; Social behavior; Social organization; Stocking density; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 0564-3295
• DOI: 10.1007/s42965-023-00312-x

The population structure and herd pattern of the blackbucks were investigated in a semi-arid area of village Badopal, Fatehabad, Haryana, which is surrounded by human settlements and agricultural intensification. Fortnightly, 25 field visits were conducted from September 2019 to August 2020 during four different season(s) and data was recorded by Scan sampling and line transect method in morning and evening hours. Total of 1900 individuals were screened which were divided into six herd categories with six age groups of both sexes. The adult male to adult female ratio during study period was recorded 25.02 with maximum 51.10% contribution in the population from adult females. Out of the total 133 groups screened, maximum 45 groups were sighted in autumn and minimum 14 in summer and overall annual group mean was 14.54±2.43 with a mean crowding of 26.39. Out of the total six herd categories sighted at the site, maximum number was 42 for harem herd (HH=42) and minimum was 9 for female herd (FH=9) and the species exhibited partial social organization because both herd and solitary animals were observed. On the basis of seasonal and annual means, the DMRT test revealed that the size of harem herd (HH) was statistically maximum (P<0.05) among all other categories. It is practically difficult to make a species-specific efficient conservation plan without regular monitoring of population size and knowledge of a species' sociality. Present study provide an insight of population structure and social behavior of blackbuck among a human dominating landscape, therefore, it can be implemented for long term habitat management of this isolated fragmented population and many such small populations throughout the western Haryana.