A baseline study of herpetofauna in Surai-Khatima-Kilpura wildlife corridor and its adjoining areas, Uttarakhand, India
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Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 283-290 (2021) (published online on 01 February 2021)
A baseline study of herpetofauna in Surai-Khatima-Kilpura
wildlife corridor and its adjoining areas, Uttarakhand, India
Vivek Ranjan1, Gaurav Vashistha2, Vipul Maurya1,*, Mohd. Akram3, Ajay Prakash Rawat1, Jai Pratap Singh4,
Parag Madhukar Dhakate5, and Nitish Mani Tripathi5
Abstract. Baseline data of herpetofauna of a wildlife corridor is significant for the holistic conservation and protection of the
landscape. The understudied species of reptiles and amphibians are an important indicator of ecosystem health and habitat
structure. We used multiple non-invasive methods to document and collect data from 2015 to 2019 and undertook surveys
across five habitat types. We recorded 52 species belonging to 17 families and 38 genera. 23 species of snakes were recorded,
which was the most dominant taxonomic group. Five threatened species were recorded with one Critically Endangered tortoise
and one Endangered turtle species. Structural complexity, availability of multiple habitats and microhabitats, and water are the
major factors influencing herpetofaunal assemblage.
Keywords. reptiles, amphibians, terai, human-wildlife interaction
Introduction mammals, possibly due to their cryptic nature and often
smaller body size (Bhattarai et al., 2017; Vasudevan
Herpetofauna is a collective term for amphibians and
et al., 2001). Herpetofauna species are indicators of
reptiles which are two distinct classes of vertebrates,
ecological health and biodiversity composition of the
forming an important constituent of biodiversity.
forest landscapes (Fulton, 2018). Landscape level
Amphibians and reptiles are morphologically and
changes in habitat and microclimate significantly affect
ecologically very diverse and have a cosmopolitan
the biodiversity structure and composition. Habitat loss
distribution. Globally, reptiles and amphibians
and fragmentation has contributed significantly to the
have experienced a rapid decline in abundance and
global decline of amphibians and reptiles (Schneider-
distribution, with at least 43% of amphibians exhibiting
Maunoury et al., 2016).
population declines and 19% of all reptile species
The Terai landscape is one of the most biodiverse areas
threatened with extinction (Lesbarrères et al., 2014). All
of India (Wikramanayake et al., 2002). The Terai is
over the world, herpetofauna species are facing threats
situated at the Himalayan foothills and is characterised
due to habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation and
by a high water table, perennial rivers, numerous
alteration, introduced species, climate change, pollution,
swamps and marshes. The terrain is largely flat with
chemical contamination, and diseases (Böhm et al.,
2013; Lesbarrères et al., 2014). Reptile and amphibian deep alluvial soil deposited by rivers and streams south
species are understudied in comparison to birds and of Bhabar tracts. The fertile tracts of the Terai support
rich growth of forest and associated high biodiversity.
The region is also dominated by agricultural fields
due to the fertile soil and there is high anthropogenic
pressure leading to habitat loss and fragmentation
1
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, (Wikramanayake et al., 2010). The abundance of water
India.
is one of the chief influencing factors for herpetofauna
2
Department of Environmental studies, University of Delhi,
distribution and assemblage (Ramesh et al., 2013).
Delhi 110007, India.
3
Sitarganj, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand 262405, India. In a fragmented and mosaic habitat, the significance
4
Ramnagar, Nainital, Uttarakhand 244715, India. of forested wildlife corridors is of eminence for the
5
Uttarakhand Forest Department, Dehradun, Uttarakhand persistence of many species (Bennett, 1999; Chester et
248001 India. al., 2014). Forest fragmentation has an edge effect on
*
Corresponding Author. E-mail: vipulforestry@gmail.com species assemblage and habitat use leading to change
© 2021 by Herpetology Notes. Open Access by CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. in abundance and distribution of herpetofauna species
284 Vivek Ranjan et al.
as well as higher trophic level organisms (Schneider- landscape and Shivalik wildlife corridor. SKK corridor
Maunoury et al., 2016). The status of herpetofauna connects Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), Uttar Pradesh
in the corridor will indicate its ecosystem health to Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary (NWLS), Uttarakhand
and habitat status as they are better bio-indicators of in India. It is contiguous with the forest landscape of
impacts of anthropogenic activities and land use change Suklaphanta Biosphere Reserve in Nepal (Anwar and
than mammals; evident from the study conducted in Borah, 2019). It lies in the 2B Himalaya-West Himalaya
rehabilitated mine fields of Ora Banda area in western biogeographic province of India (Rodgers et al., 2000).
Australia (Thompson and Thompson, 2005). The The forest type of the study area, as per Champion and
status of these significant indicator species is important Seth (1968) classification, is Tropical Moist Deciduous
for conservation prioritisation. Very few studies on forest, predominantly sal forest interspersed with teak
herpetofauna have been carried out in the Himalayan plantation and mixed forest. The annual mean rainfall
state of Uttarakhand (Dar et al., 2008; Vasudevan and in the study area is 1000–2000 mm with an elevational
Sondhi, 2010). Here, we present the baseline data on range of 100–500 m (Reddy et al., 2015).
herpetofauna in the wildlife corridor delineated for Methodology. The study was conducted from 2015–
large mammal movement, to highlight the importance 2019. We categorised the study area in five habitat types:
of protected forests to the Terai’s herpetofauna. Forest (F), Roadside (R), Waterbodies (W), Agricultural
Study Area. The study was conducted in Surai- land (A), and Human Settlements (H). Forest habitat
Khatima-Kilpura (SKK) wildlife corridor which includes grasslands, monoculture tree plantation plots
extends across three forest ranges of the Terai East such as teak and eucalyptus plantations, scrubland,
Forest Division, i.e. Surai, Khatima, and Kilpura in the moderately dense (tree canopy cover: 40–70%) and
state of Uttarakhand, India (Fig. 1). The total area of highly dense forests (canopy cover: >70%) (Forest
the three forest ranges is 673 Km2. The corridor is 22 Survey of India, 2019); roadside habitat includes the
Km long encompassing an area of ca.130 Km2 (Anwar metaled roads with 10 m buffer along the road on both
and Borah, 2019). The study area is part of the Terai sides; waterbodies include all natural and man-made
water bodies; agricultural land includes the crop fields
on the forest fringes and adjoining areas of corridor;
human settlements include mud houses (Kacha house),
cement and brick houses (Pakka house), gardens and
forest rest houses.
Systematic and opportunistic sampling was employed
to survey the study area. We conducted diurnal and
nocturnal Visual Encounter Surveys (VES) (Heyer et
al., 2014). Surveys were conducted along the forest
trails and transects in the morning (6 a.m.–9 a.m.) and
evening (4 p.m. –7 p.m.) hours. Water bodies, swamps
and microhabitats including fallen wood, logs, tree
bark and tree holes, the underside of boulders and
leaf litter were actively searched during the daytime.
We surveyed water bodies and their banks at night for
nocturnal species. The roads were surveyed during night
and early morning to record species and road kills along
the road. All the road kills were removed after sampling
to prevent double counting. Agricultural fields were
surveyed regularly. Due to large areas under agriculture
and limited access, information was collected from
local villagers such as farm owners, on species presence
by personal interviews and species photo identification.
The rescue and conflict data (2012–2019) from the
state forest department range offices of three forest
Figure 1. Study area map of three forest ranges forming SKK ranges covering SKK corridor was also considered
wildlife corridor. for the record. Taxonomical nomenclature has been
A baseline study of herpetofauna in Surai-Khatima-Kilpura wildlife corridor, India 285 used from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2020), the Reptile Database (Uetz, 2020) and the Amphibian Species of the World 6.0 (Frost, 2020). We used field guides and published literature for species identification (Daniel, 2002; Das, 2002; Whitaker and Captain, 2004). Results A total of 52 species were documented from the study area, belonging to 17 families in five habitat types. All recorded amphibians were anurans, represented by 11 species representing four families and seven Figure 2. Distribution of herpetofauna species across surveyed genera. Forty one species of reptiles were recorded, habitat types. represented by 23 species of snakes from five families and eighteen genera; ten species of lizards from four families and seven genera; seven species of testudines wildlife interaction (e.g. snake bite, Daboia russelii, belonging to three families and five genera; and one Fig. 3D). Two recorded species, i.e. Mugger crocodile species of crocodile (Table 1). Dicroglossidae (n=5) and (C. palustris) and Indian Monitor (Varanus bengalensis, Colubridae (n=13) were the most dominant families of Fig. 3E) have records of negative human-wildlife amphibians and reptiles respectively. We were unable interaction (depredation of poultry, livestock and human to confirm the specific identification of two species i.e. casualty), based on our primary data and secondary data Kaloula sp. and Sitana sp. because we were not able to collected from state forest department. We encountered catch the animals due to inaccessibility of the locations. two independent cases of human deaths caused by Among five habitat types, the highest species richness Mugger crocodiles, where bathers were ambushed and (n=31) was observed in the forest habitat, followed by dragged into canals. the roadside habitat (n=17). Waterbodies (n=16) had slightly higher species richness than human settlements Discussion (n=15), and the lowest richness was observed in Local and regional studies are helpful for conservation agricultural (n=11) habitat (Fig.2). The highest number planning at the landscape level as well as global of snake species were found on the roadside habitat extinction risk assessments. We found that while (n=11). Amongst all species, only three anuran species 40% of the total species recorded from the study area (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, require status update, 46% of species found are still Fejervarya limnocharis) were found across all five Not Evaluated (NE) in Red List. The presence of five different habitat types. A total of 28 (54%) of all the threatened species in a small study area is indicative of species recorded were enlisted in IUCN Red List, out of its importance as a wildlife habitat and conservation of which 75% of the species (n=21) were last assessed by this forest corridor. the IUCN more than 10 years ago and therefore require The use of multiple methods is an effective and reassessment. All species of anurans recorded from the empirical approach to document cryptic species area required IUCN Red List status update. Overall, five (Bhattarai et al., 2017). Herpetofauna surveys can be an species of IUCN threatened category were recorded, i.e. exhaustive and intensive task due to the cryptic nature, one Critically Endangered (Indotestudo elongata, Fig. small body size, and habitat use patterns of these species. 3A), one Endangered (Melanochelys tricarinata, Fig. Thus, long term study in case of herpetofauna increases 3B), three Vulnerable (Ophiophagus hannah, Nilssonia the probability of encounter as they have specialised gangetica and Crocodylus palustris, Fig. 3C) (Table microhabitat and microclimate requirements (Grant et 1). Nine species recorded from the study are protected al., 1992). Also, interviews with locals using species under Schedule I of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, photographs contribute substantially to herpetofauna 1972 (IWPA). Six species of snake from two families surveys (O’Shea and Kaiser, 2013). Locals such as (Elapidae and Viperidae) have venoms which are farmers were well aware of life history stages of several medically-significant to humans and therefore pose a species and their behaviour, such as preferred basking high risk for human fatality in case of negative human- areas. This is a comprehensive and one of the first
286 Vivek Ranjan et al.
Table 1. List of species of herpetofauna in Surai-Khatima-Kilpura corridor and its adjoining areas. Species which have not been
assessed in IUCN Red list have been marked as NAs (Not assessed) and NA (Not applicable) in status revision. IUCN status
revision is ‘Required’ by species with outdated assessments and ‘Not required’ by species with updated assessments. F: Forest,
H: Human Settlement, R: Roadside, W: Waterbodies, A: Agricultural Land, IWPA: Indian Wildlife Protection Act, Sch: Schedule,
NL: Not Listed, IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature, CR: Critically Endangered, EN: Endangered, VU:
Vulnerable, LC: Least Concern
Table 1.
Order Family Scientific Name Common Name Habitat Type IWPA Status** IUCN IUCN Status
Status*** Revision
Anura Bufonidae Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) Common Indian toad F/R/H/A NL LC Required
Duttaphrynus himalayanus (Günther, 1864) Himalayan toad A NL LC Required
Duttaphrynus stomaticus (Lütken, 1864) Marbled toad A NL LC Required
Dicroglossidae Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin, 1802) Indian bullfrog F/R/H/A/W IV LC Required
Hoplobatrachus crassus (Jerdon, 1853) Jerdon's bullfrog F/W/H NL LC Required
Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider, 1799) Indian skipper frog F/R/H/W/A NL LC Required
Fejervarya limnocharis (Gravenhorst, 1829) Indian cricket frog F/R/H/W/A NL LC Required
Sphaerotheca maskeyi (Schleich and Anders, Maskeyi's burrowing frog F NL LC Required
1998)
Rhacophoridae Polypedates maculatus (Gray, 1830) Indian Treefrog F/H NL LC Required
Polypedates taeniatus (Boulenger, 1906) Terai Treefrog F/W NL LC Required
Microhylidae Kaloula sp. Painted frog H -- -- NA
Squamata Agamidae Calotes versicolor (Daudin, 1802) Indian garden lizard F/H NL NAs NA
Laudakia tuberculata (Gray, 1827) Kashmir/west Himalayan rock F NL NAs NA
agama
Sitana sp. cf. sivalensis Fan-throated lizard F -- -- NA
Gekkonidae Hemidactylus brookii (Gray, 1845) Brook's house gecko F/H NL LC Not required
Hemidactylus flavivirdis (Rüppell, 1835) Asian house gecko F/H NL NAs NA
Scincidae Eutropis carinata (Schneider, 1801) Many-keeled grass skink F NL LC Required
Eutropis macularia (Blyth, 1853) Bronze grass skink F NL NAs NA
Lygosoma punctata (Gmelin, 1799) Common dotted garden skink F/H NL NAs NA
Varanidae Varanus bengalensis (Daudin, 1802) Indian / Bengal monitor F/R Sch. I Part II LC Required
Varanus flavescens (Hardwicke and Gray, Yellow monitor F/R Sch. I Part II LC Required
1827)
Boidae Eryx conicus (Schneider, 1801) Common sand boa F IV NAs NA
Python molurus (Linnaeus, 1758) Indian rock python F/W Sch. I Part II NAs NA
Colubridae Amphiesma stolatum (Linnaeus, 1758) Buff striped keelback W/A Sch. IV NAs NA
Boiga trigonata (Schneider 1802) Common cat snake R Sch. IV LC Required
Coelognathus helena (Daudin, 1803) Common trinket snake R Sch. IV NAs Required
Dendrelaphis tristis (Daudin, 1803) Common bronzeback tree snake F Sch. IV NAs NA
Lycodon aulicus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common wolf snake F/H Sch. IV NAs NA
Lycodon striatus (Shaw, 1802) Barred wolf snake R Sch. IV NAs NA
Lycodon jara (Shaw, 1802) Twin-spotted wolf snake R Sch. IV NAs NA
Enhydris enhydris (Schneider, 1799) Rainbow water snake W/R Sch. IV LC Required
Oligodon kheriensis (Acharji and Ray 1936) Coral-red kukri snake R Sch. IV NAs NA
Oligodon arnensis (Shaw, 1802) Common kukri snake F/R Sch. IV NAs NA
Orthriophis hodgsonii (Günther, 1860) Himalayan trinket snake R Sch. IV NAs NA
Ptyas mucosa (Linnaeus, 1758) Indian rat snake A/F Sch. II Part II NAs NA
Xenochrophis piscator (Schneider, 1799) Checkered keelback W/A Sch. II Part II NAs NA
Elapidae Bungarus caerulus (Schneider, 1801) Common krait R/H Sch. IV NAs NA
Naja kaouthia (Lesson, 1831) Monocled cobra H Sch. II Part II LC Not required
Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) King cobra H Sch. II Part II VU Not required
Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider, 1801) Banded krait R Sch. IV LC Not required
Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758) Spectacled cobra A/F Sch. II Part II NAs NA
Typhlopidae Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803) Brahminy blind snake F Sch. IV NAs NA
Argyrophis diardii (Schlegel, 1839) Diard's blind snake R Sch. IV LC Required
Viperidae Daboia russelii (Shaw and Nodder, 1797) Russel's viper F Sch. II Part II NAs NA
Testudines Geomydidae Melanochelys tricarinata (Blyth, 1856) Tricarinate hill turtle F/W Sch. I Part II EN Not required
Melanochelys trijuga (Schweigger, 1812) Indian black turtle F/W NL LC Not required
Pangshura tecta (Gray, 1830) Indian roofed turtle F/W Sch. I Part II LC Required
Trionychidae Lissemys punctata (Lacépède, 1788) Indian flapshell turtle W Sch. I Part II LC Required
Pangshura tentoria (Gray, 1834) Indian tent turtle W/A Sch. I Part II LC Required
Nilssonia gangetica (Cuvier, 1825) Indian softshell turtle W Sch. I Part II VU Required
Testudinidae Indotestudo elongata (Blyth, 1854) Elongated tortoise F Sch. IV CR Not required
Crocodylia Crocodylidae Crocodylus palustris (Lesson, 1831) Mugger crocodile W Sch. I Part II VU RequiredA baseline study of herpetofauna in Surai-Khatima-Kilpura wildlife corridor, India 287 Figure 3. Some of the herpetofauna species recorded during our study: (A) Elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), (B) Tricarinate hill turtle (Melanochelys tricarinata), (C) King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), (D) Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), (E) Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), (F) Russel’s viper (Daboia russelii), (G) Indian monitor (Varanus bengalensis), (H) Coral-red khukri snake (Oligodon kheriensis). Image credits: Jai Pratap Singh: 3A, B, F, H; A.G. Ansari: 3C, and Vipul Maurya: 3D, E, G. wildlife corridor focused herpetofauna studies in India, of certain plants expel venom, etc.), hence further which aims to provide a baseline status and checklist threatening the life of the victim. The depredation of of herpetofauna in a large mammal wildlife corridor. poultry by monitor lizards is also quite prevalent and often Setting of conservation priorities for any Protected leads to the retaliatory killing of the animal and public Areas (PAs) or landscape only on the basis of globally resentment as observed in many cases in the area during threatened, and charismatic species would undermine the period of study (Vivek Ranjan, personal observation). the importance of locally threatened species and The public awareness and sensitisation programmes resolution of broader conservation threats (Greenbaum towards snakes, snakebites and its conservation have and Komar, 2005). significantly changed the perspective and outlook of the Being a human-dominated landscape, cases of local communities, evident from increase in number of snakebite are frequent, especially in the summer and rescue calls (to forest department) for snakes, instead monsoon seasons. It leads to human fatality in majority of killing the animal on sight (Vivek Ranjan and Parag of the cases or sometimes major public health risk, Madhukar Dhakate, personal communication). The especially for communities located in remote locations study area is located on an international and inter-state or close to the forest areas. Snake-bites are often treated border and hence, is sensitive and vulnerable to issues with local medications and rituals based on myths (such of wildlife trade as well. Forest department seizure as, venom can be sucked out of bite mark, ingestion records show that the Testudines species recorded
288 Vivek Ranjan et al.
from the area are illegally traded as these species are generalist and commonly found in mosaic of habitats
protected under Indian Wildlife Protection Act (IWPA) conveniently adapting to habitat changes such as the
and any form of trading, killing or capturing of animal three anuran species recorded across all habitat types in
without permit of respective authority of government is our study.
a punishable offence. However, the forest department Forest cover, habitat quality and composition,
has strongly controlled the trade and its related issues diversity, and species richness across all taxonomic
with strict enforcement of laws and regular monitoring groups is of critical importance for the wildlife corridor
of trade routes and persons with history of involvement and landscape connectivity. This herpetofauna baseline
in illicit activities. The number of seizure cases and the study provides a benchmark for further research and
number of animals or amount of animal parts seized studies for cryptic species like reptiles and amphibians,
have declined substantially after 2015 (Parag Madhukar in other wildlife corridors. Surai-Khatima-Kilpura
Dhakate, personal communication). corridor has a diverse species assemblage across all
Amphibians and reptiles are considered key indicators taxonomic groups of fauna. Thus, it needs enhanced
of environmental changes (Schlaepfer and Gavin, 2001; conservation and protection efforts. The present work
Blaustein and Bancroft, 2007). Fragmentation and habitat will be a substantive information update for understudied
degradation affect the abundance, species richness and species of reptiles and amphibians in Uttarakhand and
diversity of herpetofauna (Schneider-Maunoury et al., the Terai landscape
– of the Indian Himalayan region.
2016). The species richness of different habitat types
provides an understanding of the impact of landscape Acknowledgments. We are thankful to Uttarakhand Forest
level changes on microhabitats and lower taxa diversity. Department for necessary permissions and logistic support during
our fieldwork. We thank A. G. Ansari and R. K. Maurya (S.D.O)
Colubridae was the most dominant family, with 25% of
for their constant support and guidance during our field surveys.
all recorded herpetofauna species from the study area
being mildly or non-venomous snakes. The species of
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