Rajaji-Corbett National Parks and the adjoining forests form the northwestern range for the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and tiger (Panthera tigris). Corridors on Malin River, between Kotdwar-Amsod, and Chilla-Motichur (C-M) across Ganges maintain the connectivity between fragments of important tiger and elephant habitats of Uttaranchal. The C-M corridor across Ganges is the only functional connecting link between the two parts of Rajaji National Park. The C-M corridor is approximately 3 km long and 1 km wide and is situated between Suni Sot in the Gohri Forest Range on the east bank of Ganges and Motichur forests to the north of Motichur Rau on the west bank of Ganges. In 1988 WII evaluated the conservation status and documented the wildlife use of this corridor. We repeated the study in the same area in the summer of 2005 and evaluated the status of the corridor and its use by wildlife.

In this study, vegetation, wild ungulate and livestock signs were enumerated in the east bank of Ganges, four islands, forests along the west bank, teak plantation on the west bank forests and along the edge of Motichur Range. Ten meter radius circular plots were laid in each of these areas and tree species of >6 cm DBH were identified and measured. Pellet groups of ungulates and dung of cattle were counted in these circular plots. For shrubs, a 5 m radius plot was laid with the same centre. Elephant dung was counted within 25 m radius plots with the same centre.

The elephant food plants Acacia catechu, Bombax ceiba and Mallotus philippinensis were found in lower densities in some part of the corridor, while A. catechu, Aegele marmelos and Zizyphus mauritiana had also increased in density since 1988 in some areas. In all parts of the corridor except in island IV Lantana camara had increased in density since 1988. The density of sambar (Cervus unicolor), chital (Axis axis) and elephant signs have predominantly increased or not changed in the corridor since 1988. The change in density of the important food plant of elephants M. philippinensis and B. ceiba in the corridor; proliferation of L. camara are of concern. Predictions made in 1988 on M. philippinensis and A. catechu populations by the earlier study are true. The intensity of use by wild ungulates of C-M corridor indicated that it is functioning as a conduit for wildlife populations across ganges. The study highlights the importance of monitoring in detecting changes in habitat and its use by wildlife.
 

Dr. B.S. Adhikari, Dr. Bivash Pandav, Dr. Karthikeyan Vasudevan, Dr. V.P. Uniyal &  Dr. K. Sivakumar