Noninvasive genetic monitoring of tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) population of Orang National Park in the Brahmaputra floodplain, Assam, India

摘要: The Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, India, is one the prime habitats for endangered Royal Bengal tiger Panthera tigris tigris. With dwindling global population, estimation minimum number tigers has always been a curiosity to wildlife researchers as well protected area managers. In present study, DNA-based techniques were used identifying individual in Orang National Park from 57 faecal samples collected during February 2009. stands an island single forest patch along north bank river Brahmaputra. study confirms presence 17 Park, with five male and 12 female. capture–recapture analysis yielded range estimate 18 19 individuals, possible overestimates population size following two models capture probability CAPWIRE. results our genetic counting are compared estimates based on pugmark by state Forest Department 2000 independent 14 (±3.6) individuals photographic identity Looking at high mortality area, reported deaths 2009, indicate turnover area. This shows that harbours healthy breeding tigers. However, possibility source-sink dynamics operating landscape could not be ruled out, immigration nearby Kaziranga south Brahmaputra, which highest density species world.