RESEARCH ARTICLE

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT SELECTION OF INDIAN GREY MONGOOSE (Herpestes edwardsii) WITHIN MIHINTALE SANCTUARY AND IT’S ADJACENT AREA IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

The Indian grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) is an ecologically important species which is distributed in different habitat types. The study site located in the Anuradhapura district mainly consists with the forest area, grass lands and the residential area. Present study was carried out during six month period (July to December) in 2015 and aimed to collect the information on population density, habitat selection diet and the threats of this species. The population was estimated using distance sampling method (direct method) and the burrows counting (indirect method) in the active area. Diet analysis was carried out by fecal pellet analysis, while the habitat selection of the species was studied by comparison of the different habitat types, number of existing burrows and population densities. Threats identification was done by using self administrative questioner. The results revealed that total population density of grey mongoose was 18.57±2.77 km-2 and there was significant difference of population densities among three difference habitat types (p=0.001, n=90). The highest population density (13.53±2.50 km-2) was recorded in the residential area and the lowest population density (0.6±0.21 km-2) was recorded in the forest. Most burrows were distributed in residential area including poultry farms and the food shops. Analysis of the scat samples of the species revealed that their diet consist with the insect parts, hairs of mammals, seeds, fish, bird egg shells, bone parts and plant materials. According to the composition of their diet they can consider as omnivorous species. The most preferred habitat of the species is residential area including poultry farms, food shops and garbage. Habitat loss is the main regional threat for H. Edwardsii in this area. For the conservation and survival of this species certain conservatory approaches are necessarily required.

Keywords: Indian grey mongoose, population density, habitat preference, diet, conservation

How to Cite: Nadeeshani,H.M.S.M,Wickramasinghe,S, (2017). POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT SELECTION OF INDIAN GREY MONGOOSE (Herpestes edwardsii) WITHIN MIHINTALE SANCTUARY AND IT’S ADJACENT AREA IN SRI LANKA.WILDLANKA, 5(3):Pages 133-141

Published On:2017-09-30

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