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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES References & Bhattacharyya, S., A.U. Choudhury C.G. Biswas Nagaland. SanctuaryAsia XVII(2): 38-45. (1997): A collaborative study on gaurs (Bosgaurus Choudhury, A.U. (1998): Dhansiri TigerReserve. Revised H. Smith) innorthBengal,WestBengal,India. WWF- proposal. The Rhino Foundation for Nature in NE India, Eastern Region, Calcutta. 79 pp. + maps. India, Guwahati. 30 pp. + map. Choudhury, A.U. (1993): A Naturalistin Karbi Anglong. Choudhury, A.U. (1999): ThegaurBosgaurus inDibang Gibbon Books, Guwahati. 88 pp. + maps. ValleydistrictofArunachal Pradesh.J. Bombaynat. Choudhury, A.U. (1995): Mammals ofSouthern Districts Hist.Soc. 96(2): 311-313. ofAssam. Cheetal34(2): 10-17. Stracey, P.A. (1963): Wildlife in India. Ministry ofFood Choudhury, A.U. (1997): The imperiled biodiversity of & Agriculture, Govt, ofIndia, NewDelhi. DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS OF THE GAUR BOS GAURUS IN NAGALAND 5. (With one text-figure) The gaur Bos gaurus H. Smith is still near the Assam-Nagaland border, the animals widely and sparsely distributed in northeastern move freely between Intanki and Assam’s India, however, it is a rather poorly documented Dhansiri Reserve Forest (Choudhury 1998) and species. Except for a survey in north Bengal also to the unclassed forests of Assam’s North (Bhattacharyya et al. 1997) and some briefstatus Cachar Hills district and occasionally to reports (Choudhury 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, Manipur’s Tamenglong district. Small numbers 2001), no specific work solely for this species ofgaur are thinly distributed in the forests along has been taken up in the region. Its distribution the India-Myanmar border in Tuensang, Mon in Assam has been mapped recently (Choudhury and Phek districts. An occasional animal is 1997a). Here I report the past and present status encountered, mostly wandering from Assam, in ofthe species in the state ofNagaland (25° 10'- the Singphan Reserve Forest of Mon district, 27° Of N, 93° 17-95° 15' E) (area: 16,579 sq. which also share borders with Assam and km) (Fig. 1) as ascertained during field visits in Arunachal Pradesh. There are no recent reports 1991, 1992, 1996 and 2001. The area was from other districts, although a few survived in referred to in the past as the NagaHills ofAssam, Mokokchung, Wokha and Zunheboto even in the as the entire area is hilly with small plains near early 1980s. Dimapur. The highest peak is Mt. Saramati During field visits, I examined and m (3,842 above msl) on the India-Myanmar measured 1 1 preserved horns (seven inthe Forest m border. Mt. Japfu (3,043 above msl) is the Museum, Kohima; three in Samjuram village second and is on the Barail range. The lowest and one at Zunheboto) of the animals shot in evaluation is in the riverbeds near Dimapur (less different parts ofNagaland. Three ofthese were m than 150 above msl). large. The measurements of some are listed in Some information on gaur in Nagaland is Table 1 . The animal from Zunheboto was killed given in Choudhury (1997b). The current by local hunters in the foothills area ofSaramati, distribution of the species is mostly confined to Tuensang district in 1967. In 1938-40, villagers Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary in Dimapur district. near Ajikami village in Akuloto sub-division of Some of the animals from this population also Zunheboto district killed a bull after it had wander up to near Jalukie, Samjuram (both in injured some villagers. It reportedly came to mate Dimapur district), Peren and Tening (Henima) with a semi-wild cow mithun Bos frontalis (S. (both in Kohima district) (Fig. 1). Being located Hukiye, pers. comm.). JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002 509 , MISCELLANEOUS NOTES In the Barail range stretch between Peren examined them). In 1981, a bull and a cow were and Kohima, the gaur is not found now, save for shot near Samjuram village. stray animals. In the late 1980s, the hunters from Poaching for meat was the main reason for Khonoma village had shot two in Dzukou area the decline of the gaur from larger parts of (T. Sakhire, pers. comm.). Around Peren, the Nagaland as its meat is relished. Destruction of gaur was not uncommon till the 1980s; now it is habitat by felling for wet paddy cultivation (in very rare. In 1999-2000, 4-5 came from the Jalukie-Rangapahar areas) and jhum elsewhere northwest (Intanki and adjacent areas). In was also a major factor. Although no specific February 2000, one was shot near Tening town. record of large-scale occurrence of rinderpest It reportedly came from the North Cachar Hills could be found, perhaps there was casualty in district ofAssam (Huki, pers. comm.). In 1974- 1966 in southwestern Nagaland when this 75, two were reportedly snared with a rope near dreaded disease took a heavy toll in the North Nkio village, near Tening. Both the horns are Cachar Hills district of Assam (Choudhury now with the Range Officer of Jalukie (I 1995). 510 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES Table 1 Measurementsofsomegaurhorns(incm) : Spread Span Sweep Girth Girth Length Length Skull (tip-to-tip) across (right (left (right (left Length forehead horn) horn) horn) hom) SpecimenA: ForestMuseum 100.0 68.5 186.5 51.0 52.0 75.0 73.5 59.0 Specimen B: ForestMuseum 90.0 - - - - - - - SpecimenC:Zunheboto 92.0 47.0 - - 41.0 - - - It is generally estimated that less than 100 area from 202 sq. km to at least 300 sq. km and gaur are present in the Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary the Sanctuary should be declared aNational Park — and adjacent areas. During a census in 1978, the the first in the entire state. New guard posts Forest Department staff sighted 67 gaurs. With with well-armed personnel and radio-network improvement in protection measures, the number should be established. Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary will rise both due to local growth as well as has records of some other globally threatened movement from the Dhansiri Reserve Forest of species such as the marbled cat Felis marmorata , Assam. In the latter area, a healthy population clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa andthe white- ofa few hundred survives (Choudhury 1993). In winged duck Cairina scutulata as well as the the forests along the India-Myanmar border, largest population ofhoolock gibbons Hylobates some 20 to 30 may still occur. Elsewhere, less hoolock in Nagaland. Presence of the Dhansiri than 10 may be estimated as stragglers. The total Reserve Forest (770 sq. km) across the border in habitat available for the species in Intanki and Assam is an added advantage for the gaur and adjacent areas is about 250 sq. km. other species of Intanki. Reported cases of It seems thatthe Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary poaching of the gaur and other animals should is the only area where a viable gaur population be dealt with firmly. could survive for long. Unfortunately, Fortheir help during the field study, I thank enforcement is virtually non-existent, while M.I. Bora, Akato Serna, Khekhiho Sohe, Thomas poaching, felling and encroachment threaten this Kent, S. Hukiye, Hakim, Kierang, Rasam and protected area. Since it is the only potential area Hiareurangbe. in the entire state of Nagaland where not only gaur but sizeable populations ofelephantElephas Dec. 12, 2001 ANWARUDDIN CHOUDHURY maximus sambar Cervus unicolor tiger The Rhino Foundationfor Nature in NE India, , , Panthera tigris could survive, adequate C/o The Assam Co. Ltd., Bamunimaidam, protection must be given to the Sanctuary. Some Guwahati 781 021, adjacent forests should be added to increase its Assam, India. References Bhattacharyya, S., A.U. Choudhury & G.G. Biswas Gibbon Books, Guwahati. 88 pp. + maps, (1997): Acollaborativestudyongaurs (Bosgaums illustrations. H. Smith) in north Bengal, West Bengal, India. Choudhury, A.U. (1995): MammalsofSouthern Districts WWF-India Eastern Region, Calcutta. 79 pp. + ofAssam. Cheetal34(2) 10-17. : maps. — Choudhury, A.U. (1997a): Checklist ofthe Mammals of Choudhury, A.U. (1992): Wildlife in Manipur A Assam. Revised2ndedn. Gibbon BooksandAssam & preliminary survey. TigerpaperXIX(l): 20-28. Science Technology Environment Council, Choudhury, A.U. (1993): ANaturalistin Karbi Anglong. Guwahati. 103 pp. + maps, illustrations. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002 511 . MISCELLANEOUS NOTES Choudhury, A.U. (1997b): The imperilledbiodiversityof Choudhury, A.U. (1999): The gaurBosgaurus in Dibang Nagaland. SanctuaryAsiaXVII(2): 38-45. Valley district ofArunachal Pradesh. J. Bombay Choudhury,A.U. (1998): Dhansiri TigerReserve. Revised nat. Hist. 96(2): 311-313. proposal. The Rhino Foundation forNature in NE Choudhury, A.U. (2001): The gaur in Mizoram, India. India Guwahati. 30 pp. + map. TigerpaperXXVII(3): 30-31 ALBINO GAUR AT THE NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK, KARNATAKA 6. (With one plate) On Apri1 1 1, 2001 , at about 0630 hrs, while been going to all the sanctuaries of Karnataka going around Nagarhole National Park, in for the last three decades, but it was for the first My Kodagu district, Karnataka State, I spotted a herd time that I saw an albino gaur. friends T.N.A. of gaur Bos gaurus at a salt lick on the Perumal and Dr. S.R. Jayaprakash, both from Chikkapala road. To my great surprise and Bangalore, and Arunthavaselvan T.R.A of wonder, an albino calf was moving in the herd. Coimbatore were with me. It was a rare sighting The sun had not risen, the day was cloudy and worth recording. the light very poor. But fortunately, my camera had a 400 ASA film and 80-200 lens with f2.8 May 30, 2001 S.G. NEGINHAL aperture (Plate Fig. which helped me take # 643, 9th Main, 2nd Cross, 1, 1), several good pictures of the calf, even though III Stage, III Block, the light was poor. The calf was entirely snow- Basaveshwaranagar 560 079, white, and it was about six months old. I have Karnataka, India. OCCURRENCE OF THE WILD WATER BUFFALO BUBALUS ARNEE 7. MIZORAM AND MANIPUR IN With one text-figure ( ) The Asiatic wild water buffalo Bubalus experience, I had reason to believe that the wild arnee Kerr bubalis Linn.) has become very rare buffalo also occurred in other hilly regions of ( all over its former range. It is common only in a northeastern India in the recent past, although few protected areas of Assam, e.g. Kaziranga, no documentation had been done. However, Manas and Dibru-Saikhowa. Information on the because of hunting pressure from various tribal current status and distribution is given by groups, it has vanished from most such areas. Choudhury (1994). The species usually occurs During a recent visit to Mizoram in in tall grasslands in the plains. However, its February 2001, 1 came across a massive horn of presence in the Balpakram National Park ofGaro a bull wild buffalo at a house in Aizawl city, the Hills, Meghalaya and adjacent areas (Choudhury state capital. On enquiry, I came to know that it 1994) has been a matter of curiosity as well as was collected from Vaitin, a village in Aizawl question. But it seems that the small grassy district, in far northern Mizoram (24° 12' N, 92° patches along the rivers and streams, in the 58' E) (Fig. 1). The interstate border with depressions and on tableland in hilly areas, also Manipur is not far from the village, about 5 km harbour buffalo populations, apparently in lower only. The buffalo was reportedly shot around density than the plains. After the Balpakram 1976 inside Manipur. The locality of shooting 512 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002