Debarking behaviour of elephants, Elephas maximus indicus in Vazhacal Forest Division, Kerala south India

2 Pages·1997·1.3 MB·

by  M M Animon

,
392 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
DEBARKING BEHAVIOUR OF ELEPHANTS, ELEPHAS MAXIMUS INDICUS
3.
IN VAZHACHAL FOREST DIVISION, KERALA, SOUTH INDIA
Elephants peel off the bark of trees for Vazhachal Forest Division is located in
various purposes. Guy (1967) and Olivier (1978) Thrissur and Ernakulam districts ofKerala, south
related debarking to extract water and minerals. India. The Division, part of which forms the
Sukumar (1989) observed considerable Protected AreaNetworkproposed by Rodgersand
consumption of bark during the dry season, Panwar (1988), holds a good population ofAsian
contrary to the observations ofLaws etal. (1975). elephants. The area comes under the purview of
Sivaganesan (1988)pointed out increased mineral Project Elephant and experiences a high tourist
content as apossiblereason fordebarking whereas influx every year. Observations on debarked
Croze (1974) observed calcium content in bark trees were made all over the Division. The results
as the main reason. However Anderson and are detailed in Table 1. About 36 species were
Walker (1974) found no relationship between debarked in the Division. Frequent incidence of
degree ofdebarking and mineral content ofplants. debarking was found in Tectona grandis, Acacia
McCullough (1973) described debarking as the auriculiforms, Grewia tiliifolia. Further studies
response ofelephants to a deficiency in essential are required to identify the exact cause of
fatty acids. Sivaganesan (1988) observed debarking behaviour and to curtail it, because
debarking and uprooting mainly in lactating and many forest plantations have to be abandoned,
pregnantelephants compared to other individuals. or hold low stocks due to elephant damage
Damiba and Abies (1994) suggest that debarking in combination with Mikania micrantha
is selftreatment with compounds contained in the infestation.
bark of trees like Lannea. Debarking may be
location and situation specific. We studied March 31, 1997 M.M. ANIMON
debarking in 1994-95 in Vazhachal Forest Y. CHEERAN JACOB
NAGARAJ
Division while working on habitat utilisation of B.N.
elephants, covering forests and plantations on College ofForestry, Vellanikkara
which studies were not made earlier. Kerala 680 654
Table
1
LIST OFTREE SPECIES DEBARKED BY ELEPHANTS IN VAZHACHAL FORESTS
SI. Local Scientific Name Family SI. Local Scientific Name Family
No. Name No. Name
1. Teku Tectona grandis Verbenaceae 13. Pattippunna Dilleniapentagyna Dilleniaceae
2. Elavu Bombax ceiba Bombacaceae 14. Chadachi Grewia tiliifolia Tiliaceae
3. Acacia Acacia auriculiformis Mimosaceae 15. Sesbania Sesbania grandiflora Fabaceae
4. Vatta Macaranga peltata Euphorbiaceae 16. Veeti Dalbergia latifolia Fabaceae
5. Anaviratty Laportea crenulata Urticaceae 17. Marotti Hypnocarpus
6. Vaka Albiziafalcataria Mimosaceae pentandra Flacourtiaceae
7. Irul Xylia xylocarpa Mimosaceae 18. Mammaruthu Lagerstroemia Lythraceae
8. Venga Pterocarpus reginae
marsupium Fabaceae 19. Kumbil Gmelina arborea Verbenaceae
9. Thalir Flacourtia 20. Poovam Schleichera oleosa Sapindaceae
cataphracta Flacourtiaceae 21. Kurangu
10. Athi Ficus racemosa Moraceae Manjal Mallotus philippensis Euphorbiaceae
11. Nasakam Euodia roxburghiana Rutaceae 22. Pezhu Careya arborea Lecythidaceae
12. Madukka Xanthophyllum 23. Vattakumbil Mallotus albus Euphorbiaceae
amottianum Xanthophyllaceae 24. Eucalyptus Eucalyptus citriodora Myrtaceae
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
393
Table (contd.)
1
LIST OFTREE SPECIES DEBARKED BY ELEPHANTS IN VAZHACHAL FORESTS
SI. Local Scientific Name Family SI. Local Scientific Name Family
No. Name No. Name
25. Murukku Erythrina indica Fabaceae 31. Edampiri Helicteres isora Sterculiaceae
26. Malayathi Bauhinia racemosa Caesalpiniaceae 32. Encha Acacia intsia Mimosaceae
27. Venteku Lagerstroemia 33. Maruthu Terminalia paniculata Combretaceae
microcarpa Lythraceae 34. Edana Olea dioica Oleaceae
28. Nedunar Polyalthiafragrans Annonaceae 35. Papita Pterocymbium
29. Vetti Aporusa lindleyana Euphorbiaceae tinctorium Sterculiaceae
30. Malayuram Pterospermum 36. Uthi Lannea
reticulatum Sterculiaceae coromandelica Anacardiaceae
References
Anderson, G.D. & B.H. Walker (1974): Vegetation Press.
composition and elephant damage in the Sengwa McCullough, K.G. (1973): The African elephants
Wildlife Research Area, Rhodesia. Journal of the deficient in essential fatty acids. Nature 242: 267-
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E. Afr. Wildl. J. 12: 29-47. Thesis, University ofCambridge, U.K. 454 pp.
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characteristics and impacts on woody vegetation of Wildlife Protected Area Network in India. Vol. 1&2.
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Pachyderm 46-53. Sivaganesan, N. (1988): EcologyoftheElephant.Annual
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VAGINAL PROLAPSE IN A WILD CHITAL, AXIS AXIS
4.
IN RAJAJI NATIONAL PARK, INDIA.
From November 1992 to May 1993, 1 was prolapse or ballooned vagina (Banerjee 1991).
studying habitat use by the chital (Axis axis in Retention of placenta or weakening of the
)
Dholkhand, Rajaji National Park, India. On peritonial muscles or dystokia may cause this
31st January, 1993 (morning), I saw a group of (Sankar 1990). It makes parturition difficult and
20 chitals, including 3 fawns, foraging on a can cause temporary or even permanent sterility
hillock. One doe had vaginal prolapse. The size (Banerjee 1991).
ofthe prolapsed mass was about that ofa cricket Sankar (1990) who reported recto-vaginal
ball. The doe’s normal belly suggested that it was prolapse in a wild chital in Sariska Tiger Reserve
notpregnant. No fawn attended the female during concluded that animals in such condition may
the 20 minutes of my observation. have poor chances of survival. 1 have seen
The vagina and also the uterus can get two domestic dogs with vaginal prolapse.
reversed and protrude out through the vulva Both were emaciated, never regained health
during advanced pregnancy or when approaching even after months, before they were put
parturition. This condition is called vaginal down.