ANTHROPOGENIC THREAT TO GAUR (Bos gaurus) IN BAISIPALLI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, EASTERN GHAT, INDIA

T Indian Subcontinent is one of the most fascinating ecological and geographical regions in the world and remarkable for the variety of its large mammals with a richness in species exceeded by few countries in the world (Schaller, 1967). But the increasing human populations, urbanization, industrialization, deforestation and various other anthropogenic developmental activities have led to the rapid depletion of this magnificent biodiversity hotspot and the habitats of wildlife. India’s Eastern Ghat is one of the key biodiversity areas that is facing high anthropogenic disturbance from different sites. Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary in Orissa is considered as the gateway to Eastern Ghat and one of the major conservation areas of this region. The vegetation of the sanctuary largely comprises northern tropical moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests and moist peninsular low level Sal (Shorea robusta) forest. It is also a good habitat for gaur (Bos gaurus), which is listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. But this area is highly affected by different human activities which are causing the gradual depletion of habitat of wild animals including Gaur. Previously, Rout (2005) studied the anthropogenic disturbances in Similipal Biosphere Reserve of Orissa. Studies on threats to gaur date back to Duckworth et al. (1999), Sankar et al. (2000), Choudhury (2002), Steinmetz (2004) and Pasha et al.(2004). In Eastern Ghat, Baisipalli is an unexplored area. There is no information available on threats towards gaur or about the local community’s attitude towards its conservation. Therefore, the present study aimed to document the baseline information on threats to the studied species and to create awareness among different levels of society to conserve this vulnerable species (Duckworth et al., 2008). Methodology