Part-2--(go to: Research:PART-2)--
4.SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1.Important Surveys
4.1.1.Mugger Survey
4.1.2.Avian Surveys
4.1.3.Floristic Surveys
4.2.Management of Endangered Species
4.2.1.Study of Mugger
4.2.2.Study of Tiger
4.2.3.Study of elephants
4.2.4.Species-Oriented Research
4.2.4.1.Giant squirrel
4.2.4.2.Black headed Munia
4.3.Socio-economic Studies
4.4.Development of Techniques
4.4.1.Tiger and Leopard Census
4.4.2.Large Herbivore Census
4.4.3.Crocodile studies
4.4.4.Chemical capture
4.4.5.Saltlick maintenance
4.4.6.Habitat manipulation
4.5.Habitat and Indicator fauna Management
4.6.Tourism Pattern and Conservation education
4.7.Development of Database
5.RESEARCH IN THE PERIPHERY
6.BIOSPHERE RESERVE AND RESEARCH
7.RESEARCH PRIORITIES
8.SUMMARY
Part-3(go to: Research:PART-3)
9.PUBLICATIONS
ABSTRACT
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The status of Similipal is unique for ecological and wildlife studies. While the project tiger and the crocodile project have produced most research data, studies pursued by outsiders are largely not available. The present account provides introduction to the trend of research in Similipal covering institutions and individuals, significant research contributions through important surveys, management of endangered species, species-oriented research, socio-economic studies, development of techniques, habitat and indicator fauna management, tourism pattern and conservation education, development of database, and research in the periphery of Similipal and in the Biosphere Reserve. The details can be accessed at individual publications.
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1.INTRODUCTION
Orissa is a junction of four biotic provinces. These are the Eastern plateau and Chhotanagpur under the biogeographic zone Deccan peninsula, the lower Gangetic-plain under the zone Gangetic-plain, and the coastline of 480km long under the province East coast in the zone of Coasts. Similipal shares biotic features from all these biotic provinces (Rodgers and Panwar, 1988). Besides, while in the entire Deccan zone Orissa is the wettest, Similipal alone receives more than 200cm annual rainfall. Also, Similipal has a rich capacity for holding water because of its geologic features related to its volcanic formation. In the year 1972-73 its significance was recognised as being one of the first nine areas selected for tiger conservation. Similipal holds the best central Indian population of elephants and a crocodile conservation programme is in operation here since the year 1979. In the year 1974 the area got declared as the eighth Biosphere Reserve of the country. All these features combined, Similipal presents an interesting and unique scope for ecological and wildlife studies.
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2.SCOPE AND LIMITS OF DISCUSSION
Apart from a couple of baseline old references wildlife research in Orissa, and for that matter in Similipal, is essentially contemporary to the saga of the new wave of nation-wide conservation movement launched after the enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1972. The project tiger and the crocodile project are the main producers of research data. These days a few graduate and postgraduate studies have also been pursued but almost all these work are not available at the project tiger headquarters. The limit of discussion is set to include those studies which have acted as founders and/or have contributed significantly either to building up of the wildlife data base or to the conservation and management of a species or a group of species.
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3.INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
Three individuals have inspired all the contemporary Wildlife research in Orissa. They are Prof. B.K. Behura of Utkal University, Late S. R. Choudhury- the founder Field Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve, and Dr. H.R. Bustard- the erstwhile Chief Technical Advisor on crocodile and turtle management. In Similipal although a Research Officer is posted since 1987 the research base has not developed to a full-fledged wing.
In the initial years the founder-Field Director late S. R. Choudhury conducted certain biological and management oriented studies. The subjects were :
(1) round-the-clock in-vivo study of sambar and chital,
(2) time taken for passage of food ingestion and elimination,
(3) rate of obliteration of pellet groups, and
(4) biology of the pet tigress, Khairi.
People from other departments have also made significant contributions to research in Similipal. Among them are Dr. U.N. Dev for studies on birds and Engineer Dr. Sarat Mishra for Orchid surveys. Organizations and institutions which have remained associated in studies on wildlife of Similipal are the Bombay Natural History Society, the Asiatic Elephant Specialist Group, the Zoological Survey of India, the Botanical Survey of India, and the Regional Research Laboratory at Bhubaneswar. Recently, under the Biosphere Reserve Programme Post Graduate Department of Botany - Utkal University, Anthropological Departmnet-Delhi University, Economics Department- Berhampur University have also started studies in Similipal. go to:Contents----