Abstract

The paper describes the general status and behaviour of large mammals in these 3 protected areas in Madhya Pradesh. The area has 2 broad forest types - subtropical hill forests and tropical moist deciduous forests - and is rich in wildlife with greater than 21 species of large mammals recorded. The most common species are the Indian gaur (Bos gaurus), sambar (Cervus unicolor), chital (Axis axis), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), four horned antelopes (Tetraceros quadricornis) and sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) . Elephants are absent and carnivores include tigers (Panthera tigris), panthers (Panthera pardus), hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) and jackals (Canis alpinus) . Sex-ratios (male to female) of sambars and spotted deer were 1: 5 and 1: 2, respectively. Herbivores preferred grasslands and bamboo forests to teak [Tectona grandis] plantations, and no significant difference was found in habitat use between grasslands and bamboo forests. Herbivores showed no significant difference in