Abstract

Gaur, Bos gaurus gaurus is a threatened species confined to Western Ghats. They occur mostly in the hilly forest areas of Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala. Populations in these tracts are adversely affected due to habitat loss or degradation and epidemics. Gour, the second largest animal in its range is also the least studied one. The present study was carried out in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. Information of group size, composition and structure of Gaur were collected through direct observations. The individuals were classified into different age-sex categories based on morphological characters. Adult females formed a major share of populations (44.79 ) followed by adult males (17.97 ). One hundred and fifty one species of food plants were identified through direct observation and examination of fresh feeding sites. Plant species belonging to Poaceae and Cyperaceae combinedly formed the major food items. The data on activity pattern and time budget were collected through instantaneous scan sampling. Activities were classified into different major categories. Activity pattern of gaur was of polyphase where feeding was interspersed with resting and walking. Gaur showed a bimodal diurnal pattern in feeding with peaks in the morning and evening hours. Feeding dominated the activity time budget followed by resting and walking. Information on density distribution in different habitats and zones were collected through dung density estimates from transects laid in proportion to habitat size. Effectof fire on vegetation was studied by establishing permanent experimental plots in different habitat types. Though the number of herb food species recorded an increase in burnt areas, there was a decrease in biomass in both food and non food herb species in deciduous. The number of food and non food species decreased in plantations. There was a change in the composition of shurb species in the burnt areas