Awadhesh Kumar

North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Forestry, Faculty Member

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Phone: +91-9436055347
Address: Department of Forestry, NERIST (Deemed University), Nirjuli-791109, Arunachal Pradesh, India

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Papers by Awadhesh Kumar

Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista) in Assam, India

TAPROBANICA: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity, 2012

Rare Animals of India

Rare Animals of India, 2013

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Vertebrate assemblages on fruiting figs in the Indian eastern Himalaya’s Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary

by Janmejay Sethy, Awadhesh Kumar, Murali Krishna, and Ajay Maletha

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2023

Ficus is undeniably one of the most important plants in the tropical forest in the Indian eastern... more Ficus is undeniably one of the most important plants in the tropical forest in the Indian eastern Himalaya. The species composition and assemblages were analysed on fruiting figs on the west bank of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS), Arunachal Pradesh. Figs trees are often ecologically significant keystone species because they sustain the population of the many seed-dispersing animals that feed on these fruits. This research endeavors to comprehend the dynamics of vertebrate assemblages inhabiting fruiting figs within the West bank of PWS. Over a span of 60 days and a cumulative 89 hours of observation, both direct sightings and indirect indicators of vertebrate presence were integrated. The outcome revealed a diverse spectrum of 54 vertebrate species, comprising 43 avian and 11 mammalian species, distributed across four Ficus species; concurrently, alternative plant species accommodated 28 avian and four mammalian species. Among these, the pre-eminence of green pigeons within Ficus species underscores their feeding behaviors, underscoring the vital role of figs as a dietary cornerstone within PWS’s west bank. Notably, the comparative under representation of vertebrates on the local fig species Ficus drupacea offers intriguing insights. The findings substantiate the significance of figs as a nourishment resource and instigate the necessity for extended investigations to fully unravel the intricate reliance of vertebrates on Ficus species within the tapestry of tropical forests.

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Habitat Characteristics and Their Effects on the Density of Groups of Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India

International Journal of Primatology, May 10, 2015

Understanding the relationship between a species and its habitat is crucial for conservation acti... more Understanding the relationship between a species and its habitat is crucial for conservation action planning. The Endangered western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) has a fragmented distribution in northeast India, Bangladesh and parts of western Myanmar. Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh contains the largest population of western hoolock gibbons in India. We carried out an auditory sampling survey and habitat analysis of western hoolock gibbons in the park from September to

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10 Flyingsquirrel Rayetal Taprobanica 4 2 108-111

Negative human-wildlife interactions in traditional agroforestry systems in Assam, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2020

Traditional agroforestry systems are designed to provide maximum and diverse yield (ranging from ... more Traditional agroforestry systems are designed to provide maximum and diverse yield (ranging from agricultural crops, forest trees, livestock and fish) to people. They also act as sources of food and shelter to wild animals leading to crop destruction, livestock depredation and injuries to people giving rise to negative human-wildlife interactions. The present study was carried out in three different agroforestry systems namely tea gardens, homegardens, and agrisilvicultural systems in Assam to document the attitude of people towards wild animals which damage the crops and livestock, through questionnaire surveys. In agroforestry systems, 13 animals were reported as destructive; rodents at 13% followed by Indian Hare at 12%. The least destructive were birds and bats with 4% each. In tea gardens majority of the people killed animals for meat (95%) and the most common method for killing was the use of catapults (77%). In homegardens and agrisilvicultural systems, owners chased th...

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Conservation of Wildlife Diversity in Agroforestry Systems in Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot

Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 2021

The highly diverse tropical forests are fast being depleted and converted into isolated fragments... more The highly diverse tropical forests are fast being depleted and converted into isolated fragments which endangers the existence of wild animals. These fragments are interconnected by human-dominated agroforestry systems. To conserve the wild animals it is important that such agroforestry systems have the potential habitat to support the survival of the enormous regional biota. The present study was carried out in agroforestry systems (agrisilviculture systems, home gardens and tea gardens) in Assam to understand their role in conservation of different biological groups (mammals, birds, butterflies, reptiles and frogs). Total visual count method was deployed in home gardens and agrisilviculture system and line transects were laid in tea gardens for recording the faunal diversity. Altogether, 364 animal species (consisting of 14 mammal species, 185 bird species, 133 butterfly species, 18 reptilian species and 14 amphibian species) were recorded from the selected study sites of agroforestry systems. The highest animal diversity was found in home garden (311 spp.), followed by tea garden (275 spp.) and agrisilviculture system (187 spp.). Out of the 364 species recorded, only 1.09% were threatened (endangered and vulnerable) species and 1.37% were near threatened species according to the IUCN Red List. Wild animal species richness was significantly and negatively associated with distance from forest and positively associated with fruiting and flowering vegetation. Thus, the agroforestry systems with their flowering and fruiting vegetation, though cannot substitute the forest habitat but can be useful in providing shelter to the generalist species and their populations. Keywords Home gardens Á Tea gardens Á Agrisilviculture systems Á Mammals Á Birds Á Butterflies

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Traditional home garden agroforestry systems: habitat for conservation of Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus (Passeriformes: Ploceidae) in Assam, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2017

The present study was conducted in 18 homegarden agroforestry systems of Assam to assess the role... more The present study was conducted in 18 homegarden agroforestry systems of Assam to assess the role in the conservation of Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus. Observations were made on the type of host trees, location of host trees, their spatial arrangement pattern, height and diameter of host trees chosen for nesting and the number of complete and helmet stage nests. Trail walks were employed for assessing the encounter rates of predators. A total of 2357 individuals of potential host trees for nesting of P. philippinus were found belonging to Areca catechu (2272), Cocos nucifera (56), Phoenix sylvasticus (13) and Borassus flabellifer (16). According to the spatial arrangement pattern of host trees, among 2272 individuals of A. catechu, 96.5% (n=2192) and 3.5% (n=80) of individuals were arranged in block and row pattern respectively. The other three host trees were arranged in single pattern. Among these 80 individuals of A. catechu planted in row pattern, 47.5% (n=38) had nests ...

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Cattle-Carnivore Conflict: A Case Study of Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT A case study on cattle-carnivores conflict was carried out at Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) ... more ABSTRACT A case study on cattle-carnivores conflict was carried out at Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India during 2001-2003. Number of villages on the eastern periphery of PTR are 14, comprised of the total number of 395 household, 2322 human population and 1392 domestic cattle population. A total of nineteen incidences of conflicts were recorded on the eastern part of buffer zone of PTR. Out of nineteen, in four incidences of conflict cattle were injured and on fifteen incidence cattle were killed and eaten by large carnivores. The incident rate was not related to proximity of village with protected area. The livestock number was the factor for higher number of conflicts. The maximum six incidences of conflict were reported from Jolly Village. 79% conflicts were recorded during dry season, September-February, when agricultural lands are occupied by crops. The most villagers (75%) agreed on the presence of tigers in the periphery of PTR during that period.

Winter food selection and diet composition of capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) in Arunachal Pradesh, India

The food selection, preference, and diet composition of capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) w... more The food selection, preference, and diet composition of capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) were studied during two winter seasons. Capped langur spent 36.8% of their time in feeding during winter months. Young leaves (42%), flowers (22%), fruits (17%), mature leaves (15%), and seeds (3%) constituted the major food items. Leaves contributed 57% in the diet of langur. T. pileatus derived food from 43 plant species. Of these, 33 were sources of leaves, 15 were sources of fruits, 10 were sources of flowers and 6 were sources of seeds. The average number of plant species eaten each month during the study period was 19.6. Plants in the Moraceae family were widely consumed. Capped langur often ate young leaves of Ficus glomerata and Kydia calycina. Young leaves of Mikania micrantha also contributed to the diet of the langurs. Resumen: Durante dos estaciones invernales se estudió la selección de alimento, las preferencias y la composición de la dieta del langur encapotado (Trachypithecus pileatus). El langur encapotado dedicó 36.8% de su tiempo para alimentarse durante el periodo invernal. Las hojas jóvenes (42%); las flores (22%), los frutos (17%), las hojas maduras (15%), y las semillas (3%) constituyeron los productos alimenticios principales. Las hoja constituyeron 57% de la dieta del langur encapotado. T. pileatus obtuvo comida a partir de 43 especies de plantas. De éstas, 33 fueron fuente de hojas, 5 fuente de frutos, 10 fuente de flores y 6 fuente de semillas. En promedio, cada mes durante el periodo de estudio fueron consumidas 19.6 especies vegetales. Las plantas de la familia Moraceae fueron consumidas ampliamente. Con frecuencia el langur encapotado comió hojas jóvenes de Ficus glomerata y Kydia calycina. Las hojas jóvenes de Mikania micrantha también contribuyeron a la dieta de los langures encapotados.

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Reproductive Biology of Eastern Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock leuconedys in Conservation Breeding Centre at Biological Park, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India

International Journal of Zoological Research, 2017

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Preliminary Survey on Asiatic Black Bear in Sikkim Himalaya: An Outlined Plan for Conservation

Demand for forest products has increased in the developing nation and possess a serious threat to... more Demand for forest products has increased in the developing nation and possess a serious threat to wild flora and local fauna. The Asiatic black bear is one of the high conflict species found in the Sikkim and it comes under schedule I in Wildlife Protection (Act) 1972. Due to the road construction and widening, habitat destruction, human interference in their prime habitat, and numerous hydro-power projects immensely affecting the habitat of the black bear in Sikkim. With this background present study was initiated to document the suitable presence of black bears along with the human-bear interaction in and around Khangchendzonga National Park through secondary and primary data collection. We recorded that the presence of the Black bear is more in the transistion, buffer areas as concerning to the Khangchendzonga National Park(core area). Along with possible presence, the huge growth of conflicts like livestock killing, crop depredation, property damage, and even attack on a human i...

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Seasonal diets of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Khangchendzonga National Park, Eastern Himalaya India

Journal of Natural History, 2021

This study aimed to investigate the seasonal diet of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) us... more This study aimed to investigate the seasonal diet of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) using scat analysis in the Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) and its surrounding. The study was carried out from 2017 to 2019 and 32 plant species were identified, along with animal matter from collected scats samples (n = 163). The identified food samples were placed into six categories: (i) vegetation (leaves of trees, shrubs, herbs and bamboo), (ii) hard mast (tree fruits and seeds), (iii) berries and soft mast (shrub fruits and seeds), (iv) agriculture and horticulture crops, (v) animal matter (insects & livestock), and (vi) unidentified items (roots, barks, twigs, etc.). The food preference of U. thibetanus comprises berries and succulent vegetation during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons, whereas hard mast was mostly preferred in the post-monsoon and winter seasons. The present study showed that the diet of U. thibetanus depends on the availability and propensities of food items...

Remnant Flowering Trees as Avifaunal Refuge in the Fringe Areas of Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 2020

Remnant trees are prominent structures in modified and anthropogenic landscapes globally and avia... more Remnant trees are prominent structures in modified and anthropogenic landscapes globally and avian species and remnant trees, together play an imperative role in preservation of forest ecosystem by providing several services such as pollination, seed dispersal and insect pest predators/defender. In addition, these trees act as the refuges in an anthropogenic landscape to provide ecological functions such as maintaining microclimate, soil nutrients and support species richness and diversity of birds, mammals and insects. This study was aimed to investigate the conservation values of remnant flowering trees occur in the fringe villages of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India in order to highlight their significance in the conservation of avian species through direct observation method. Through regular observations, we estimated a total of 2826 (45.59 ± 16.02) numbers of bird’s individuals from 56 species belonging to 28 families and 9 orders in five flowing tree species, viz. Bombax ceiba (Simolu), Moringa oleifera (Sojina), Erythrina indica (Modar), Cassia renigera (Radhachura) and Bauhunia purpurea (Kanchan) found in the village land. The utmost richness (n = 28 species) of avifauna were recorded in Bombax ceiba. A maximum number of the bird species was recorded from order Passeriformes. Pycnonotus cafer (Red vented bulbul: 31.2%) was recorded as dominant bird species followed by Acridotheres fuscus (Jungle Myna: 11.9%), Saroglossa spilopterus (Spot winged starling: 9.9%), Acridotheres grandis (Great Myna: 8.4%), Zosterops palpebrosus (Oriental white eye: 5.4%) and Sturnia malabarica (Chestnut tailed starling: 5.1%) and remaining bird species were recorded less than 5% during the entire study period. Out of 56 recorded avian species, 55 species recognized as least concern species and one species Psittacula alexandri (Red-breasted Parakeet) which belongs to near threatened (NT) under IUCN categories of conservation. The present findings showed that remnant trees have similar competence to conserve bird species as natural forest of Pakke. Thus, the remnant trees with flowering and fruiting in human modified landscape plays a mutual relationship with surrounding bird diversity and help to support the ecosystem and therefore, plantation of flowering and fruiting trees should be encouraged in fringe villages for not only to increase the aesthetic value of landscape but also to provide quality welfare factors for the avian species conservation.

Nesting trees of the Red Giant Gliding Squirrel Petaurista petaurista (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) in a tropical forest of Namdapha National Park, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2019

The present study investigated the nesting habits of the Red Giant Gliding Squirrel in the tropic... more The present study investigated the nesting habits of the Red Giant Gliding Squirrel in the tropical forest of Namdapha National Park, India within the time period of 2012–2013. Gliding squirrel nest trees were located by searching for them with using spotlighting during evenings and early mornings. For each den site we recorded data on nesting tree species, total height of tree, height of the nest on tree, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), and canopy connectivity of the nesting tree. We observed P. petaurista using cavity nests (n=27) in eight tree species. The majority of nest trees observed were in Altingia excelsa (40.7%) and Terminalia myriocarpa (22.2%). Trees with less canopy connectivity were preferred for nesting where 59.3% of nest trees had <25% canopy connectivity. Petaurista petaurista nested in trees with an average of 31.1±0.86m (Mean ± SE) height and the nests were located at a mean height of 17.8±0.89m (SE) (min & max: 9.3m & 35.2m). Mean DBH of nesting...

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Gliding performance of the red giant gliding squirrel Petaurista petaurista in the tropical rainforest of Indian eastern Himalaya

Wildlife Biology, 2016

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more

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Predicting Suitable Habitats for the Vulnerable Eastern Hoolock Gibbon, Hoolock leuconedys , in India Using the MaxEnt Model

Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology, Jan 8, 2015

The eastern hoolock gibbon, Hoolock leuconedys, is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List... more The eastern hoolock gibbon, Hoolock leuconedys, is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and assessed as a Schedule I species of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 in India. We predict the potential habitat of H. leuconedys in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India, using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) distribution modelling algorithm. The model was developed using 90 known localities of H. leuconedys in the state. Nineteen environmental parameters along with 12 normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) layers, elevation and land use and land cover (LULC) were used in the modelling. Amongst the environmental input variables, the precipitation of the coldest quarter (BIO 19) had the highest contribution to the model (26.03%) and the twelve NDVI layers collectively contributed 60.91%. Two districts, Lower Dibang Valley and Lohit, which are known to contain H. leuconedys, occupied 64.75% of the predicted distribution area of the species. Thus, we aid in the identification ...

Diversity and Habitat Association of Butterfly Species in Foothills of Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India

A study on diversity of butterfly fauna was carried out in the North Eastern Regional Institute o... more A study on diversity of butterfly fauna was carried out in the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) Campus of Nirjuli, Itanagar; Arunachal Pradesh, India. The habitat was divided into four major categories namely home garden, forest patch, road side plantation and open grassland. A total of 63 species of butterflies belonging to the five families were recorded during the survey and Nymphalidae were the most commonly recorded, accounting for 44% of total species recorded followed by Lycaenidae 17%, Pieridae 16% and Papilionidae 14% of total species and minimum was recorded for Hesperidae 8% (n=5) Maximum 51 species were recorded in the forest patches followed by home garden (46), road side plantation (44) and minimum in open grassland (36). A total of 398 individuals were recorded from the campus with highest abundance in home garden (n=129) followed by open grassland (n=96), forest patch (n=89) and road side plantation (n=84). The diversity was found h...

Investigating the Foraging Patterns and Distribution of Nocturnal Frugivores with Special Focus on Conservation Threats in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents... more

SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE Feeding on non-plant food items by Western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock)

Current science

The distribution and quality of food resources are generally recognized as the pre-eminent factor... more The distribution and quality of food resources are generally recognized as the pre-eminent factors explaining much interspecific and intraspecific variation in the behaviour of non-human primates 1 . The diet of non-human primates is char-acterized by large portion of plant items such as fruits, flowers and leaves and also contributes a small portion of non-plant food items 2 . Primates that live in seasonal forests often show predictable responses of feeding to fluctuating re-sources 3 . Generally during the dry sea-son, when preferred food resources become a limiting factor, primates often consume non-plant food items 4 . These mainly include insects, caterpillars and larvae as well as other items like bird's eggs, soil from salt-licks, termite nests, etc. which are seldom eaten by primate species, including gibbons and contribute only a small part of their diet 4–6 . Al-though the quantity of these food items is usually small in size, they provide larger amounts of energy, pr...

Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista) in Assam, India

TAPROBANICA: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity, 2012

Rare Animals of India

Rare Animals of India, 2013

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Vertebrate assemblages on fruiting figs in the Indian eastern Himalaya’s Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary

by Janmejay Sethy, Awadhesh Kumar, Murali Krishna, and Ajay Maletha

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2023

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Habitat Characteristics and Their Effects on the Density of Groups of Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India

International Journal of Primatology, May 10, 2015

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