Evaluating the effect of ecological and anthropogenic variables on site use by sympatric large carnivores in Gir protected area, Gujarat, India

Habitat destruction is one of the major causes of large carnivore decline worldwide. The present study assesses the ecological and anthropogenic determinants of site use by leopard and lion in the Gir forest. Data on leopard and lion site use was collected through camera traps and modeled using prey availability, proximity to water, woody cover, proximity to human habitation and grazing intensity as the predictor variable. A generalized linear model was used to find the effect of a predictor variable on leopard and lion site use intensity. Leopard site use intensity was positively associated with chital, nilgai, and sambar availability, and grazing intensity while negatively associated with proximity to water. Lion site use intensity was positively associated with nilgai availability, woody cover and grazing intensity while negatively associated with sambar availability, and proximity to water. The present study indicated that habitat might have a substantial role in determining prey–predator spatial relationships. Also, humans provide resources such as artificial water holes could potentially affect the distribution of both the predators in our study area. The present study could be useful while making management decisions in Gir.