Modern Naturalistic Enclosures: Comparatively an Enhanced Management Practice of Captive Felids in the Zoological Park

Due to the expansion of human population, threat for existence of all wild animals is gradually increasing. They are driven to exist in smaller areas and in the worst case scenario extinction. Zoos are being encouraged to improve the animal’s physical and social surroundings. In this study, the modern naturalistic enrichment introduced to large felids tiger, lion and leopard at Gandhi Zoological Park, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, was studied. The study has envisaged evaluating if the modern naturalistic enclosures could increase activity levels and how the felids opted to these enclosure. The enclosures were divided into menageries and natural enrichment, which had a varying degree of opportunities for the animals to climb, hide and rest above ground level. The environmental enrichment effects on the proportion of time spent engaging in active behaviors and stereotypic pacing in the large felids were compared and recorded using instantaneous scan sampling. The results of this study revealed clearly that large felids kept in more natural and complex enclosures performed less stereotypic pacing (unnatural behavior), and more exploratory (natural) behaviour than those housed in less natural enclosures reducing the stress level in captive tigers will enhance the animals’ overall physical and psychological well being, which will in turn increase the success of captive breeding programs. Furthermore, these results suggest that captive tigers should be housed in large enclosures containing natural substrate and vegetation, water pools, ample shade, a variety of resting locations and enrichment items

Water quality and conservation management of Ramsagar reservoir, Datia, Madhya Pradesh.

The aim of this study is to assess physico-chemical characteristics, trophic status, pollution studies and macrophytic community of Ramsagar reservoir from April 2003 to March 2005. The range of various parameters of reservoir water (water temperature 15.92-31.87 oC, water depth 2.90-8.25 m, transparency 66.59-116.00 cm, electrical conductivity 108-246.30 µS cm-1, turbidity 2.17-16.72 NTU, total dissolved solids 166.37-239.00 mg l-1, pH 7.41-8.95, dissolved oxygen 6.78-11.59 mg l-1, free carbon dioxide nil-6.32 mg l-1, total alkalinity 64.25-146.25 mg l-1, total hardness 34.00-75.25 mg l-1, chlorides 13.13-22.36 mg l-1, calcium 11.21-33.81 mg l-1, sulphates 1.50-8.87 mg l-1, nitrates 0.011-0.033 mg l-1, nitrites 0.004-0.029 mg l-1, phosphates 0.013-0.054 mg l-1, silicates 0.65-8.42 mg l-1, ammonia nil-0.84 mg l-1, biochemical oxygen demand 0.93-4.68 mg l-1, chemical oxygen demand 3.60-17.40 mg l-1, magnesium 1.17-5.60 mg l-1, sodium 16.75-34.30 mg l-1 and potassium 1.97-4.86 mg l-1) exhibit monthly as well as seasonal fluctuations. The nutrients including silicates, sulphates, phosphates, nitrates and potassium are in sufficient quantities for the growth of aquatic plants and animals in the reservoir. In all 13 species of macrophytes were recorded from the reservoir. Macrophytic diversity was higher at the points where nallahas join the reservoir and in the areas where agricultural practices are performed. This was due to allocthonous nutrients brought in to the reservoir from the surrounding catchments area. The above study indicated that the Ramsagar reservoir is under the category of mesotrophic water body slightly inclined towards eutrophication. Therefore, the conservation and management of this water body are very much required.

Water quality and pollution status of Chambal river in National Chambal Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh.

The physico-chemical characteristics of Chambal river water in National Chambal sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) have been studied. The stretch of Chambal river contained in the National Chambal sanctuary (located at 25 degrees 23'-26 degrees 52'N, 76 degrees 28'-79 degrees 15'E) is extending up to 600 km downstream from Kota (Rajasthan) to the confluence of the Chambal with Yamuna river (Etawah). The river flow in Madhya Pradesh spans up to approximately 400 km. Three sampling stations viz., Station A--near Palighat, district Sheopurkalan, Station B--near Rajghat, district Morena and Station C--near Baraighat, district Bhind were established for the collection of water samples during April, 2003 to March, 2004. The water quality parameters namely transparency (12.12-110 cm), colour (transparent-very turbid), turbidity (1-178 TNU), electrical conductivity (145.60-884 microS cm(-1)), total dissolved solids (260-500 mgl(-1)), pH (7.60-9.33), dissolved oxygen (4.86-14.59 mgl(-1)), free carbon dioxide (0-16.5 mgl(-1)), total alkalinity (70-290 mgl(-1)), total hardness (42-140 mgl(-1)), chloride (15.62-80.94 mgl(-1)), nitrate (0.008-0.025 mgl(-1)), nitrite (0.002-0.022 mgl(-1)), sulphate (3.50-45 mgl(-1)), phosphate (0.004-0.050 mgl(-1)), silicate (2.80-13.80 mgl(-1)), biochemical oxygen demand (0.60-5.67 mgl(-1)), chemical oxygen demand (2.40-26.80 mgl(-1)), ammonia (nil-0.56 mgl(-1)), sodium (14.30-54.40 mgl(-1)) and potassium (2.10 mgl(-1)-6.30 mgl(-1)) reflects on the pristine nature of the river in National Chambal sanctuary. On the basis of various parameters studied, Chambal river in this stretch can be placed under the category of oligosaprobic. The water quality analysis, indicated that the riverwater in the sanctuary area is pollution free and can serve as a good habitat for many aquatic animals including endangered species.