UNGULATE DENSITIES AND BIOMASS IN THE TROPICAL DRY DECIDUOUS FORESTS OF GIR, GUJARAT, INDIA

Data on densities, biomass and ecological factors governing the distri bution of various wild ungulate species in the different management un its of Gir forest from 1987 to 1989 were collected. Density of ungulat es ranged from 50.8 km(-2) to 0.42 km(-2), the highest for chital (Axi s axis), followed by chinkara (Gazella gazella), sambar (Cervus unicol or), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and chowsingha (Tetracerus quadr icornis). The density of chital did not vary significantly between dif ferent censuses and management units. The wild ungulate biomass ranged from 3290 kg km(-2) in the National Park to 1900 kg km(-2) in the San ctuary East. Following the partial removal of people and livestock in the mid-1970s, there was an increase in the population of all wild ung ulates except nilgai and wild pig (Sus scrofa). Concurrently, there wa s an increase in the proportion of wild ungulate prey in the lion's di et. Chital density has shown a 1320% increase. An increase in suitable habitats and a decrease in direct competition with livestock are the most likely factors to have triggered the eruption in chital populatio n. These density estimates are discussed in relation to the prevailing ecological conditions in different management units of Gir.