Diets of Hangul Deer Cervus elaphus hanglu (Cetartiodactyla: Cervidae) in Dachigam National Park, Kashmir, India

• Published in: Journal of threatened taxa Vol. 1; no. 7; pp. 397 - 400
• Main Authors: Shah, G. Mustafa, Jan, Ulfat, Bhat, Bilal A., Ahangar, Fayaz A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society 26-07-2009
• ISSN: 0974-7893; 0974-7907
• DOI: 10.11609/JoTT.o2186.398-400

Seasonal variations in the diets of Hangul Deer Cervus elaphus hanglu in Dachigam National Park (DNP) were determined by analyzing 95 freshly collected pellet samples. The pellets were collected along well defined transects during a two year study from January 2005 to December 2006. The diets showed marked seasonal variations. The spring diet was constituted by forbs (45.2%), shrubs (24%), grasses (20%) and climbers (10.7%). In summer forbs accounted for 42.7% of the diet, trees 38%, grasses 14.3% and shrubs 4.8%. Except the lone representation of forb species (5.6%) the autumn diet was mainly represented by shrubs (75%) and trees (19.4%). The winter diet was constituted by trees (35.6%), shrubs (28.6%), forbs (21.3%), grasses (8.6%) and climbers (5.8%).