Debarking and Uprooting of wild Elephant (Elephas maximus) In Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) – G.Vanaraj and S. Sundar
Elephants play an important r
ole in the composition and dynamics of forest vegetation by trampling and browsing, which includes debarking and uprooting. We assessed the tree species uprooted and debarked by Asian Elephants forest elephants in the deciduous forests of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats along transects for one month. The results indicated that elephants debarked six tree species and uprooted eight tree species, among which the maximum number of debarked trees from the deciduous forest was 13 trees and the maximum number of uprooted trees was 17 trees. Boswellia serrata experienced the highest debarking, while and Hardwickia binnata experienced the highest uprooting. Uprooting incidence was greater than debarking. Depending upon extends of debarking and uprooting of trees the mortality rates of trees may vary.
Keywords: Elephants, debarking, uprooting, dry deciduous forests, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary