December 10, 2012
Along with being a time and cost effective method for monitoring free-roaming dog populations, more commonly known as stray dogs, the researchers explain that, "Using natural marks avoids the need of artificially marking dogs or handling them for the purpose of marking. This reduces the risk of stray dog bites or disease exposure to researchers, as well as possible biases due to dog shyness as a result of handling or marking."
In many free-roaming dog populations there are dogs with natural markings, which make them easy to identify as individuals, and dogs that are darker or mono-colored which are difficult to identify. In situations where it is difficult to identify an individual dog, the marked dogs can be used to estimate abundance given that the marked population is representative of the unmarked in terms of sightability.
The paper proposes that this method "may be appropriate when point estimates of free-ranging dog populations are required, but no readily available marks exist and limitations preclude other forms of artificial marking."
"Our study provides a practical and time-effective method to assess changes in dog populations in such areas where control programmes are in progress."
CITATION: Punjabi, G. A., Athreya, V. and Linnell, J. D. C. 2012. Using natural marks to estimate free-ranging dog Canis familiaris abundance in a MARK-RESIGHT framework in suburban Mumbai, India. Tropical Conservation Science Vol. 5(4):510-520.
China and India plan 818 new coal plants
(11/26/2012) Even as the clamor to reduce greenhouse gas emissions reaches a new high—echoed recently by such staid institutions as the World Bank and the International Energy Agency (IEA)—a new analysis by the World Resources Institute (WRI) finds that 818 new coal-fired plants are under proposal in China and India. In all 1,199 new coal-fired plants are currently planned worldwide, according to the report, totaling 1.4 million megawatts of energy.
Indian coal giant targets forests
(11/18/2012) The world’s largest coal producer, the state-run Coal India Ltd., plans to massively expand mining in forest areas to help meeting surging demand for electricity, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Gaining from rain: precipitation is an indicator of tropical forest biodiversity
(11/12/2012) Policymakers seeking to conserve forests in southern India should focus on those receiving the highest levels of rainfall, according to new research. Scientists from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) found rainfall to be the most important environmental determinant of species richness in the Anamalai region of the southern Western Ghats.
Leopard poaching is a bigger problem in India than previously believed
(10/31/2012) A recent study conducted by wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC uncovered unnerving statistics about the illegal trade of leopards (Panthera pardus) in India: at least four leopards have been poached every week for the past decade in the country. The study, entitled Illuminating the Blind Spot: A study on illegal trade in Leopard parts in India, highlights the severity of leopard poaching from 2001 to 2010, despite preventative measures established in 1972 by the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) that prohibit the sale of leopard parts in India.