India is home to many wild animals, and among them are hoofed mammals like deer, antelopes, wild pigs, and bison. These animals are called ungulates, and they play a big role in keeping our forests healthy. They are also the main food for tigers and other big predators.

• For the first time, scientists have studied how many of these animals live in different parts of India and how their numbers are changing. The report was prepared by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) using data collected during the 2022 All-India Tiger Estimation.
• This study has found that while some species are doing well in protected areas like tiger reserves and national parks, others are facing serious threats. Loss of habitat, hunting, and development projects are causing their numbers to fall in many places. These changes affect not only the animals themselves but also tigers, forests, and even the people living nearby.

Ungulates: Foundation of Forest Food Chains:

Ungulates form the primary prey base for tigers and other large carnivores such as leopards and dholes. Their feeding habits influence forest undergrowth and soil health, contributing to ecological balance. Therefore, understanding their population status is essential for conservation planning.

The assessment utilized direct and indirect evidence, including camera trap images, field surveys, and signs like dung piles and hoof prints, to map the density and distribution of ungulates across India's forested landscapes.

Key Findings: Species Trends and Regional Differences

Thriving Ungulate Species

1.       Chital (Spotted Deer):
The most widespread and numerous ungulate species in India. Chital's ecological flexibility allows it to thrive in multiple habitat types, including forest edges and human-dominated agricultural landscapes. It remains the most critical prey species for tigers in many landscapes.

2.      Sambar (Large Deer):
A crucial part of the prey base, especially in central India and the Western Ghats. Sambar populations are stable due to their adaptability to dense forests.

3.      Gaur (Indian Bison):
Classified as vulnerable, gaur populations are relatively healthy in parts of the Western Ghats, central India, Eastern Ghats, and the northeastern Himalayan foothills. Preferring undisturbed forests with uneven terrain, gaur contribute significantly to forest dynamics.

4.     Nilgai and Wild Pig:

o    Nilgai, India's largest antelope, is highly adaptable and increasingly ventures into farmlands, occasionally triggering conflict with farmers.

o    Wild pigs are also widespread and resilient, thriving across various landscapes.

Declining and At-Risk Species:

1.       Hog Deer:
Once common in grasslands and floodplains, hog deer populations have plummeted due to habitat fragmentation and the loss of swampy wetlands. They now survive only in isolated patches in the Terai Arc Landscape and Brahmaputra floodplains.

2.      Barasingha (Swamp Deer):
This wetland specialist has disappeared from most of its historical range and now survives in only a few locations like Kanha, Dudhwa, and Kaziranga. Though reintroduction efforts in Bandhavgarh and Satpura have seen some success, the species remains extremely vulnerable due to its dependence on specific ecosystems.

3.      Wild Buffalo and Pygmy Hog:
These species have small, genetically isolated populations, making them highly susceptible to inbreeding and local extinctions.

Uneven Distribution Across Landscapes:

The report shows that ungulate abundance is not uniformly distributed across India’s forests:

• Regions with Healthy Populations:
• Uttarakhand
• Western Ghats
• Central Indian Highlands
• Northeast India

These areas host significant populations of chital, sambar, and gaur, particularly in tiger reserves and national parks, which offer higher protection levels.

• Regions of Concern:
• Odisha
• Jharkhand
• Chhattisgarh

Here, ungulate populations are declining due to severe habitat degradation, mining, infrastructure projects, left-wing extremism, and subsistence hunting by local communities.

Moreover, wildlife sanctuaries and forest divisions adjacent to tiger reserves—often less protected—host significantly lower prey densities, making them less viable for sustaining predator populations.

Implications for Tiger Conservation:

India holds over 3,600 wild tigers, accounting for more than 70% of the global population. The availability of a healthy, stable prey base is essential for maintaining these numbers. Declines in ungulate populations pose multiple threats:

1.       Pressure on Tiger-Heavy States:
States like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which already support large tiger populations, are nearing their ecological carrying capacity. As a result, tigers are moving eastward into prey-deficient areas, encountering fragmented habitats and increased human-wildlife conflict.

2.      Livestock Predation and Human Conflict:
In areas with low prey densities, tigers are forced to hunt livestock. This leads to retaliatory killings by humans and heightens conservation challenges.

3.      Escalating Conflict in Agrarian Landscapes:
Species like wild pigs and nilgai, while not endangered, often raid crops, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. This adds another layer of conflict and fosters negative public perceptions of wildlife.

4.     Fragmentation and Genetic Isolation:
Infrastructure like roads, railways, and power lines cuts through critical corridors, isolating populations of prey species. This affects not only their survival but also the movement and genetic health of large carnivores.

The Way Forward: Conservation Strategies

To ensure long-term ecosystem stability, the report recommends a multipronged approach:

1. Landscape-Level Habitat Restoration

• Revive degraded ecosystems, especially grasslands, floodplains, and wetlands, which are vital for species like barasingha and hog deer.
• Prevent further conversion of wildlife habitats into farmland or urban infrastructure.

2. Strengthening Protection Beyond Reserves

• Expand the protection net to cover sanctuaries, buffer zones, and corridors.
• Implement community-based conservation models in fringe areas to curb poaching and habitat encroachment.

3. Rewilding and On-Site Breeding

• Breed vulnerable species in enclosures within natural habitats, where they can be protected from predation and allowed to increase in number before reintroduction.

4. Ensuring Genetic Connectivity

• Restore and safeguard wildlife corridors to facilitate movement and prevent genetic bottlenecks.

5. Engaging Local Communities

• Offer alternative livelihoods and incentives to reduce dependence on forests.
• Educate communities about the ecological and economic value of prey species and tigers.

Conclusion

The health of India’s ungulate population is a crucial indicator of forest well-being and predator viability. While species like chital and sambar continue to thrive in well-protected habitats, others like barasingha and hog deer are on the brink due to habitat loss and fragmentation. The uneven distribution of prey species across the country poses a significant challenge for tiger conservation efforts.

Crucially, the findings underscore the need to move beyond tiger-centric conservation and adopt a prey-first, ecosystem-wide approach. East-central states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh hold great potential for future tiger expansion—but only if their prey base is restored and protected. The future of India's tigers, and indeed its forests, may well depend on the fate of these often-overlooked herbivores.