by Shyamala Ratnayeke
Page 2 : Telemetry as a Research Tool
Nowhere has telemetry revolutionized the field of wildlife science more than in the study of large solitary carnivores. One of the chief problems of studying carnivores is that most of them are solitary, highly mobile, and often nocturnal. Furthermore, many carnivore species are shy, tending to avoid areas used by human observers, and seeking cover in dense vegetation. The secretive nature of most carnivores tends to limit and bias the information gathered from studies that rely only on visual observation. Radio tracking techniques have been remarkably effective in reducing problems of studying elusive species, and have provided detailed information on the ecology and behavior of carnivores, of which very little was previously known. Telemetry can be used to follow known animals and collect behavioral and ecological data (e.g., movements, habitat use, activity patterns and social organization) without requiring constant visual observation of the animal concerned. The information obtained can be used in conjunction with existing geographic information systems (GIS) data to examine how natural and anthropogenic factors influence the bear's distribution and use of habitat, which in turn can serve to develop priorities for regional conservation.
Telemetry can also provide valuable information on survival and causes of mortality. For example, a mortality sensor on a radiocollar, or signs of prolonged inactivity from a radiocollared animal, can prompt a research biologist to approach the animal. If the animal has died recently, postmortem examination can often determine the cause of death, and whether it was human-induced or due to natural causes. If radiocollared animals have been shot illegally, an increase in patrolling and law-enforcement at strategic areas can be implemented.
Telemetry has aided park management in India’s Madhyar Pradesh in recent years. Madhyar Pradesh is home to most of India’s sloth bears and is also well-known for high frequencies of human-sloth bear conflict: within a five-year period in the early 1990s, 687 people were mauled by sloth bears, and 48 were killed. Radio tracking studies at Pannar National Park, Madhyar Pradesh, have thrown light on how human activities in the park (e.g., livestock grazing and firewood gathering) conflict with sloth bear activity patterns and habitat use. As a result, park managers have the information they need to ameliorate situations where human-sloth bear conflict is high.
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