Dataset Information

A Multi-Point Identification Approach for the Recognition of Individual Leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya).

ABSTRACT: Visual leopard identifications performed with camera traps using the capture-recapture method only consider areas of the skin that are visible to the equipment. The method presented here considered the spot or rosette formations of either the two flanks or the face, and the captured images were then compared and matched with available photographs. Leopards were classified as new individuals if no matches were found in the existing set of photos. It was previously assumed that an individual leopard's spot or rosette pattern would not change. We established that the spot and rosette patterns change over time and that these changes are the result of injuries in certain cases. When compared to the original patterns, the number of spots may be lost or reduced, and some spots or patterns may change in terms of their prominence, shape, and size. We called these changes "obliterate changes" and "rejig changes", respectively. The implementation of an earlier method resulted in a duplication of leopard counts, achieving an error rate of more than 15% in the population at Yala National Park. The same leopard could be misidentified and counted multiple times, causing overestimated populations. To address this issue, we created a new two-step methodology for identifying Sri Lankan leopards. The multi-point identification method requires the evaluation of at least 9-10 spot areas before a leopard can be identified. Moreover, the minimum leopard population at the YNP 1 comprises at least 77 leopards and has a density of 0.5461 leopards per km2.

SUBMITTER: Wattegedera M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8909430 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A Multi-Point Identification Approach for the Recognition of Individual Leopards (<i>Panthera pardus kotiya</i>).

Wattegedera Milinda M Silva Dushyantha D Sooriyabandara Chandana C Wimaladasa Prasantha P Siriwardena Raveendra R Piyasena Mevan M Marasinghe Ranjan M S L R P RMSLRP Hathurusinghe Bhagya M BM Nilanthi Rajapakse M R RMR Gunawardena Sadeepa S Peiris Heshan H Seneviratne Pasan P Sendanayake Pramod C PC Dushmantha Chathura C Chandrasena Sudantha S Gooneratne Sahan S SS Premaratne Pumudi P Wickremaratne Sandaru S Mahela Mindaka M

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI 20220306 5

Visual leopard identifications performed with camera traps using the capture-recapture method only consider areas of the skin that are visible to the equipment. The method presented here considered the spot or rosette formations of either the two flanks or the face, and the captured images were then compared and matched with available photographs. Leopards were classified as new individuals if no matches were found in the existing set of photos. It was previously assumed that an individual leopa ...[more]

PMID: 35268228

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Project description:The aim of the study was to establish the baseline hematology and serum biochemistry values for Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca), and to assess the possible variations in these parameters based on age and gender.Hemato-biochemical test reports from a total of 83 healthy leopards, carried out as part of routine health evaluation in Bannerghatta Biological Park and Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center, were used to establish baseline hematology and serum biochemistry parameters for the subspecies. The hematological parameters considered for the analysis included hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH), and MCH concentration. The serum biochemistry parameters considered included total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, triglycerides, calcium, and phosphorus.Even though few differences were observed in hematologic and biochemistry values between male and female Indian leopards, the differences were statistically not significant. Effects of age, however, were evident in relation to many hematologic and biochemical parameters. Sub-adults had significantly greater values for Hb, TEC, and TLC compared to adults and geriatric group, whereas they had significantly lower MCV and MCH compared to adults and geriatric group. Among, serum biochemistry parameters the sub-adult age group was observed to have significantly lower values for TP and ALT than adult and geriatric leopards.The study provides a comprehensive analysis of hematologic and biochemical parameters for Indian leopards. Baselines established here will permit better captive management of the subspecies, serve as a guide to assess the health and physiological status of the free ranging leopards, and may contribute valuable information for making effective management decisions during translocation or rehabilitation process.

Dataset Information

A Multi-Point Identification Approach for the Recognition of Individual Leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya).

Publications

A Multi-Point Identification Approach for the Recognition of Individual Leopards (<i>Panthera pardus kotiya</i>).

Similar Datasets

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