A Behavioural Study of Free Ranging Ceylon Spotted Deer (Axis axis ceylonensis) in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Axis axis ceylonensis (Ceylon spotted deer) is a sub species endemic to Sri Lanka. Ecological observations in wild populations of this subspecies have been reported but there is no published research on its behaviour. We report here a behavioural study on a free ranging population of A. a. ceylonensis inhabiting a temple surroundings in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Behaviour was quantified by focal sampling on sex age groups in three time zones: 6:30 to 7:30, 12:30-13:30, and 17:00 to 18:00 hours. The deer were more active in the hour after dawn and an hour before dusk. The main activities were feeding and play, the latter common in juveniles. There was a preference to graze on grasses and browse on Ficus sp. leaves. Resting was highest in the afternoon across all groups. This bimodal activity pattern is similar to that of both wild Ceylon and Indian A. axis subspecies despite the absence of predators in the study area. The bimodal activity may be related to thermoregulatory functions while grazing in open grass areas.

Geocultural image of Manchuria in the novel “The Root of Life” by Mikhail Prishvin

This article is dedicated to examination of geocultural space of Manchuria in the novel “The Root of Life” (Ginseng) by M. Prishvin. In the early 1930s, the writer participated in ethnographic expedition to the Far East. Being a professional ethnographer and a highly qualified agronomist, the artist meticulously explored the nature of Manchuria, interpreting it from the perspective of European (rationalistic) and Eastern (mythological) worldviews. The formed as a result of contact of the two diverse cultures “geocultural dualism”, expanded the boundaries of the novel, revealing a deep philosophical content: the problem of co-creation of nature and man. The article provides a list of geocultural markers of the eastern province of China, as well as gives a detailed interpretation of the artistic content of all the authentic attributes of ancient Chinese culture (among them: spotted deer, velvet antlers, ginseng, etc.). The article offers the interpretation of key philosophical concepts of the novel: “kindred attention” of the Chinese traditionalism, concept of co-creation of man and nature; special attention is given to the natural philosophical views of Mikhail Prishvin. The conclusions are based on the material of zoological, botanical, and seasonal-climatic descriptions of Manchuria. The novelty of this research consists in culturological and philosophical interpretation of the title symbol – the “root of life”. Ginseng assembles the entire semantic charge of the oeuvre, and draws together its geocultural plan. The collected geocultural inventory (naturalistic notes on the life of spotted deer, botanical and entomological observations of M. Prishvin, lifestyle of the ancient Chinese culture) is included into the dialectical structure of the central symbol, suggesting constructive interaction of the Eastern and Western types of worldview. The "root of life" as a demiurgical potential, revealed in the act of individual creativity, is the initial unity of a man (“gin”) and nature (“seng”) in the process of improving the universe. For proving this hypothesis, the author employs the method of culturological; analysis of the behavior of the protagonist, who is experiencing a moral breakthrough in communication with the carrier of Chinese mythological culture.

Parasitic infection in captive wild mammals and birds in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

We investigated the infection rate of gastrointestinal (GI) parasite eggs and premature stages from different wild animals and birds in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Dulahazra, Cox’s Bazar. A total of 56 fecal samples were collected from 24 species during July to November 2012 using modified Stoll’s ova dilution technique. Coprology analysis revealed that the overall rate of parasitic infection was 78.6%, of which 51.8% were helminths and 35.7% protozoa. The identified parasites were Paramphistomum spp. (7.1%), Fasciola spp. (5.4%), strongyles (26.8%), Ascaris spp. (3.6%), Strongyloides spp. (7.1%), Dictyocaulus spp. (5.4%), Trichuris spp. (3.6%), Capillaria spp. (5.4%), Heterakis spp. (3.6%), and Balantidium coli (35.7%). Mixed infection (21.4%) was observed in nine animals, including co-infection with Balantidium coli and strongyles in Tiger Panthera tigris, Sambar Deer Rusa unicolor and Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Strongyloides spp., Trichuris spp. and larvae of Dictyocaulus spp. in Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, Balantidium coli and Capillaria spp. in Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Fasciola spp. and Balantidium coli in Spotted Deer Axis axis, Ascaris spp. and strongyles in African Elephant Loxodonta africana, Strongyloides spp. and Heterakis spp. in Peafowl Pavo cristatus and Heterakis spp. and strongyles co-infection in Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis. It is concluded that GI parasites were prevalent in this safari park. Further epidemiological investigation is necessary for controlling parasitic infection.

Spatial differences in prey preference by tigers across the Bangladesh Sundarbans reveal a need for customised strategies to protect prey populations

The Sundarbans is the only mangrove habitat in the world to support tigers Panthera tigris, whose persistence there is believed to be dependent on a very limited number of prey species. Conservation managers therefore need to understand how tigers utilise available prey species on a spatial scale in order to formulate a prey-based protection strategy for this global-priority tiger landscape. A total of 512 scat samples were collected during a survey of 1984 km2 of forest across 4 sample blocks in the 6017 km2 of the Bangladesh Sundarbans. Analysis of scat composition and prey remains reliably identified 5 major prey species, of which spotted deer Axis axis and wild pig Sus scrofa contributed a cumulative biomass of 89% to tiger diet. Tiger preference for prey species was highly skewed towards spotted deer and wild pig, but the relative contribution of these 2 species differed significantly across the 4 study areas, which spanned the Sundarbans, demonstrating important spatial patterns of tiger prey preference across the Sundarbans landscape. Given the comparatively limited number of prey species available to support the dwindling tiger population, different strategies are needed in different parts of the Sundarbans to support tiger populations and to protect spotted deer and wild pig populations from unabated poaching.

Profil Darah Rusa Totol (Axis axis) Betina Sehat di Pusat Inovasi Agroteknologi (PIAT), Universitas Gadjah Mada

Center for Agrotechnology Innovation, Gadjah Mada University (PIAT), one of the place for development and breeding ground of spotted deer in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The study of blood profiles was intended to allow veterinarian to understand the normal profile of the spotted deer. Fifteen healthy spotted deer belonging to PIAT were used as experimental animals. The deer were drawn its blood through the jugular vein without the use of anaesthesia. Blood was then accommodated in an EDTA tube, centrifuged at 2500 RPM and analyzed using a Mindray BC-2800 haematology analyzer machine. Based on the results of the study of the blood it were known that Haemoglobine (Hb) was: 11.5 ± 1.703 g/dl, Red blood cells (RBC) was: 9.3 ± 3.580 106/ml, Packed cell volume (PCV) was: 30.8 ± 6.035 %, Mean corpuscular Volume (MCV) was: 36.8 ± 11.102 fl, Mean corpuscular haemoglobine (MCH) was: 15.0 ± 7.313 pg, Mean corpuscular haemoglobine concentration (MCHC) was: 40.0 ± 14.657 g/dl, White blood cells (WBC) was: 6.4 ± 3.096 103/ml , Neutrophils was: 43.4 ± 21.646, % Basophils was: 0.2 ± 0.168 %, eosinophils was: 0.4 ± 0.447 %, lymphocytes was: 53.4 ± 21.546 % and monocytes was: 2.6 ± 2.394 %. From all of the datas it indicated that blood profiles of PIAT’s spotted deers are different from similar spotted deer blood profiles in India.