First sighting record of the elusive Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii in Wayanad, Southern Western Ghats, India

This note reports the first sighting of the elusive and threatened Nilgiri marten in Wayanad district of Southern Western Ghats. All the previously known occurrences of Nilgiri marten in the Western Ghats, along with the addition of this new record, were marked on a map. This record highlights the need for further studies on this population’s status and behavior, as well as to understand whether any coexistence or conflicts occur with local people, thereby examining underlying threats to the population in the Wayanad region.

The diel activity pattern of small carnivores of Western Ghats, India: a case study at Nelliampathies in Kerala, India

The diel activity pattern of small carnivores was studied using the camera trap technique at Nelliampathy Reserve Forest, Kerala, India. Six species of small carnivores were recorded during the study. These include Brown Palm Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni, Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica, Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis, Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus, Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii, and Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis.  The maximum diel activity overlap was detected between the Brown Palm Civet and Small Indian Civet, while the activity overlap was minimal between the Stripe-necked Mongoose and Small Indian Civet.