Status and distribution of indian peafowl (pavo cristatus) in different altitudinal gradients and habitats in the Meghamalai forests areas, Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu

The distribution of Indian Peafowls in the Meghamalai forest area was studied in all the available habitats. The habitats includes southern dry deciduous scrub forest (SDSF), southern dry mixed deciduous forest (SDMDF), southern moist mixed deciduous forest (SMMDF), southern sub-tropical hill forest (SSTHF) and Miscellaneous and plantation forests (MISC+PL). The overall encounter rate of Indian peafowl in the study area was 1.86/km walked. The highest encounter rate was estimated in the SDSF habitat (ER=3.5/km walked). The minimum encounter rate was recorded in the SSTHF (ER=0.35/km walked). The other habitats such SDMDF (3.07), SMMDF (1.72) and Misc Plantation (0.71) were showed the moderate number of encounter rate of Indian peafowl Meghamalai forest areas. The present study revealed the distribution of Indian Peafowls in different habitats and the wide range of altitudinal gradients (altitude 330 to 950 msl) in the Meghamalai forest areas. This study also revealed that the populations of Indian Peafowls were found higher number in particular habitat when compared to others and it showed the fondness in the open areas of forests in the study area.