Abstract
A total of 2,467 prey items of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis were identified accounting for an estimated biomass (dry weight) of 1,35,575.37g in 35 months at four study sites. Mammals accounted for an estimated biomass of 86.93% of which rodents occupied pride of place with 64.91%. Tatera indica (24.96%), Rattus rattus (20.43%), Bandicota bengalensis (12.28%), Mus spp. (4.67%), Bandicota indica (2.34%) and Funambulus palmarum (0.15%) featured prominently among rodent food, but Millardia meltada (0.06%) was conspicuous by its near absence. Increased predation was noticeable only when young were present, but other than this no distinct statistical variations were discernable. Trapping exercises showed only marginal seasonal fluctuations in rodent populations (the greatest monthly variation being 4.63% for Rattus rattus), and this was linked to the year round availability of plant food in the region. Another basic food was Lepus nigricollis (20.06%), though, at one study site free from poaching pressure, it accounted for 30.16%, leading to the postulation that historically, before poaching became rampant, it could have been the primary prey resource. Suncus murinus (1.36%) and Chiroptera (0.58%) were the other mammal prey. Birds (8.28%) were the most important non-mammal food, followed by batrachians (2.75%), both of which showed distinct seasonal fluctuations. Varanus bengalensis (1.64%) and a single Amphiesma stolata were the reptiles consumed. Arthropods accounted for 0.34%, of which Coleoptera dominated with 0.24%. The venomous Heterometrus swammerdami and Scolopendra morsitans also formed part of the prey spectrum, albeit in negligible quantities (a combined biomass of 0.022%).