Lenses on the linkage: camera trapping unveils high mammalian diversity in a wildlife corridor in Odisha, India

Wildlife corridors play a vital role in maintaining isolated populations and preserving ecosystem functionality. From February to May 2023, we conducted a camera trap study in Atei Reserve Forest, a key corridor linking Similipal and Satkosia Tiger Reserves in Odisha, India. Over 3214 trap-nights at 53 camera stations, we recorded 25 mammal species, including seven species that are threatened according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (P. pardus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), gaur (Bos gaurus), sambar (Rusa unicolor), and four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis). The jungle cat (Felis chaus) was the most frequently photo-captured species, while the four-horned antelope had the widest distribution. These findings provide crucial insights for conservation planning to ensure safe wildlife movement through the corridor.