This study investigates the spatio-temporal dynamics of tiger (Panthera tigris) coexistence within the human-modified landscape of the Bhopal-Ratapani Connecting Forest in Madhya Pradesh, India. Utilizing camera trap data collected in 2020, we examined the activity patterns of tigers, co-predators, prey species (wild and domestic), and humans to assess spatio-temporal overlap and segregation. Our results reveal significant temporal partitioning among these groups, with tigers exhibiting primarily nocturnal behavior to minimize overlap with human activity. Prey species display diverse strategies, including diurnal, nocturnal, and crepuscular patterns. The same has also been depicted in the Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling plot. ANOVA analysis confirms significant spatial variation (F = 4.2, p < 0.003) and temporal variation (F = 4.22, p < 0.01) among the focal groups. These findings underscore the importance of temporal niche partitioning in facilitating tiger persistence in urban-influenced environments and inform targeted conservation strategies aimed at mitigating human- wildlife conflict and promoting coexistence.
Srivastava et al. (Thu,) studied this question.