A Preliminary Record of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge on Common Palm Civet at Cauvery Deltaic Region, Tamil Nadu

Indigenous knowledge is a body of knowledge built by a group of people through generations of living in close contact with nature.  The present study is aimed to carry out Indigenous Ecological Knowledge on common Palm Civet in Cauvery Deltaic Region, Tamil Nadu. The study findings show that local people can recognize and distinguish the animal species, as well as notice and explain qualitative population trends and their habitats.  The respondents were affirmed about the habitat, the Common Palm Civet occupied mostly in coconut tree followed by coconut and long trees, coconut and bamboo and coconut and mango tree.  Nearly 82% respondents assured that the animal was single and 18% respondents observed in groups.  Nearly 109 respondents assured that the animal is rare in their locality and 46 respondents marked as a common species.  Majority of respondents (80%) belongs to Nagapattinam District assured that the species increasing trend was observed.  While discussed about causes of decreasing, majority of the respondents coded the hunting followed by combined accident and hunting, habitat loss, accident, hunting and poisons, poaching, road kill, combined accident, hunting & poisons, hunting & habitation loss and hunting & road kill.  When discussed about method of hunting, the respondents assured that cages are used majority (63%) respondents followed by poisons (21%).  Nearly 21 combinations of food habits were recorded from the respondents during the study period.  Among this food habits, 44 (28.4%) respondents assured that the coconut (both tender and ripened) is a major food source for the Common Palm civet followed by palm fruits, insects, rats, vegetables, mangoes, heron, etc.,  While discussed the breading season of the species, 116 (75%) respondents expressed to us don’t know, because the animal nocturnal habit.  Some 31 (20%) respondents assured that the rain season is a breading season of particular species.  Like wise, the breeding area showed unknown is highest 72% respondents followed by shrubs 20% and paddy field 7%.  Most of the respondents (70%) assured that the species observed during the night time followed by evening (18%) time and other 12% respondents assured that the species observed both day and night time. The last seen of the animal in their habitat, huge number of respondents agreed within one month  followed by two months, three months, four months it extended upto four years.  The results compared with the Indian Mammals book context.  It greatly explained their knowledge as same as book content.