Winter ambient temperature and daily activities of captive mugger (crocodylus palustris) in Peshawar Zoo Pakistan

Abdul Qadir Khan; Amir Ali Shah; Aqsa Gul; Fahad Shahzad; Ejaz ul Haq; Muhammad Niaz; Haseena Anbarin; Naveed Ahmad

doi:10.53992/njns.v11i2.323

Authors

Abdul Qadir Khan Peshawar Zoo, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan.
Amir Ali Shah Peshawar Zoo, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan.
Aqsa Gul Peshawar Zoo, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan.
Fahad Shahzad Peshawar Zoo, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan.
Ejaz ul Haq Peshawar Zoo, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan.
Muhammad Niaz Peshawar Zoo, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan.
Haseena Anbarin Peshawar Zoo, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan.
Naveed Ahmad Peshawar Zoo, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53992/njns.v11i2.323

Keywords:

Peshawar Zoo, Mugger, Basking, Submerge, Extreme Temperature

Abstract

The Present study explored the effect of ambient temperature on the daily activities (behavior) of captive mugger (Crocodylus palustris) during winter season (December 2023 to February 2024) in Peshawar Zoo, Pakistan. Research data was collected through field observation of daily temperature and corresponding mugger behavior in predefined intervals, including morning (0600 to 1100 h), noon (1100 to 1700 h), evening (1700 to 2400 h) and night (00 to 600 h). Different behavioral parameters of mugger include aggression, eating, socialization, basking, submerge, and surface position and movement. Results showed that mean temperatures during study period were 8.85±0.39°C, 19.92±0.40°C, 14.50±0.36°C and 9.97±0.35°C for the morning, noon, evening and night time respectively. Mugger allocates 60%, 20% and 18% of their time in a surface position, submerged and basking during morning (0600 to 1100 h). As temperature increased at noon (1100 to 1700 h) and evening (1700 to 2400 h), crocodiles spent most of time in basking (55% and 40% respectively) and in surface position (40% and 58% respectively). However, during night (00 to 600 h), crocodiles allocated 98% of their time to being in a surface position in water ponds to regulate its body temperature. Linear regression analysis indicated that the mugger submerged activity has showed the highest negative correlation with daily temperature (R²=-0.23), followed by socialization (R²= -0.20), basking (R²=0.10) and surface (R²=0.10). Stepwise regression model indicated that basking, socialization, surface position, submerged position and animal movement have significant relationship with daily temperature (F= 27.68, df= 5, P-value<= .050) with overall R² and adjusted R²values of 0.364 and 0.351 respectively. The study concluded that basking, surface position and submerged behavior were the major activities of Crocodylus palustris in peak winter season and the effect of extreme temperatures may further be explored with respect to mugger thermoregulation at Peshawar Zoo.

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