INTRODUCTION:- To understand the ecology of any wild animal, several environmental components need to be considered such as avaibility of food, water, den or nesting site to survive in any habitat (Nikunj Gajera et al., 2009). Scats provide an essential sample of carnivore diets, but where several comparable size carnivores co-occur, unfailing identication of the proper donor species required (Laura E. Farrell et al., 2000). The scat analysis remains the crucial tool used to assess carnivore diets, particularly when focusing on individual prey items (Unn Klare et al., 2011). Prey availability and distribution can persuade prey selection and hunting success (Fuller et al., 1992), with activity patterns and spatial distribution (Henschel & Skinner, 1990). There are a number of different methods for the scat analysis. One of the nest methods used for scat analysis is through hair identication of various preys. Mammal hair plays a signicant role in many aspects such as thermoregulation, body shape maintenance, waterproong and protection from pollution. There are generally two types of mammal hairs: guard hairs that are generally thick and bristly and ne hairs that are curled and thin (Eunok Lee et al., 2014). In particular, the study of predator feeding habits from the analysis of prey hairs found in scats has been widely used for describing the diet of mammalian carnivores, because this technique is non-destructive and scats are easy to collect throughout the year (Anna maria De Marinis and Alessandro Asprea, 2006). The scat analysis done by separating the (undigested) food items present in it such as hairs, feathers, seeds, bone pieces, claw, nail & hoof pieces, plant material etc. Precise knowledge of a carnivore's diet is crucial to assess the species' role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivores and impact on prey populations. Results of diet analyses therefore might have extensive impact on the development of carnivore management plans, especially if economically important or endangered species are involved. But direct observations of feeding behaviour are often impossible under eld conditions. This scat analysis techniques are noninvasive and effective method in which the hair identication of various prey species carried out by considering and comparing their morphometric features under microscope. STUDY AREA:- Fig. A: Map of the ® Image of Coastal forest-Rajula The coastal forest of Rajula situated in the Amreli district of the Gujarat State, India. It is located in the eastern part of the Gir protected area and occupies the vast areas of the coastal habitats. It comprises around 120 Km² within the Rajula Tehsil of Amreli district. It lie between the parallels of latitude North 21° and meridians of longitude East 71°. It comprises around seventy two villages. The whole study area further divided into ve different categories namely (1) Shrub forest (2) Saline pan (3) Mixed forest (4) Industrial areas (5) Rural & Agriculture land. There are very small patch of reserve forest found, and thus majority areas are revenue. The area mainly comprises the scattered shrubs with different elevation and habitat ranges. It consist coastal areas of Arabian Sea with salty pan at several sites. The area is at but little undulating at some villages. It occupies Gauchar lands, agro-pastoral lands, industrial zones and forest areas. The Agariya are one of the Scheduled Tribes of India. Agariyas also reside around, Chanch Bander, Pipavav and Devaka. There are three seasons namely winter from November to February, summer from March to June and monsoon from July to October. The maximum temperature in summer ranges 30- 37°c whereas minimum temperature around 20-25°c found. The annual rainfall ranges around 350 mm. Due to coastal land the temperature ranges intermediate in all around year neither too cool nor hot. FEEDING ECOLOGY OF ASIATIC LION (Panthera leo persica) IN THE COASTAL FOREST OF RAJULA, GUAJRAT STATE OF INDIA. Original Research Paper Dr. Vibhuti B. Raval Saurashtra University, Rajkot 360005 Gujarat, India X 93GJRA - GLOBAL JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH ANALYSIS Ecology The food habits of animals determine a number of life history strategies such as habitat selection, movement and success of reproduction. To study the feeding ecology of Asiatic lion the widely used technique is the scat analysis. Scat analysis was done by identication and comparison of hairs of various prey species available within the selected study area. Asiatic lion mainly depredated on livestock due to easy catch and availability. Seasonal diet composition revealed that Asiatic lion preferred livestock mainly during summer season and wild prey in winter season. The habitat preferences revealed that the Asiatic lion often used open or scattered shrub-land area which increases the prey visibility. ABSTRACT KEYWORDS : Depredated, Livestock, Scat, Feeding Ecology Etc. Dr. Bhupat B. Radadia * Shri M. & N. Virani Science College (Biology Department), Saurashtra University, Rajkot 360005, Gujarat, India *Corresponding Author VOLUME-8, ISSUE-12, DECEMBER-2019 • PRINT ISSN No. 2277 - 8160 • DOI : 10.36106/gjra 94 X GJRA - GLOBAL JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH ANALYSIS METHODS: Asiatic Lion scats were collected regularly along roads and forest tracks. Lion scats were clearly distinguishable from leopard scats based on their much larger size. However, carnivore signs associated with scats were too recorded from the site of collection. All scats were stored in polythene bags with proper code and later washed using a sieve to separate undigested prey remains such as hair, bone fragments, hooves, feathers, quills and claws etc. All residues were oven- dried for further examination. For a reliable estimate of lion's diet, standard prescribed protocols – examination of a minimum of at least 20 prey hairs per scat and minimum 30 scats – were adopted (Mukherjee, Goyal & Chellam, 1994). Carnivore scats were collected in and around Coastal forest of Rajula along with several details such as, recording location with GPS, date of collection. Total 36 scats collected from the Coastal forest – Rajula, all over nineteen months of extensive eld study in all three seasons. All Scats were systematically analyzed to assess the diet composition of the lions. Microscopic slides of at random picked hair from a sample were rst washed in running water several times to get rid of dirt and then preserved in acetone for overnight. After that randomly picked thirty hairs/scat samples taken up for microscopic examination. Then the hairs were xed in gelatin layered microscopic slide for obtaining casts of surface structure of hairs. Then the slide was observed under light microscope or Fluorescence light microscope with inbuilt measurement software and attached camera for capturing images in better scale. Photographs of surface structures were taken at rst in 10 X magnications and then in 40X magnication. Other characteristics such as Cuticular structure, medullary conguration, scale pattern and cross-sectional details were studied after (Brunner & Coman, 1974). Trichological features of the hair were thoroughly studied by using advance microscopic techniques. Preys were identied by comparing medullary & cuticular characteristics of prey hair with known standard reference hair (Karanth & Sunquist, 1995, Vibhuti et al., 2018). RESULT AND DISCUSSION:- Fig.1 Food Composition of Asiatic Lion in Scat study of Coastal forest-Rajula In coastal forest 36 scats analyzed and out of which, 6 scats comprised single prey species evidences. On other hand 10 scats comprised two different prey species evidences, while remaining 20 scats contained more than two different prey species evidences. Totally seven wild prey species and ve domesticated species identied from the scat analysis in the study area (Fig. 1). Fig.2 Seasonal variation in food composition by Asiatic Lion in Coastal Forest-Rajula On the basis of availability of different prey species along with its population within the study area and the scat analysis in Coastal forest-Rajula revealed that the cattle consumption contributed maximally almost 53%, followed by Bluebull (34%), followed by wild boar (7%), and followed by Goat (5%). On other hand blackbuck consumed less comparatively (1%) by lions (Fig. 2) in the areas. Dharaiya in the year 1998, reported that the coastal lion depends mainly on livestock (67.23%) and 33% depends on the wild prey comparatively. Fig. 3 Frequency of occurrences of prey species & diet composition of Asiatic Lion from Scat analysis in Coastal forest –Rajula The seasonal variation in food composition by Asiatic Lion in and around coastal forest-Rajula revealed that the livestock consumed the most throughout the year almost 57.22% and higher in summer (85%), followed by monsoon (60%), and followed by very less in winter (53.3%). Whereas Wild prey consumption found around 42% throughout year and increased in winter (47%), followed by monsoon (30%) and decreased in summer (10%) comparatively (Fig. 3). The seasonal food consumption by lions in both the study area found similar. Earlier study by Dharaiya revealed that the maximum wild prey consumed in winter season (31.75%) while livestock consumption increased in summer season (69.01%) inside Coastal forest area. Fig. 4 Habitat use by Asiatic Lions in Coastal forest-Rajula on the basis of direct and indirect evidence. The habitat use pattern by Asiatic lion in Coastal forest- Rajula, on the basis of direct and indirect evidences found in the study area revealed that the lion frequently use and preferred the scattered shrub land areas (35), followed by mixed forest area as well as industrial areas visited occasionally by lions (6), followed by rural/ revenue area (5). The area of Salty pan preferred very rarely by lions (04). The direct sighting found maximally in shrub land and rural areas as well (3) followed by industrial areas and salty pan (2). Simultaneously direct sighting in mixed forest areas occurred once. Total 11 events occurred for direct sighting in GWLS. Although the kill data, vocalization and fresh pugmark trails found only in only some occasion (Fig. 4). CONCLUSION:- In the study area it was found that lions mainly chosen the livestock as it's found easily available throughout year and also easy to catch. Whereas, seasonal food composition study revealed that the livestock depredated most in summer season as it lead to human dominated areas which provide VOLUME-8, ISSUE-12, DECEMBER-2019 • PRINT ISSN No. 2277 - 8160 • DOI : 10.36106/gjra continuous source of water as well as food. On other hand wild prey base preferred more during winter season because during this season leaf fall occurs which increases the visibility of prey in the study areas. The dependency on livestock by lions was also found to increase in recent years in Coastal forest area Compare to previous studies carried out by N. Dharaiya. So, it was concluded that the lions inhabiting outside the Gir protected areas found more dependable on livestock, one possible reason was less wild prey populations in that satellitic areas and more availability of easy prey base of livestock. The lions preferred the large sized prey base like domesticated cow and bluebull more compare to other prey base as livestock readily available in revenue areas of villages (Bagchi et al., 2003) and bluebull also preferred the open habitat mostly the agriculture eld (D. Mehta and V. C. Soni., 2014). REFERENCES:- 1. Bagchi, S.P., Goyal, P. & Sankar, K. (2003) Prey abundance and prey selection by tigers (Panthera tigris) in a semi-arid, dry deciduous forest in western India. J. Zool. (Lond.) 260, Pages 285–290. 2. Brunner & Coman (1974) A Key For The Identication Of Guard Hairs Of Some Ontario Mammals, Canadian Journal Of Zoology, Volume 71(3), Pages 587- 591. 3. 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