Do Black-naped Hares Lepus nigricollis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha: Leporidae) have synanthropic association with wind farms?
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Abstract
Wind energy is an upcoming major source of clean energy. The unprecedented proliferation of wind farms across landscapes has raised concerns on the environmental impacts. Generally reported direct impacts of wind farms include collision of birds and bats with turbines, habitat alterations, noise pollution from the turbines, aesthetic impact on landscapes and displacement of faunal species. Here we report our preliminary results indicating an apparent positive association of Indian Hares Lepus nigricollis with a wind farm in a scrub forest area. This study was conducted at Harada Reserve Forest near Harapanahalli of Davangere District, Karnataka, India. The pellet count method was used for comparing the abundance of the species between areas. The abundance of Indian Hares in wind farm area was significantly higher than in the surrounding forest area without turbines. The factors that might be affecting this pattern of preferential use of wind farm area by the Indian Hare are discussed and the scope for further studies also highlighted.
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