Deterioration impact of Indian crested porcupine,Hystrix indica,on irrigated forest plantations in Punjab,Pakistan

Eight man-made forest plantations located in different regions of the punjab province. pakistan,were sampled to assess the tree and nursery stock damage caused by the indian crested porcupine,hystrix indica. the incidence of damage to morus alba,dalbergia sissoo and eucalyptus camaldulensis averaged 9.36,10.82 and 8.0%,respectively,and the overall damage to all species estimated was 9.4%. however,the degree of damage to different tree species between the plantations showed highly significant difference (f= 5.31;p<0.01). damage to mature trees of acacia modesta,populus deltoides,bombax ceiba and tamarix sumba was not recorded in any plantation. on an average plant nurseries of dalbergia sissoo,morus alba and bombax ceiba received 9.0,14.97 and 27.05% damage,respectively. up-rooting stumps of dalbergia. sissoo,bombax ceiba,phoenix dactylifera and euclyptus camaldulensis after transplanting,a characteristic behaviour of indian crested porcupine,was commonly observed in the plantations. copyright 2014 zoological society of pakistan.