By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 6: A landmark study published in the recent issue of the British journal Cave and Karst Science has documented the significant presence of terrestrial mammals within the cave systems of Meghalaya.
The research, the first-of-its-kind in India in terms of scope, is based on records logged over three decades of explorations from 1992 to 2025. It analysed over 120 mammalian records—including live animals, nests, prints and skeletal remains—from 80 separate caves across the state.
The findings identify Edward’s Giant Rat as the most common inhabitant, followed by two species of porcupines. The study also recorded evidence of small carnivores such as fishing cats, civets, and possibly crab-eating mongooses, suggesting these animals enter caves to hunt bats, insects, or aquatic prey in streams and pools.
Notably, skeletal remains and paw marks of the Asiatic Black Bear were reported in six caves. While remains of macaques and langurs were frequently found, the study concluded that primates likely use cave entrances for shelter or predator avoidance rather than for roosting. The presence of primate bones is attributed to accidental falls or animals being trapped by sudden floods.
Other remains, ranging from shrews and wild boar to larger herbivores like the serow, were also recorded, though the study categorised these as accidental introductions rather than distinct cave associations.
The research was a collaborative effort involving Uttam Saikia (Zoological Survey of India, Shillong), Dan Harries (Grampian Speleological Group, Edinburgh), Manuel Ruedi (Natural History Museum of Geneva), Thomas Arbenz (Swiss Institute of Speleology and Karst Studies), Oana Chachula (Speleology Foundation, Romania), Khlur Mukhim (Lady Keane College, Shillong), and Brian K. Daly (Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association).
For a more comprehensive understanding of these habitats, the study recommends the use of emerging technologies such as environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis in future research.
