Identification of Hairs in the Scat

Presence of hairs in the scat of wild carnivores is very common. The hairs are of the prey.

The hairs of same animals are also seen in the scat due to licking of body.

First step in this technique is availability of hairs of different wild herbivores. The hairs

of the wild herbivores are first collected. Label the hairs as per species.[kind of

herbivores] Now the hairs of different wild herbivores are available for examination.

First take some hairs of known species from the available stock. No other hair of different

wild animal is mix.

Procedure

1] Take the hair of known species in a test tube

2] Add 10% Potassium Hydroxide solution in the test tube & keep it for an hour.

3] Remove the KOH solution from test tube.

4] Add distill water in the test tube. 3 washes of distill water is to be given one after

another by taking out the first one.

5] Take out the distill water from test tube keeping hair in the test tube.

6]Dehydration

Add 70%, 80% & 90% spirit, first & in absolute alcohol each for half an hour

for complete dehydration

• Pour the alcohol from the test tube & add carboxylol. Keep it for 2 minutes.

• Put the hair on clean slide & add DPX solution.

• Put cover slip on the hair & examine the slide under Low power & High

power under microscope.

• Take photographs of the slide under low & high power.

Now you are having photograph of a hair of known wild herbivore. Prepare the

photographs accordingly. The photographs of hairs are different known wild

animals are with you. This is a key with you.

In field, take out hairs from the scat. Give above treatment to the hair &

examine them. Take photographs of the slide & match with the key.

The examination of hairs in the scat gives indication of liking of that wild

carnivores towards the pray it kills.

Estimate the population of the pray in the area accordingly & if it is less try to

increase the population of pray & maintain the prey predator ratio.

Conclusion

Even though the whole process is time-consuming, it is fruitful. Hairs of different

animals have been studied and for this, different methods are used at the laboratory like

impression technique and staining. Impression technique can be used for identification of

scales but for confirmatory identification, the earlier-described method can be used.

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Dr.A.D.Kholkute B.V.Sc.&AH.Consultant N.T.C.A. R.O. Nagpur