A natural history note from Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha, India: Predation of Indian chevrotain Moschiola indica by Spot-bellied Eagle Owl Bubo nipalensis

An Indian chevrotain, Moschiola indica, was observed being preyed upon by a spot-bellied eagle owl, Bubo nipalensis, in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha. A camera trap captured an image of the spot-bellied eagle owl in flight, clutching an Indian chevrotain in its talons during the night, thereby providing empirical evidence of predation. Notably, an earlier study has reported an incident of the spot-bellied eagle owl preying on a young Indian chevrotain in the Annamalai Hills, Western Ghats. Our observation of nocturnal predation supplements previous records and indicates that the Indian chevrotain could be a regular prey item of the spot-bellied eagle owl across their shared distributional range. This record enhances our understanding of the dietary niche of the spot-bellied eagle owl and offers insight into the potential predation pressures exerted on the Indian chevrotain by nocturnal avian predators within its habitat.