Current Science

Riyaz Ahmad ¹, Charudutt Mishra ¹, Navinder J. Singh ², Rahul Kaul ³, Yash Veer Bhatnagar ¹

Affiliations
1 Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore 570 002, IN
2 Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 90183,, SE
3 Wildlife Trust of India, Noida 201 301, IN

Abstract

Food acquisition and security from predators are primary determinants of habitat use in ungulates. There is usually a trade-off in the response of animals to these two factors, influenced by the individual's reproductive state. Females with vulnerable offspring, after parturition, are expected to compromise food acquisition for security. In temperate species such as the markhor Capra falconeri, however, the females give birth at a time when nutritious forage begins to become available after the long lean period of winter. The need to access quality forage in spring should, therefore, be significant even for new mothers, making the issue of female habitat choice particularly interesting and important to understand. We assessed habitat use patterns of the Pirpanjal markhor during the winter and parturition periods, to examine the response of markhor females to contrasting pressures of forage acquisition and neonate security. Markhor were observed during morning and evening hours along trails and vantage points in the Limber Wildlife Sanctuary, western Himalaya, India. Vegetation abundance and quality were assessed. Principal Components Analyses revealed that during winter, as expected, access to forage was the primary factor influencing habitat choice by female markhor. Following parturition, however, despite the low availability of quality forage throughout the preceding winter, markhor mothers predominantly used secure areas with steep slopes closer to cliffs, even though they were poorer in forage availability. Our results underscore the importance of neonate security in determining habitat use of markhor and the causes of low productivity of this population.

Keywords

Forage, Habitat Use, Kashmir, Markhor, Mountain Ungulates, Parturition, Security, Trade-Off.

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Riyaz Ahmad ¹, Narayan Sharma ², Upender Pacchnanda ³, Intesar Suhail ³, Kasturi Deb ¹, Yash Veer Bhatnagar ², Rahul Kaul ¹

Affiliations
1 Wildlife Trust of India, F-13, Sector 8, Noida 201 301, IN
2 Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysuru 570 002, IN
3 Department of Wildlife Protection, Rajbagh, Srinagar 190 001, IN

Abstract

In India, western tragopan is reported from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. We documented the current status and distribution of western tragopan in J&K. We also predicted its potential distribution in the state. We used literature, field surveys and semi-structured questionnaire surveys to ascertain the distribution and conservation status of the pheasant species in J&K. Between 2007 and 2011, we conducted counts of western tragopan in five areas: Tattakuti Wildlife Sanctuary, Khara Galli Conservation Reserve (CR), Limber Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), Lacchipora WLS and Kazinag National Park (NP) to assess its current status. We estimated 113 callers of western tragopan from Kazinag NP, Limber WLS, Lacchipora WLS, Tattakuti WLS and Khara Galli CR. We also discovered four new sites - Tattakuti WLS and Khara Galli CR (through direct surveys), Noorpur Galli and Narian-Ratannard (through secondary surveys) - of this species. We have confirmed the presence of western tragopan in Lacchipora WLS and re-confirmed its presence in Padder, Bhadarwa and Sudh Mahadev. Our habitat model predicted potential distribution of western tragopan, adding few additional potential sites. There is an urgent need to plan long-term monitoring and initiate appropriate measures to conserve the species.

Keywords

Conservation Status, Distribution, Hunting, Tragopan melanocephalus.

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Rahul Kaul ¹, Mayukh Chatterjee ¹, Tapajit Bhattacharya ¹, Smita Bodhankar ¹, Riyaz Ahmad ¹, Mansoor Nabi Sofi ¹, Samina Amin Charoo ²

Affiliations
1 Wildlife Trust of India, F-13, Sec-8, Noida 201 301, IN
2 Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir 190 008, IN

Abstract

India’s only extant red deer species, the Kashmir red deer, or hangul (Cervus hanglu hanglu) is restricted today to the confines of the 141 sq. km Dachigam National Park (NP) in Jammu and Kashmir, with about 200 surviving individuals. A continual population decline of hangul has necessitated the identification of relict populations and suitable habitats outside Dachigam NP, so that a meta-population approach to its conservation may be employed. Extensive surveys in 2008–2012 across the Kashmir valley, helped identify three distinct areas, where the presence of the red deer was confirmed year-round. Ecological Niche Factor Analysis results indicated that hangul exhibits high global marginality (1.24) and low global tolerance (0.28). Habitat suitability modelling predicted 610.75 sq. km area of conifer and temperate broadleaved forests as highly (61–100%) suitable and 980.25 sq. km as moderately (31–60%) suitable, primarily in two distinct areas of Wanghat Naranag and Chandaji, which also showed presence of the hangul year-round. This suggests that apart from Dachigam NP, suitable habitats bearing hangul populations still exist in Kashmir valley (935.46 sq. km), emphasizing the need to urgently direct protection and conservation focus to these areas to conserve hangul successfully in this landscape.

Keywords

Corridor, Habitat Suitability, Hangul, Kashmir Stag, Red Deer.

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