Achyut Aryal

Distribution and diet of brown bears in the upper Mustang Region, Nepal

Abstract We investigated the distribution and diet of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Upper Mustang Region (UMR) of the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) in Nepal by interviewing local residents (n  =  166) and collecting bear sign (n  =  109). Residents reported that brown bears predominantly used the Dhalung and Chungjung pastures and the Damodar Kunda Valley of the UMR from May to November, as well as the unprotected area between this region and Shey–Phoksundo National Park. We conducted dietary analyses on 56 bear scats; bears were predominately carnivorous in the UMR. Plant matter comprised 8% of fecal volume in scats. Small mammal hair was the most commonly identified item (75%), with marmots (Marmota himalayana; 46%) being the largest contributor. In addition, hair from ungulates (14%) and livestock (10%) were identified in scats. Few bear depredations occurred between 2003–10 in the UMR.

Blue sheep in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal: habitat use, population biomass and their contribution to the carrying capacity of snow leopards

The Himalaya region of Nepal provides a habitat for the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its principal prey species, the blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur). The aim of this study was to describe the habitat, the distribution and the population structure of blue sheep, and to estimate their contribution to the carrying capacity of snow leopard in the upper Mustang region of Nepal. Blue sheep were recorded at altitudes from 3209-5498 m on slopes with gradients of 16-60° and aspects of 40°NE to 140°SE. A total of 939 blue sheep were counted in the upper Mustang region, and 98 were counted in the Yak Kharka region of Manang district; however, upper Mustang had the lowest population density of blue sheep recorded within their distribution range in Nepal (0.86 blue sheep/km(2)). The results of the study show that a higher density of blue sheep is associated with greater plant species diversity. The most important species present in the blue sheep habitat were Kobresia pygmaea, Artemesia spp., Lonicera spp., Lancea tibetica, Poa spp., Astragalus spp. and Ephedra gerardiana. It is estimated that the existing blue sheep population biomass of approximately 38 925 kg in the upper Mustang region could support approximately 19 snow leopards (1.6 snow leopards/100 km(2)).

Biological diversity and management regimes of the northern Barandabhar Forest Corridor: an essential habitat for ecological connectivity in Nepal

Despite the development of progressive policies in forestry and wildlife management sectors in Nepal, over the last ten years it has become clear that protected areas in the country lack the landscape connectivity required to support viable populations of endangered species such as rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) and tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). Forest resources that provide essential habitat for a diverse array of species, and forest products to many human populations continue to decline. The present study, focusing upon the northern Barandabhar Forest Corridor (BFC) aimed to begin to address these problems by establishing preliminary data concerning the extent, biological diversity and resources available for local communities of the forest in order to promote a community-based management strategy. Results established that the northern BFC covers an area of 10,644 ha between the East-West Mahendra highway and the Mahabharat range, incorporating 15 community forestry areas (3,184 ha). It was found to support a number of IUCN listed threatened and endangered species including rhino and tiger; and contains suitable habitat for a number of other endangered species. Owing to its connectivity, linking Chitwan National Park with the Mahabharat range, BFC has the potential to make an important contribution to improving the ecological integrity in Nepal. Different institutions and governance structures currently exist to manage the northern BFC. Although these institutions differ in resource utilization and benefit sharing mechanisms, they are united to safeguard the habitat of key wildlife species including rhino and tiger. We propose that the northern BFC should be managed through a new participatory scheme, the Barandabhar Forest Management Council, to foster ecological integrity of the area while providing forest products to communities.

Are there sufficient prey and protected areas in Nepal to sustain an increasing tiger population

Tigers are a globally endangered species that encounter conflict with humans throughout their distribution range. The government of Nepal recently announced in a survey report that the tiger population has increased by 63% (from 121 in 2009 to 198), and aims by 2022 to reach a population size of 250 tigers. Here we analyse the requirement for prey and the size of protected area needed to sustain the projected increased tiger population. The results suggest that the prey biomass and size of current protected areas are insufficient to maintain 250 tigers within the current protected area systems. Therefore, further programmes should be implemented to increase prey populations and increase the area of protected tiger habitat. As Nepal is a pioneer in community-based participatory conservation practices in Asia, a strong, integrated monitoring system in protected parks, a buffer zone and a national forest should be established. Otherwise, an increasing tiger population will frequently range beyond the protected areas, resulting in intensified human–tiger conflict.

Multipronged strategy including genetic analysis for assessing conservation options for the snow leopard in the central Himalaya

Abstract The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an endangered carnivore of southern and central Asia. Approximate 10% of the global population occurs in the Himalayan region of Nepal. The snow leopard is thought to be in decline because of human–snow leopard conflicts, poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation, decreasing prey populations, and a lack of awareness and enforcement of conservation legislation. In this study, we used habitat surveys and genetic analyses of putative snow leopard scats to estimate the abundance, habitat preferences, and diet profile of the snow leopard in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. Cliffs, grassland, and shrubland at high elevation (3,000–5,000 m) were the preferred habitats of snow leopards. Eighty-three percent of collected scats collected were verified to be from snow leopards using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome-b species-specific polymerase chain reaction assays. Sixty-two percent of the scats were successfully genotyped using 6 microsatellite markers, and identified as having originated from 5 different individuals. The dispersion of multiple scats from the same individual suggested minimum movement ranges of 89.4 km2 for males and 59.3 km2 for females. Estimated population density was 1.9 individuals/100 km2 and 22 snow leopards were estimated to inhabit the upper Mustang region. Microhistological analysis of scats (n = 248) revealed that blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) was the primary wild prey (63%), and livestock also contributed significantly (18%) to snow leopard diet. We used a multipronged strategy for assessing conservation options for this rare carnivore and compared our findings with those pertaining to other predators of the region that share similar habitats and resources. The findings from this study will be helpful in managing snow leopards and similar carnivore populations across the snow leopards entire geographic range.

Diet and Habitat use of Hispid Hare Caprolagus hispidus in Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Abstract. Hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus is one of the less studied endangered small mammal species in the world. Hispid hare distribution includes the tropical grassland ecosystem in Nepal. Grassland fire is one of the management regimes used in this region and its impact on biodiversity is controversial. We investigated the diet and habitat use of hispid hare before and after a grassland fire at Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR) in Nepal. Fecal pellets were used for micro-histological analysis to understand hispid hare diet. We laid out sampling plots in areas where we encountered hispid hare sign and recorded habitat and vegetation information. We also looked for signs of hare presence along systematically positioned transect lines and used these data to assess the population status of hispid hare. Population density of hispid hare was 5.76 individuals/km2 and we estimated a population size of 219 ± 40 hispid hare within the 41 km2 grasslands of SWR. Hispid hare primarily used tall grassland habitat. Nineteen plant species were identified in hispid hare pellets with Saccharum spontaneum and Imperata cylindrica having the highest frequency of occurrence. There were no significant differences in the distribution of plant species in the pellets before and after the fire; however a significantly higher diversity of plants were recorded in hispid hare diet after the fire. We recommend a change to the timing of grass burning to either before or after the hispid hare breeding season to reduce the direct (burning, destruction of nests) and indirect (increased risk of predation) negative effects of such grassland management on hare populations. Population management strategies and a field based conservation captive breeding program should be implemented immediately to maintain a viable population of hispid hare in SWR.

Predicting the distributions of predator (snow leopard) and prey (blue sheep) under climate change in the Himalaya

Abstract Future climate change is likely to affect distributions of species, disrupt biotic interactions, and cause spatial incongruity of predator–prey habitats. Understanding the impacts of future climate change on species distribution will help in the formulation of conservation policies to reduce the risks of future biodiversity losses. Using a species distribution modeling approach by MaxEnt, we modeled current and future distributions of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its common prey, blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), and observed the changes in niche overlap in the Nepal Himalaya. Annual mean temperature is the major climatic factor responsible for the snow leopard and blue sheep distributions in the energy‐deficient environments of high altitudes. Currently, about 15.32% and 15.93% area of the Nepal Himalaya are suitable for snow leopard and blue sheep habitats, respectively. The bioclimatic models show that the current suitable habitats of both snow leopard and blue sheep will be reduced under future climate change. The predicted suitable habitat of the snow leopard is decreased when blue sheep habitats is incorporated in the model. Our climate‐only model shows that only 11.64% (17,190 km2) area of Nepal is suitable for the snow leopard under current climate and the suitable habitat reduces to 5,435 km2 (reduced by 24.02%) after incorporating the predicted distribution of blue sheep. The predicted distribution of snow leopard reduces by 14.57% in 2030 and by 21.57% in 2050 when the predicted distribution of blue sheep is included as compared to 1.98% reduction in 2030 and 3.80% reduction in 2050 based on the climate‐only model. It is predicted that future climate may alter the predator–prey spatial interaction inducing a lower degree of overlap and a higher degree of mismatch between snow leopard and blue sheep niches. This suggests increased energetic costs of finding preferred prey for snow leopards – a species already facing energetic constraints due to the limited dietary resources in its alpine habitat. Our findings provide valuable information for extension of protected areas in future.

Habitat assessment for the translocation of blue sheep to maintain a viable snow leopard population in the Mt Everest Region, Nepal

Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) are the key prey of the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in the Himalayan region of Nepal. However, the snow leopard population has recently expanded back into the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park where the blue sheep are currently absent, and the evidence of snow leopard depredation of livestock can be found. A solution to this prospective human–wildlife conflict is the translocation of blue sheep back into this area. The aims of this study are (1) to characterize the spatial and environmental factors related to current blue sheep distributions in three areas: Annapurna Conservation Area, Shey Phoksundo National Park and Kanchanjunga Conservation Area, and (2) to use these characteristics to assess the suitability of two areas: Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park and Langtang National Park for blue sheep translocation. Blue sheep were found to occur in 14,603 km2 of Nepal, with 7343 km2 (49%) inside protected areas. Blue sheep preferred the alpine meadow, pas...

Climate Change-Induced Range Expansion of a Subterranean Rodent: Implications for Rangeland Management in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Disturbances, both human-induced and natural, may re-shape ecosystems by influencing their composition, structure, and functional processes. Plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) is a typical subterranean rodent endemic to Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), which are considered ecosystem engineers influencing the alpine ecosystem function. It is also regarded as a pest aggravating the degradation of overgrazed grassland and subject to regular control in QTP since 1950s. Climate change has been predicted in this region but little research exists exploring its impact on such subterranean rodent populations. Using plateau zokor as a model, through maximum entropy niche-based modeling (Maxent) and sustainable habitat models, we investigate zokor habitat dynamics driven by the future climate scenarios. Our models project that zokor suitable habitat will increase by 6.25% in 2050 in QTP. The predication indicated more threats in terms of grassland degradation as zokor suitable habitat will increase in 2050. Distribution of zokors will shift much more in their southern range with lower elevation compare to northern range with higher elevation. The estimated distance of shift ranges from 1 km to 94 km from current distribution. Grassland management should take into account such predictions in order to design mitigation measures to prevent further grassland degradation in QTP under climate change scenarios.

An assessment of Yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) collection in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal

Yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), an endemic species to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, is one of the most valuable medicinal mushrooms in the world. In Nepal, it is distributed largely in isolated patches of alpine grasslands of 3,000-5,000 m elevation. Although it is reported from 27 northernmost districts of Nepal, the local distribution pattern of this species is largely unknown. Furthermore, the collection system and local management regime of this species are not well documented. We conducted a field survey at Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (DHR) among the different stakeholders in January-June 2012 to assess collection sites, patterns and trends and to understand the management regime. We estimated that about 75 kg of Yarsagumba is collected every year from DHR and the amount has been declining since 2008. To manage the resource, locals have initiated regulating the collection by issuing permits, taxing to the collectors, and monitoring the activities of harvesters with the help of park authorities. The revenue generated at local level from the permits has been used for community developmental activities.