Maqsood Anwar

Comparison of extenders for liquid storage of Indian Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) spermatozoa

This study was designed to evaluate a range of avian semen extenders for liquid storage of Indian Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) spermatozoa at 5 °C. Semen was collected from 8 mature trained cocks and processed in the Beltsville Poultry, Turkey, Lake, EK, Tselutin Poultry and Chicken semen extenders for storage at 5 °C. Semen quality parameters viz, motility (%), plasma membrane integrity (%), livability (%) and acrosomal integrity (%) were assessed at 0, 3, 6, 24 and 48 hours of storage. A time dependent decrease was observed in motility, plasma membrane and acrosomal integrity in all experimental extenders during the storage period. However, the Turkey semen extender was found significantly (P<0.05) superior for protecting all aforementioned semen quality parameters compared to the Beltsville Poultry, Lake, EK, Tselutin Poultry and Chicken semen extenders. It is concluded that the Turkey semen extender can be used efficiently for the liquid storage of Indian Red Jungle Fowl spermatozoa at 5 °C.

Diet composition of the Demoiselle Crane ( Anthropoides virgo ) migrating through Lakki Marwat, Pakistan

Demoiselle Cranes (Anthropoides virgo) migrate through Pakistan between their breeding and wintering grounds. We undertook macro and micro-analyses of 16 gizzards and 35 faecal samples of this elegant bird during its stopovers in the Lakki Marwat area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Analysis of 16 gizzards and 16 faecal samples of spring season showed that the bird was predominantly vegetarian and fed on cultivated crops (viz: wheat, sorghum, chickpea, Egyptian clover and garlic) and wild flora (viz: wild onion, beard grass and bur clover). Similarly, analysis of 19 faecal samples collected during the autumn revealed the presence of cultivated crops (viz: chickpea, mustard and spinach) and wild plant species (viz: wild onion, bur clover, salt cedar, beard grass and alkali seep weed). The Demoiselle Crane supplemented its diet with animal matters (ranging from 3 to 20%) derived from invertebrates belonging to Phylum Arthropoda (Order Pauropodina and Order Plecoptera) and vertebrate species i.e. tadpoles, Mus spp. and nestlings of birds. In addition, large quantities of grit composed of small stones and quartz crystals were found in the gizzards and faecal samples. This study provides information on the important flora and fauna that contribute to the diet of migratory Demoiselle Cranes. This aids strategies to conserve and protect the natural habitats from intensive anthropogenic use and livestock grazing, and helps to sustain and enhance numbers of this avian species.

Breeding habits of the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Potohar Plateau, Pakistan

Abstract The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) has been recently listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species throughout its range, but in Pakistan it is categorized as vulnerable. Very little is known about the breeding habits of this nocturnal and fossorial animal in the wild. The present paper provides information on breeding ecology of its population in Potohar Plateau in Pakistan. A total of 13 specimens were trapped to record breeding condition of the captured animals. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted in the study area to collect breeding data on the species. Our limited data show a male-to-female ratio of 1.6:1. The local population seems to breed once a year, usually from July to October, with a litter size of one to two. The juvenile pangolins were observed during the months of January, April and December.

Habitat use of Himalayan grey goral in relation to livestock grazing in Machiara National Park, Pakistan

Abstract The Himalayan grey goral (Naemorhedus goral bedfordi) occurs in Pakistan and India, and is classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. This subspecies is threatened primarily by illegal hunting and competition with livestock, resulting in small and fragmented populations. The present study provides information on habitat use by grey goral at two locations in Machiara National Park (MNP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, from 2012 to 2013. One location had low grazing pressure from livestock (Machiara), whereas the other had intensive livestock grazing (Serli Sacha). We determined the distribution of grey goral through direct observations of the animals and by the presence of their faecal pellets. We assessed habitat preferences using Ivlev’s electivity index (IEI) by comparing vegetation and topography at used and unused quadrats along nine monitoring lines. Grey gorals strongly avoided areas with high livestock numbers, particularly grazers (cattle Bos taurus and sheep Ovis aries). Grey gorals were most commonly observed on south-facing slopes between 1970 and 2900 m a.s.l. during all seasons. Grey gorals preferred herbs and grasses (IEI=0.14), used shrubby vegetation in proportion to its availability (IEI=0.03), and avoided densely treed areas (IEI=-0.54). Our study suggests that a comprehensive livestock grazing strategy needs to be developed for the conservation of habitat suitable for grey goral in MNP.

Seasonal variation in the diet of the grey goral (Naemorhedus goral) in Machiara National Park (MNP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract Understanding food habits of wild ungulates is of paramount importance to ecology and wildlife management. We studied the food habits of grey gorals (Naemorhedus goral) using microhistological techniques at two sites (Machiara and Serli Sacha) that differed in livestock grazing pressure in the Machiara National Park (MNP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan during 2012–2013. Serli Sacha had 53 livestock units/km2 while Machiara had 27 livestock units/km2 in the habitat of grey gorals. Dietary diversity was higher in Machiara (21 plant species) than at Serli Sacha (15 plant species) but the frequency of plant species consumed by grey goral varied seasonally (p<0.05). Grey gorals consumed mostly forbs (75.57%) during summer (dominated by Poa annua, Geranium wallichianum and Rheum australe) and mostly browse (38.19%) during winter (dominated by Berberis vulgaris, Skimmia laureola and Viburnum nervosum). Grey gorals strongly preferred G. wallichianum in both sites during summer season. Wildlife managers at MNP should focus on increasing diversity of plant species and on reducing livestock grazing as it generally reduces plant diversity and also directly compete with N. goral for limited forage.

Seasonal variation in the reproductive tract of the Indian flying fox, Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782)

Seasonal variation in the reproductive tract of Pteropus giganteus was studied at 13 sites of the Pothwar Plateau and Islamabad Capital Territory. Ninety-three dead specimens were collected from roosts, orchards and home-based small cultivations of fruit trees. In males, seasonal differences in testis length, testis width, cauda epididymidis length and penis length were recorded. Positive correlations were found between body weight, body length and all parameters of male reproductive tract. Significant monthly variations in testes conditions (viz. flaccid and turgid) were observed. In females, seasonal variation in reproductive tract weight, ovary length, ovary width, uterus length and uterus width were seen. In females, a strong relationship of body weight with total body length and female reproductive tract parameters were found. In flying foxes’ population of Pothwar, first mating was observed in December-January and second in June-July, suggesting two mating seasons in winter and summer.