INCORPORATING OCCUPANCY MODELS IN ESTIMATING PROBABILITY OF HABITAT USE OF SNOW LEOPARD Panthera uncia (SCHREBER, 1775) IN HUMLA, 2016
According to global predictive models, a significant portion of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) hab... more According to global predictive models, a significant portion of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) habitat occurs outside protected areas, but few studies have examined the actual status of the species in these areas. Using sign survey data and occupancy modeling, we studied snow leopard occurrence in Limi Valley of north-western Nepal in order to better understand the species’ status in the area and the drivers for its habitat use. In addition to environmental parameters such as elevation and terrain ruggedness, we also considered prey availability and human disturbance as parameters in the models. A total of 69 snow leopard signs were recorded in 13 of the 31 2*2 km survey grid cells. Snow leopard detection probability was higher in areas with low human presence, and the probability of habitat use was positively related to prey availability and negatively to distance to water and human presence. Our study adds to a series of finer-scale studies on the ecological needs of the species and draws attention to the importance of non-protected landscapes – both within Nepal and beyond – for the survival of this charismatic top predator of the Himalayan ecosystems.
Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa was pictured during a camera trap study in Sikles-Bhujung lands... more Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa was pictured during a camera trap study in Sikles-Bhujung landscape in lower Annapurna Conservation Area from January– March 2017. Two other species of felids common leopard Panthera pardus and leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis were found to be coexisting with clouded leopard. Human disturbance in the study area is high during herding season (May–August). The clouded leopard is vulnerable to anthropogenic threats including hunting, livestock encroachment and hydropower development.
Siberian Weasel Mustela sibirica is categorized as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List of Threaten... more Siberian Weasel Mustela sibirica is categorized as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is one of the largest weasels found in Nepal. Its known distribution in Nepal is within the Himalayan region of the country. This paper documents four observations of the species made in Humla district (three observations) and Api-Nampa Conservation Area, Darchula district (one observation) in the Nepalese Himalayas
Spotted Linsang Prionodon pardicolor has been rarely recorded in Nepal except for Hodgson’s colle... more Spotted Linsang Prionodon pardicolor has been rarely recorded in Nepal except for Hodgson’s collection in the 19th century and several sighting records in Chitwan National Park during the late 1970s and 1980s. A camera-trap record in Annapurna Conservation Area during a Mainland Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa survey in January 2017, constitutes the first verifiable evidence of the species in the country since the nineteenth century. This authenticates the westernmost known limit of its current global distribution.
Recent camera trapping effort during November 2017 in Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale (TMJ) area in Eastern... more Recent camera trapping effort during November 2017 in Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale (TMJ) area in Eastern Nepal led to the discovery of two rare species, Asiatic golden cat and red panda. There was no previous documentation of the presence of these species in the TMJ region.
INCORPORATING OCCUPANCY MODELS IN ESTIMATING PROBABILITY OF HABITAT USE OF SNOW LEOPARD Panthera uncia (SCHREBER, 1775) IN HUMLA, 2016
According to global predictive models, a significant portion of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) hab... more According to global predictive models, a significant portion of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) habitat occurs outside protected areas, but few studies have examined the actual status of the species in these areas. Using sign survey data and occupancy modeling, we studied snow leopard occurrence in Limi Valley of north-western Nepal in order to better understand the species’ status in the area and the drivers for its habitat use. In addition to environmental parameters such as elevation and terrain ruggedness, we also considered prey availability and human disturbance as parameters in the models. A total of 69 snow leopard signs were recorded in 13 of the 31 2*2 km survey grid cells. Snow leopard detection probability was higher in areas with low human presence, and the probability of habitat use was positively related to prey availability and negatively to distance to water and human presence. Our study adds to a series of finer-scale studies on the ecological needs of the species and draws attention to the importance of non-protected landscapes – both within Nepal and beyond – for the survival of this charismatic top predator of the Himalayan ecosystems.
Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa was pictured during a camera trap study in Sikles-Bhujung lands... more Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa was pictured during a camera trap study in Sikles-Bhujung landscape in lower Annapurna Conservation Area from January– March 2017. Two other species of felids common leopard Panthera pardus and leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis were found to be coexisting with clouded leopard. Human disturbance in the study area is high during herding season (May–August). The clouded leopard is vulnerable to anthropogenic threats including hunting, livestock encroachment and hydropower development.
Siberian Weasel Mustela sibirica is categorized as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List of Threaten... more Siberian Weasel Mustela sibirica is categorized as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is one of the largest weasels found in Nepal. Its known distribution in Nepal is within the Himalayan region of the country. This paper documents four observations of the species made in Humla district (three observations) and Api-Nampa Conservation Area, Darchula district (one observation) in the Nepalese Himalayas
Spotted Linsang Prionodon pardicolor has been rarely recorded in Nepal except for Hodgson’s colle... more Spotted Linsang Prionodon pardicolor has been rarely recorded in Nepal except for Hodgson’s collection in the 19th century and several sighting records in Chitwan National Park during the late 1970s and 1980s. A camera-trap record in Annapurna Conservation Area during a Mainland Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa survey in January 2017, constitutes the first verifiable evidence of the species in the country since the nineteenth century. This authenticates the westernmost known limit of its current global distribution.
Recent camera trapping effort during November 2017 in Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale (TMJ) area in Eastern... more Recent camera trapping effort during November 2017 in Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale (TMJ) area in Eastern Nepal led to the discovery of two rare species, Asiatic golden cat and red panda. There was no previous documentation of the presence of these species in the TMJ region.
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Papers by Kaushal Yadav