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We assessed the status and distribution of mammals using camera traps in Ramnagar Forest Division between February and June 2017. A total of 2656 independent photographs representing herbivores (57.2%), carnivores (7%), omnivores (6.8%), birds (2.0%), cattle (5.6%), humans (18.7%) and free-ranging stray dogs (2.7%) were recorded from 96 trap stations. Tiger (Panthera tigris) was trapped more often than other carnivores. Spotted deer (Axis axis) stood first among the herbivores and rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) among the omnivores. The Relative Abundance Index (RAI) for spotted deer was highest at low anthropogenic disturbance sites, while for other members of cervidae (barking deer Muntiacus muntjac; sambar Rusa unicolor and Himalayan goral Naemorhedus goral), it was highest at sites free from the disturbance. Tiger was most abundant at low while leopard (Panthera pardus) at high anthropogenic disturbance sites. Except for leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), other small carnivores including Jungle cat (Felis chaus), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica) and yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula) and omnivore; golden jackal (Canis aureus) was photo captured mostly at medium human anthropogenic disturbance sites. The current information is expected to help in the formulation of management strategies for long-term conservation of mammals outside the protected areas in Terai-Arc Landscape.

Increasing pace of urbanization is the leading cause of decline in natural areas and associated biodiversity in developing countries. Bird richness is considered as a key indicator of urban environment quality. We investigated the relationship between satellite image derived landscape variables and field surveyed bird counts to predict bird richness in a rapidly urbanizing city in Western Himalayan foothills of India. Predictor variables derived from remotely sensed data comprised of vegetation productivity, landscape metrics and topography. We found that bird richness in this low density residential urban environment was positively related to greenness, elevation, and the degree of contrast between neighbourhood patches, while it was negatively related to patch densities. The Generalized Linear Model (GLM) with lowest Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) explained about 90% variability in bird richness distribution. Results indicated high bird species richness in elevated remnant vegetation patches and green spaces compared to low lying “core” settlement areas. The study urges to consider conservation and protection of green cover spaces in urban areas through effective landscape and urban planning.

We have conducted a study between May and August 2013 to understand the dietary spectrum of two canid species: Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) and Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in one of the most inhospitable landscape of the world. Ladakh is characterized by harsh environmental conditions and low primary productivity and therefore animal populations, particularly of large and medium sized herbivores are also low and sparsely distributed. This in turn poses a challenge to the survival of predators. We have attempted to investigate the ways by which the two sympatric canid species are optimizing feeding for their survival in an environment where there is scarcity of wild prey base. Scats of the two species were collected from Chiktan and Rangdum valleys and undigested food remnants were identified. The dietary spectrum of Tibetan wolf was composed of six prey species (2 wild and 4 livestock species). The share of livestock species in the diet was maximum (RO: 62.0%). The Red fox being an opportunistic feeder consumed 19 forgeable items, including small and medium sized mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, plant material, eggs, stones and debris. The livestock species contributed maximum to the diet of Red fox (RO: 22.9%). The dietary niche breadths of both species were more or less similar (0.53 and 0.58) and indicating a generalist feeding behavior. Both the species are surviving in the same environment with a dietary overlap of 0.60. The given information is expected to aid further studies in Indian Trans-Himalaya.