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It is becoming more widely recognised that free-ranging dogs, which have a nearly global distribution, threatening native wildlife. Their increasing population and spread to new areas is of growing concern for the long-term viability of wildlife species. Hence, it is imperative to understand the factors responsible for their infestation and map areas where native species are most vulnerable. Using the random forests algorithm, we modelled the free-ranging dog infestation in the Trans-Himalayan region to pinpoint the high-risk areas where free-ranging dogs are threatening the native wildlife species. We found that the likelihood of free-ranging dog occurrence is most in valley regions and up to 4000 m, often in proximity to roads. Our results also indicated that free-ranging dog prefers areas with wildlife near to protected areas. The predictor variables, such as potential evapotranspiration of the coldest quarter, distance to protected areas, elevation, distance to roads, and potential evapotranspiration of the driest quarter, significantly influence the distribution of the free-ranging dogs. We found that within the Ladakh region of the Trans-Himalayan area, the high-risk zones for free-ranging dogs are located in and around Hemis National Park, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, and Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. While, in the Lahaul and Spiti region the high-risk areas encompass Pin Valley National Park, Inderkilla National Park, Khirganga National Park, Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary, and several other protected areas. We identified the potentially high-risk areas for implementing strategies to mitigate the possible impact of free-ranging dogs on native wildlife of the Himalayas. Hence, the identified high priority areas can be used for implementing actions for controlling the population growth and further preventing the infestation of the free-ranging dogs into the new areas., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The trans-Himalayan region of India, although have xeric features, still supports a unique assemblage of biodiversity, including some of the charismatic and endemic species. In the present study, we studied blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) across the distribution range in the Western trans Himalayas of India and found about 18,775 km 2 area suitable for blue sheep. The explicit Bayesian based spatial and non-spatial population structure analysis assigned blue sheep into two genetic populations, i.e., Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti. We found relatively high genetic divergence in blue sheep which is also supported by the low current flow in Circuitscape model. With the multiple evidences, we explain landscape resistance facilitated by the landscape heterogeneity, and large patches of unsuitable habitats forced population divergence and poor functional connectivity. We found that blue sheep population has been demographically stable in the past, but showed a slight decline within the last few decades. This study is the first range-wide attempt to exhibit landscape features in shaping the spatial distribution, genetic structure and demography patterns of blue sheep in Western Himalayas, and will be of use in the conservation and management planning of blue sheep., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Pleistocene glaciations had profound impact on the spatial distribution and genetic makeup of species in temperate ecosystems. While the glacial period trapped several species into glacial refugia and caused abrupt decline in large populations, the interglacial period facilitated population growth and range expansion leading to allopatric speciation. Here, we analyzed 40 genomes of four species of ibex and found that Himalayan ibex in the Pamir Mountains evolved independently after splitting from its main range about 0.1 mya following the Pleistocene species pump concept. Demographic trajectories showed Himalayan ibex experienced two historic bottlenecks, one each c. 0.8-0.5 mya and c. 50-30 kya, with an intermediate large population expansion c. 0.2-0.16 mya coinciding with Mid-Pleistocene Transitions. We substantiate with multi-dimensional evidence that Himalayan ibex is an evolutionary distinct phylogenetic species of Siberian ibex which need to be prioritized as Capra himalayensis for taxonomic revision and conservation planning at a regional and global scale.

Wildlife corridors that connect mosaic habitats in heterogeneous mountainous landscapes can be of high significance as they facilitate the genetic and demographic stability of free-ranging populations. Peripheral populations of widespread species are usually ignored in conservation planning. However, these populations retain locally common alleles and are genetic reservoir under the changing climatic conditions. Capra sibirica has widespread distribution, and its southern peripheral population is distributed in the Indian trans-Himalayan region (ITR). In the present study, we studied the spatial distribution and genetic make-up of Himalayan ibex from the ITR following the landscape genetics approach. We obtained 16 haplotypes at the mitochondrial d-loop region and found a stable demography in the past with a recent decline. With 10 nuclear microsatellites, we ascertained 111 unique individuals assigned into two clusters following Bayesian and non-Bayesian clustering analysis with several admixed individuals. We also recorded 25 first-generation migrants that reflected relatively high dispersal and gene-flow across the range. We identified a 19,835 sq.km suitable area with 13,311 sq.km in Ladakh and 6524 sq.km in Lahaul-Spiti. We identified a novel movement corridor for Himalayan ibex across the Lahaul-Zanskar-Sham valley (L-Z-SV) that displayed a fairly good conductance with low genetic divergence among the samples collected on the L-Z-SV corridor. We propose declaring a protected area in the Lahaul and Kargil districts to prioritize dedicated conservation efforts for the Himalayan ibex and other sympatric ungulates that impart a major role in the diet of large carnivore and balancing ecosystem services in the trans-Himalayan region.

Introduction: Throughout the world each year, an estimated 23% of the 4 million neonatal deaths and 8% of all deaths in <5 years of age are associated with signs of asphyxia at birth., Aim: To study the role of cord arterial blood gas analysis at birth and serial Thompson score in predicting the early neonatal outcome in post asphyxiated term neonates., Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Department of Paediatrics, in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi from May 2014 to February. 2015. This study was a prospective cross-sectional study. During this period, a total of 145 post asphyxiated term neonates born in labour room/obstetric operation theatre were recruited. An informed consent was taken from all the parents. The protocol was approved by the institutional ethical committee. Inclusion criteria were full-term babies with low-Apgar score i.e., 1 min score of ≤ 7 National Neonatal Perinatal Database 2010 (NNPD 2010)., Statistical Analysis: SPSS 17.0 Software has been used for data analysis. The data were expressed in terms of Means, Standard Deviation and Proportion, followed by comparison between groups through chi-square test or Fisher's-exact test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant., Results: The present study was carried out on 145 post asphyxiated full-term babies with low-Apgar score i.e., 1min score of ≤7mild Thompson score on day I,2,3 were 96 (66.2%), 119 (82.06%), 125 (86.20%), moderate Thompson score on day 1,3, 7 were 13 (8.9%), 6 (4.13%), 2 (1.37%) and severe Thompson score on day 1, 3, 7 were 36 (24.8%), 13 (8.96%), 7 (4.82%) respectively. Total 11 patients died out of 145 post asphyxiated full-term babies within 7 days, among 11 patients, 7 died within 3 days. There was clinical improvement among HIE patients as indicated by serial Thompson score done on day 1, 3 and 7. Among 145 patients 62(42.8%) had seizure and 83(57.2%) did not have seizure. Most common type of seizure was subtle seizure in 25 (40.3%) followed by multifocal in 21 (33.9%) and tonic in 16(25.8%)., Conclusion: There is statistically significant correlation between morbidity and day 1 Thompson score (p-value 0.024). There is statistically significant correlation between mortality and day 1 Thompson score (p-value 0.001). Thompson score allows a very precise description of infants by assigning a numeric score rather than 'mild', 'moderate' or 'severe'. Inter-rater reliability is very good with a kappa co-efficient of 0.87.