FAUNAL DIVERSITY: STATUS, THREATS AND MANAGEMENT OF KEDARNATH VALLEY, GARHWAL HIMALAYA, INDIA.

The present study was conducted in the Kedarnath Valley located in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. This valley is a rich repository of unique wildlife resources. Wildlife resources are represented in four vertebrate classes, 100 species belonging to 103 genera and 53 families, 26 species belonging to 21 genera and 14 families of mammals and 56 species belonging to 49 genera and 26 families of avian are present. However, 13 species belonging to 13 genera and 7 families of reptilians and 5 species belonging to 3 genera and 2 families of amphibians are also present in Kedarnath Valley. 17 species belonging to 17 genera and 4 families of butterflies are present in the Valley. Some vertebrates have been listed as threatened in IUCN RED List and are listed in different Schedules of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 of India. The present study finds many natural and anthropogenic activities to threaten biodiversity and finds future strategies for the better conservation and management of the wildlife and improvement of the habitat of the wildlife species in the Kedarnath Valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]