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Author Khatoon, R., Hussain, I., Anwar, M., Nawaz, M. A.
Title Diet selection of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in Chitral, Pakistan Type Journal Article
Year 2017 Publication Turkish Journal of Zoology Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue 14 Pages (up) 914-923
Keywords Snow leopard, conservation, seasonal variation, diet composition, Chitral, Pakistan
Abstract Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an elusive endangered carnivore found in remote mountain regions of Central Asia, with

sparse distribution in northern Pakistan, including Chitral and Baltistan. The present study determined the food habits of snow leopard,

including preferred prey species and seasonal variation in diet. Fifty-six scat samples were collected and analyzed to determine the

diet composition in two different seasons, i.e. summer and winter. Hair characteristics such as cuticular scale patterns and medullary

structure were used to identify the prey. This evidence was further substantiated from the remains of bones, claws, feathers, and other

undigested remains found in the scats. A total of 17 prey species were identified; 5 of them were large mammals, 6 were mesomammals,

and the remaining 6 were small mammals. The occurrence of wild ungulates (10.4%) in the diet was low, while livestock constituted a

substantial part (26.4%) of the diet, which was higher in summer and lower in winter. Mesomammals altogether comprised 33.4% of

the diet, with palm civet (Paguma larvata) as a dominant (16.8%) species, followed by golden marmot (Marmota caudate) (8.8%), which

was higher in winter. There was a significant difference in seasonal variation in domestic livestock and small mammals. The livestock

contribution of 26.4% observed in the present study indicates a significant dependence of the population on livestock and suggests

that the study area is expected to be a high-conflict area for snow leopards. The results of the current study would help improve the

conservation efforts for snow leopards, contributing to conflict resolution and effective management of this endangered cat.
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Language Summary Language Original Title
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Notes Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1459
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Author Shrestha, A., Thapa, K., Subba, S. A., Dhakal, M., Devkota, B. P., Thapa, G. J., Shrestha, S., Malla, S., Thapa, K.
Title Cats, canines, and coexistence: dietary differentiation between the sympatric Snow Leopard and Grey Wolf in the western landscape of Nepal Himalaya Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication Journal of Threatened Taxa Abbreviated Journal
Volume 11 Issue 7 Pages (up) 13815-13821
Keywords Canis lupus, dietary pattern, dietary overlap, livestock, Naur, negative interaction, Panthera uncia, scat analysis, sympatry
Abstract Understanding the dietary habits of sympatric apex carnivores advances our knowledge of ecological processes and aids their conservation. We compared the diets of the sympatric Snow Leopard Panthera uncia and Grey Wolf Canis lupus using standard micro-histological analyses of scats collected from the western complex of Nepal Himalaya. Our study revealed one of the highest recorded contributions of livestock to the diet of top predators (55% for Grey Wolf and 39% for Snow Leopard) and high dietary overlap (0.82) indicating potential exploitative or interference competition. Their diet composition, however, varied significantly based on their consumption of wild and domestic prey. Limitation in data precludes predicting direction and outcome of inter-specific interactions between these predators. Our findings suggest a high rate of negative interaction with humans in the region and plausibly retaliatory killings of these imperilled predators. To ensure the sustained survival of these two apex carnivores, conservation measures should enhance populations of their wild prey species while reducing livestock losses of the local community through preventive and mitigative interventions.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1485
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