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Namgail, T. (2003). Gya-Miru: last refuge of the Tibetan argali. Sanctuary Asia, 23, 16–21.
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Namgail, T. (2004). Eurasian lynx in Ladakh. Cat News, 40, 21–22.
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Trivedi, P. (2008). Rekindling the children-nature link: nature education camps in the Himalayan high altitudes. Wildlife – melting like ice? Wildlife Week, (2008), 30–33.
Abstract: One of the major transformations to have impacted children across the world in the last few decades is an impoverished natural environment in their immediate vicinity leading to reduction or complete disappearance of direct contact and experience of nature irrespective of whether the child lives in urban or rural areas. This combined with the breakdown or degradation of the socio-cultural institutional mechanisms for the transfer of local knowledge about wildlife and our links with our bio-physical world has severely influenced the awareness of nature among today’s children.
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Suryawanshi, K. (2011). An encounter in snow. FRONTLINE, 28(10).
Abstract: In the trans-Himalayan region, a conservation effort has reduced conflicts between snow leopards and pastoralists. Photographs & text by author.
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Kinoshita, K., Inada, S., Seki, K., Sasaki, A., Hama, N., Kusunoki, H. (2011). Long-Term Monitoring of Fecal Steroid Hormones in Female Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia) during Pregnancy or Pseudopregnancy. PLoS ONE, 6(5), e19314. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019314.
Abstract: Knowledge of the basic reproductive physiology of snow leopards is required urgently in order to develop a suitable management conditions under captivity. In this study, the long-term monitoring of concentrations of three steroid hormones in fecal matter of three female snow leopards was performed using enzyme immunoassays: (1) estradiol-17β, (2) progesterone and (3) cortisol metabolite. Two of the female animals were housed with a male during the winter breeding season, and copulated around the day the estradiol-17β metabolite peaked subsequently becoming pregnant. The other female was treated in two different ways: (1) first housed with a male in all year round and then (2) in the winter season only. She did not mate with him on the first occasion, but did so latter around when estradiol-17β metabolite peaked, and became pseudopregnant. During pregnancy, progesterone metabolite concentrations increased for 92 or 94 days, with this period being approximately twice as long as in the pseudopregnant case (31, 42, 49 and 53 days). The levels of cortisol metabolite in the pseudopregnant female (1.35 µg/g) were significantly higher than in the pregnant females (0.33 and 0.24 µg/g) (P<0.05). Similarly, during the breeding season, the levels of estradiol-17β metabolite in the pseudopregnant female (2.18 µg/g) were significantly higher than those in the pregnant females (0.81 and 0.85 µg/g) (P<0.05). Unlike cortisol the average levels of estradiol-17β during the breeding season were independent of reproductive success.
The hormone levels may also be related to housing conditions and the resulting reproductive success in female leopards. The female housed with a male during the non-breeding season had high levels of cortisol metabolites and low levels of estradiol-17β in the breeding season, and failed to become pregnant. This indicates that housing conditions in snow leopards may be an important factor for normal endocrine secretion and resulting breeding success.
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Devendra, T. & C., M. (2010). Population and habitat of Himalayan thar (Hemitragus jemlahicus) in Langtang Himalaya, Langtang National Park (LNP), Nepal. Special issue on the occasion of 15th Wildlife Week, (2067), 37–46.
Abstract: A survey of Himalayan Thar was carried out in Langtang valley in response to the lacking of scientific information of its population status and distribution in the area. The study was carried out from Ghodatabela to Langsisa Kharka during April to June of 2003/04/2005. The area was divided into 5 survey blocks measuring 5sqkm each and study was conducted through blocks. Observed herds and individual animals were repeatedly counted and recorded. A total of 218 individuals of different age and sex Himalayan Thar were recorded during the study in 8 different herds. Three types of herds were recognized; Adult male-adult female-young (37.5%), Adult female-young (37.5%) and All adult-male (25%). Survey revealed that 50% of Thar herds were observed in 4200-4900m (Fourth block) and least (12%) were in 3700-4000m (First block), animals were not located in 3850-4200m (Third, Fifth block). Stratified random sampling was done to analyze the vegetation in their habitat and identified 26 potential plant species. The encroachment of their habitat is severe by the excessive livestock grazing and utilization for cowshed. Noticeable disturbance felt due to frequent poaching and tourist flow. The conservation of this species seems vital as it is prime prey species of Snow leopard in LNP.
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Khatiwada, J. R. & C., M.K. (2006). Status of snow leopard and conflict perception in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, Eastern Nepal. Nepalese Journal of Zoology, 1(1), 1–8.
Abstract: Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) is situated in the Taplejung district at the north-eastern region of Nepal. Livestock keeping is the main activity of people for making a living amidst a conflict with snow leopard (Uncia uncia). Each year snow leopard kills a number of livestock resulting significant economic losses for the poor people living in this remote area. Unless the people – snow leopard conflicts is well understood and appropriate conflict management activities are implemented, the long run co-existence between people and snow leopard –especially the existence of snow leopard in this part of the world–will be in question. This has now become an utmost important as the aspiration of the people for economic development has risen significantly and the area has been open to tourism. Study was done by counting snow leopard signs walking systematically in total 18 snow leopard sign transects covering 18.01 km in length in three sites, i.e. Lonak, Khambachen and Dudhpokhari of the Conservation Area. The average sign density was 12.63/km. The livestock depredation by snow leopard for one year (2005-06) was studied by interviewing the herders to understand the responsible and specific bio-physical and economic factors. The study revealed that sub-adult yaks were mostly hunted by snow leopard. Cattle's' winter (December-April) pastures are most vulnerable sites for predation. Presence of bushes, forest and boulders and rugged mountain crevices make good hides for snow leopard. The study also showed that a lax animal guarding system was significantly responsible for high livestock depredation by snow leopard. Blue sheep was observed by walking in selected trails and from vantage points. A total of 354 individual sheep of different age and sex of 14 different herds were recorded during the study period. The study showed that improvement in livestock guarding system should be adopted as the most important activity. However despite the importance of livestock in the KCA it is still not well understood why the herders neglect for proper livestock guarding. Proper guarding system required in winter pastures to reduce the depredation pressure.
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Chalise, M. K. (2008). Wild Fauna around the Himalayan Wetlands. In W. O. S. & Sung-Hoon S. Bhandari B.B. (Ed.), Water Tower of Asia: Experiences in Wetland Conservation in Nepal (pp. 104–108). South Korea.
Abstract: The Himalayan mountain range extends in a broad arc from Pakistan through India, Nepal, Bhutan and China. With elevations ranging from approximately 300 meters in the plains at the base of the mountains to the peaks well over 8,000 meters (Mt Everest 8,848 m). The Himalaya is the tallest and most complex of the world mountain regions (Striffler, 1985). The Himalaya can be divided into three physiographic zones. These includes the lower foothills usually describe as sub-Himalaya and represented by the Siwalik Hills which extend along most of the Himalaya with elevation seldom exceeding 1000 m. The second zone is the middle Himalaya also called Outer Himalaya or the lesser Himalaya with elevation ranges from 600 meters to over 3000 m. Interspersed within the middle zone are occasional larger to small valleys and river basins. The third zone is the great Himalaya or Inner Himalaya zone that covers higher mountain areas, the snow clad peaks and trans-Himalayan harsh climatic dry areas (HMG Nepal, 1977; Kaith, 1960). The glaciers and natural springs have drained the whole area and created a vast area as wetlands supplemented by different lake system in different elevations.
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Khatiwada, J. R. & C., M.K. (2007). Important fauna of Himalaya around Wetland. In Bhandari B.B. & Gea J.J. (Ed.), Himalayan Wetlands: Risk, Challenges and Opportunities (pp. 52–58). South Korea.
Abstract: Wetlands are classified according to landscape where they are found. For
example they are high altitude wetlands, mountain wetlands. When said high
altitude wetlands, they are lakes, ponds, rivers, glaciers, glacial lakes,
meadows, etc. in high altitude areas. Bhandari (2005) has defined "High
Altitude Wetlands are those types of wetlands which are found above the
elevation of 3,000 masl". They are generally above the tree line.
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Pandey, M. (2006). Status, habitat utilization, threats and conservation of musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster HODGSON 1839) in Lantang National Park, Central Nepal. Master's thesis, , Kathmandu, Nepal.
Abstract: “Status, habitat utilization, threats and Conservation of musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster Hodgson 1839) in Langtang National Park, Central Nepal” was carried out in Musk Deer Conservation Area of LNP.
The study was conducted spending more than 516 hours (16th February 2005 to 4th October 2005). The study applied the indirect method identifying 5 different blocks in the habitat for the status and habitat utilization of musk deer in LNP. It mainly deals with types of fecal deposits, distribution of those deposits in different topography and forests. The study also deals with other related evidences found in the study area.
Questionnaire survey provides the additional information regarding its threats and conservation. Forty-five different fecal deposits were found and 3 musk deer were sighted. Block B was found to be the appropriate habitat for musk deer. 68.8 percent of fecal deposits were recorded in Block B. Different types of fecal deposits found in Block B were very fresh and fresh (22.5%), old (38.7%) and very old (16.3%).
Thirty-three species of plants were recorded from the quadrates plotted in the study area. Among them Betula utilis was found the most dominant species . High percentage of fresh droppings were also recorded in Betula forest and maximum old deposits were recorded in mixed forest.
Animal trail was found preferred by musk deer. Forty percent of observed droppings were found on animal trail. Similarly, 8.88 percent of Relic sites were found in animal trail. High number of bedding sites were recorded in Betula and mixed
forest.
Questionnaire survey revealed that musk deer in Langtang National Park is in declining state. Seventy percent of the respondents agree about the poaching activity of musk deer in their area. Apart from this, tourists, local people and livestock are the major threats to musk deer in Langtang. High degree of habitat deterioration, livestock grazing, illegal hunting and predator such as Snow Leopard are the major threats in that area. Therefore, these issues have to be addressed for a long term survival of the endangered musk deer species in Langtang National Park.
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