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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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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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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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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Namgail, T. (2004). Eurasian lynx in Ladakh. Cat News, 40, 21–22.
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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., Bagchi, S. Bhatnagar, Y.V., Wangchuk, R. (2005). Occurrence of the Tibetan Sand Fox Vulpes Ferrilata Hodgson in Ladakh: A new record for the Indian subcontinent. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 102(2), 217–219.
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Namgail, T. (2005). Winter birds of the Gya-Miru Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Indian Birds, 1(2), 26–28.
Abstract: A survey of the winter birds of the Gya-Miru Wildlife Sanctuary in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, India was carried out between December 2002 and March 2003. 30 species were recorded, constituting 60% of the total resident species in Ladakh excluding Nubra Valley, and 10% of the total birds recorded in Ladakh (11% of the post-1960 records). 29 species (97%) of the birds recorded breed in Ladakh, while one, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos is a passage migrant. The most noteworthy sightings were four species of pheasants (Phasianidae) and two of owls (Strigidae). A preliminary assessment of the potential threats to the birds in the reserve was made. This is the first avifaunal survey of the reserve, and has implications for assessing the importance of the area for bird protection.
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Namgail, T. (2007). Vigilance behaviour of the Tibetan argali Ovis ammon hodgsoni in the Indian Trans-Himalaya. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 53, 195–200.
Abstract: An inverse relationship between individual vigilance level and group size is widely reported in many behavioral studies on animals across several taxa. It is generally held that such a relationship is due to a reduced probability of an individual being killed in larger groups. in the present investigation, I studied the vigilance behavior of the endangered Tibetan argali Ovis ammon hodgsoni in relation to group size and escape terrain. I hypothesized that an individual argali has a higher vigilance level in smaller groups and in habitats closer to cliffs than individuals living in larger groups and open areas (escape terrain). The results show that the vigilance of argali decreased with increasing group size, but there was no effect of escape terrain on its vigilance behavior. There were significant differences between age-sex groups: male, female and yearling in their time budgets. Females, compared to males and yearlings, spent more time being vigilant. They also foraged more and moved less than males. It is suggested that vigilance is an important anti-predator behavior amongst argali sheep.
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WWF Russia & Mongolia. (2011). WWF Newsletter Altai-Sayan Ecoregion January – March 2011. WWF Russia & Mongolia.
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