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First photographic evidence of a Pallas's cat in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan
Abstract and Figures
During a recent camera trap survey of snow leopards Panthera uncia in Jigme Dorji
National Park (JDNP) in Bhutan, several photographs of a Pallas’s cat Otocolobus
manul were captured. This is the first photographic evidence of a Pallas’s cat in the
park and the second evidence of its presence in Bhutan after the first photographic
evidence was collected in a similar study from Wangchuck Centennial Park in April
2012 (WWF 2012). These new records confirm an extension of the species’ distribution
in the Eastern Himalayas.
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... A snow leopard survey in Wangchuck Centennial National Park WCNP in central Bhutan detected the species at two locations, confirming the species' presence in Bhutan for the first time (WWF 2012). Another survey in the nearby Jigme Dorji National Park JDNP within the same year photographed the cat, confirming its presence further to the west of Bhutan (Thinley 2013). Camera trapping surveys followed in 2015, and 2016 but failed to detect the Pallas's cat in either of these parks (Thinley 2013, DoFPS 2016, WCNP 2016. ...
... Another survey in the nearby Jigme Dorji National Park JDNP within the same year photographed the cat, confirming its presence further to the west of Bhutan (Thinley 2013). Camera trapping surveys followed in 2015, and 2016 but failed to detect the Pallas's cat in either of these parks (Thinley 2013, DoFPS 2016, WCNP 2016. No dedicated study or any additional information on the species' occurrence has been reported from Bhutan since 2012 . ...
... Birds, domestic yaks, horses, dogs, and people were also photographed by the camera traps (51.5% of the total photos). We did not detect the Pallas's cat during this survey, although the species was photographed in the same area in 2012 (Thinley 2013). Similarly, four-camera surveys have been carried out in JDNP in the following years, including a snow leopard survey in 2015, but the species has not been detected (DoFPS 2016). ...
Pallas’s cat Otocolobus manul is one of the least known small wild cats of the Hima- layas. Bhutan recorded its first Pallas’s cat in 2012; however, no other records have emerged in the last eight years despite several camera trapping surveys. We carried out a pilot survey using camera traps to re-confirm the presence of the species in Soe region (previously recorded here in 2012) located to the west of Jigme Dorji National Park from mid-August to mid-October in 2018. The survey data consisted of images from eight camera trap stations covering 32 km2, totaling 303 camera trap nights, which resulted in the detection of several mammal species, including the snow leopard Pan- thera uncia, but no Pallas’s cat. Given the limited sampling area and the number of camera trap stations, we cannot conclude if the species is absent in the area. Despite repeated camera trap surveys over the years, although focused on large carnivores, the absence of recent records suggests that the species is naturally rare in Bhutan. We recommend the identification of potential habitats for the species across the country and to prioritise presence-absence surveys.
... Much of the present distribution of the species remains unclear, and distributional limits have historically been based in large part on anecdotal accounts (Munkhtsog et al. 2004) and opportunistic sightings (Fox and Dorji 2007;Shrestha et al. 2014). Recent camera-trap studies have confirmed the presence of Pallas's cats in areas traditionally thought unsuitable, thereby expanding their known distribution to include the high montane Himalayas of Nepal and Bhutan (Shrestha et al. 2014;Thinley 2013) and the arid grassland steppe of south-central Iran . In other parts of their historical range Pallas's cats are still believed extant, but contemporary evidence of their continued presence is either lacking (Ross et al. 2016) or those records originate from only a few localities (Barashkova et al. 2018Ross et al. 2016). ...
... No studies to our knowledge have explored the relationship between Pallas's cat and pika abundance, therefore we assume pika range to be an unlinked variable, with negligible population-level effects of Pallas's cats on pika abundance. Because recent presence records in new areas suggest a reconsideration of the Pallas's cat's range may be warranted Shrestha et al. 2014;Thinley 2013), we expected our models would yield new insights as to potential strongholds for the species across its widely-accepted range, while also expanding the potential range of the species by indicating new areas that might be subject to increased survey attention. ...
Knowledge about the current distribution of threatened and/or understudied species is a fundamental component of conservation biology. Mapping species distributions based on recent known occurrences is particularly important for those that are rare or declining. Too often, cryptic species go undetected throughout parts of their range, whereas others just receive less research attention. We used contemporary presence data for the Pallas’s cat ( Otocolobus manul ), a small cryptic felid, to characterize potential rangewide and regional habitat for the species and identify those abiotic and biotic variables most influencing its distribution. Several regions lacking contemporary occurrence records contain potential habitat for Pallas’s cats, including the Koh-i-Baba Mountains of Afghanistan, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, steppes of Inner Mongolia, Kunlun Mountains of China, and Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and China. Some of these areas have not been included in prior rangewide distribution assessments. The distribution of pikas ( Ochotona spp.), small mammals that likely represent a critical prey species everywhere they are sympatric, was the most important factor affecting the Pallas’s cat’s distribution. This suggests Pallas’s cats may be prey specialists, and that pika presence and habitat are critical considerations for future Pallas’s cat surveys and in the development of regional conservation actions.
... Pallas's cat and jungle cat were the least recorded felid species; each at one camera trap station. Pallas's cat was recorded from northcentral part of the park at 4,122 m (Thinley 2013). It is the second evidence of Pallas's cat from Bhutan after the first picture captured in WCNP in 2012 (WWF 2012). ...
... It is the second evidence of Pallas's cat from Bhutan after the first picture captured in WCNP in 2012 (WWF 2012). Both images originate from rolling hills dominated by glacial outwash and alpine steppe vegetation (WWF 2012, Thinley 2013. The jungle cat was recorded in temperate warm broadleaf forest in the eastern part of JDNP at 2,219 m (Fig. 3). ...
We recorded nine wild cat species during five consecutive camera trap surveys
over the last nine years in Jigme Dorji National Park JDNP. The species recorded
were tiger Panthera tigris, snow leopard Panthera uncia, leopard Panthera pardus,
clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii, marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, jungle cat Felis
chaus, and Pallas’s cat Octocolobus manul. The presence of these felids in JDNP is
a clear indication that the park has an intact and immaculate ecosystem and that it
is a conservation jewel of Bhutan. However, anthropogenic threats such as habitat
loss and fragmentation through farming, logging and other developmental activities,
poaching, prey population decline and retaliatory killings can negatively impact the
felid populations. In order for these wild felids to achieve viable populations, there is
a need for further protection and management of their habitat and prey base. Therefore, we recommend the implementation of strategized patrolling and yearly monitoring of wild felids and their status in the park.
... This record of Eupetaurus in Bhutan warrants further study to confirm the species identity and better understand its morphology, habitat selection and distribution in Bhutan. The discovery of a species of woolly flying squirrel in Bhutan adds to recent sightings of a spotted linsang Prionodon pardicolor in 2010 and Pallas's cat Otocolobus manul in 2012 in Jigme Dorji National Park (Thinley 2013), highlighting the Park's rich biodiversity and conservation significance. ...
The three species of woolly flying squirrels of the genus Eupetaurus are amongst the rarest and least studied mammals in the world. The different species are known to occur from only a few locations in the western, north-central and south-eastern margins of the Himalayas. Though the genus has been recorded in Bhutan, there has been no confirmed evidence until now. Here we confirm for the first time the presence of Eupetaurus
in Bhutan and discuss some records of mammals and birds with which it co-exists. The woolly flying squirrel was photographed by camera trap during a rapid biodiversity survey in the north-eastern part of Jigme Dorji National Park. From the three widely disjunct populations of Eupetaurus, the external pelage and appearance of this specimen appears to most closely resemble Eupetaurus nivamons. This record warrants further study to
confirm identification and better understand its morphology, habitat selection and distribution in Bhutan.
... The distribution of the snow leopard activity patterns on a 24-hour scale, based on the number of images of individuals photographed by separate camera-traps, showed they are more active during nights than during broad day light. The same has also been reported by Thinley et al (2013) from the same study area. Similarly, the activity pattern of tiger indicatesthat their activity was bi-modal that peaked during morning and evening. ...
... However, habitats of the region are generally of higher elevation with some of the highest elevation records found for the species (Fox and Dorji 2007, Chanchani 2008, Werhahn et al. 2018, Dhendup et al. 2019, Pal et al. 2019. In Bhutan, with its warmer south-facing Himalayan slopes, Pallas's Cat is found in rolling hills dominated by glacial outwash and alpine steppe vegetation (WWF 2012, Thinley 2013). Pallas's Cat occurs in Nepal in upper Manang valley within broken and rocky habitats, rolling hill slopes with few cliffs, and in Dolpo in rocky hill slopes within montane grassland steppe (Shrestha et al. 2014. ...
Pallas’s Cat has a wide but fragmented distribution across the grasslands and montane steppes of Central Asia. Pallas’s Cats are generally found at low densities, though in small rich patches in Russia they have been found at much higher density (Kirilyuk and Barashkova 2011). Their low density is believed to be a result of interspecific predation and the resulting habitat specialisation leading to a small percentage of the landscape being suitable for their needs. Due to their general low density and patchy distribution, relatively large areas are required to conserve viable populations (Ross et al. 2019a).
Pallas’s Cats are also highly dependent on cavities to provide dens for daily use and rearing young, which further restricts habitat availability (Ross et al. 2010a).
Predation by sympatric carnivores, herding dogs, and human offtake are the main known causes of mortality, but habitat disturbance and fragmentation is believed to be their main threat (Ross et al. 2019b). Mineral exploitation and infrastructure developments have increased throughout the species range. Pallas’s Cat also continues to be at risk from a declining prey base due to pika (Ochotona spp.) and rodent control programmes leading to prey depletion and secondary poisoning (Ross et al. 2019b).
Due to the difficulty of observing the species, data generally consist of individual records, and there are no current monitoring programmes that would allow empirical estimates of population size or population trend. However, recent reviews have highlighted that the global population size is unlikely to be low enough to qualify as Near Threatened (Barashkova et al. 2019). In addition, we used the methods
of Santini et al. (2019) to quantify habitat loss and disturbance across Pallas’s Cats range between 1994 and 2015 (or three generations). The analyses indicated that between these years the change in suitable habitat and level of habitat fragmentation was low, suggesting suitable habitat is likely to be disappearing at a lower rate than previously assumed, and indicating the population may be more stable than thought. Though caution is needed as information on the Pallas’s Cat is incomplete, and threats may be acting at a different scale than our analyses. We also have no information describing the species population dynamics and how the population may track prey availability. Nevertheless, based on distributional data, the Pallas’s Cat population as a whole appears more stable than previously thought
leading to its inclusion in the Least Concern category.
... Records in this range are mostly recent and sparse, and information on Pallas's cats is currently re� stricted to ad�hoc presence records (mainly from snow leopard surveys) and incidental sightings (e.g. Thinley 2013, Shrestha et al. 2014. There are many studies on the ecolo� gy of its primary prey, pika Ochotona spp., as well as on high altitude rangeland ecology, especially in China (e.g. ...
In this article, we used published and grey literature and expert observations to review the distribution and conservation status of the Near Threatened Pallas’s cat or manul Otocolobus manul in Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal. The species appears widespread in China; however, distribution in the Himalayas is patchy and not clearly understood. Recent sightings and camera trap records from north Sikkim in India and Bhutan extend the species range to the east of the Himalayas and suggest a wider distribution than previously thought. Nevertheless, the population size and trend in the region remain unknown. The Pallas’s cat is likely to be threatened by habitat degradation and fragmentation from traditional pastoralism, unregulated tourism, infrastructural developments such as roads and petrochemical industry, and also by poaching (including their prey). Climate change is also an emerging threat to the species although the potential impacts remain uncertain. Moreover, the species remains one of the lesser known wild cats, and in-place research and monitoring are highly lacking. There is a strong need for active conservation actions and dedicated studies on their presence and distribution followed by a more detailed investigation of their ecology and the impact of ongoing anthropogenic activities.
... Records in this range are mostly recent and sparse, and information on Pallas's cats is currently re� stricted to ad�hoc presence records (mainly from snow leopard surveys) and incidental sightings (e.g. Thinley 2013, Shrestha et al. 2014. There are many studies on the ecolo� gy of its primary prey, pika Ochotona spp., as well as on high altitude rangeland ecology, especially in China (e.g. ...
In this article, we used published and grey literature and expert observations to review the distribution and conservation status of the Near Threatened Pallas’s cat or manul Otocolobus manul in Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal. The species appears widespread in China; however, distribution in the Himalayas is patchy and not clearly understood. Recent sightings and camera trap records from north Sikkim in India and Bhutan extend the species range to the east of the Himalayas and suggest a wider distribution than previously thought. Nevertheless, the population size and trend in the region remain unknown. The Pallas’s cat is likely to be threatened by habitat degradation and fragmentation from traditional pastoralism, unregulated tourism, infrastructural developments such as roads and petrochemical industry, and also by poaching (including their prey). Climate change is also an emerging threat to the species although the potential impacts remain uncertain. Moreover, the species remains one of the lesser known wild cats, and in-place research and monitoring are highly lacking. There is a strong need for active conservation actions and dedicated studies on their presence and distribution followed by a more detailed investigation of their ecology and the impact of ongoing anthropogenic activities.
Blue sheep is the main prey for snow leopards in Bhutan. The cat currently exists with minimal threats, but attitudes of herders may be changing due to perceived “conflict,” which is often a term borrowed from elsewhere. Snow leopard presence is confirmed above 3500 m totaling ca 9000 km2. National conservation initiatives such as setting aside over half of the country under protected areas and biological corridors, and a constitutional mandate to maintain at least 60% of the country under forest cover favor conservation in general. All snow leopard habitat in Bhutan is protected. However, threats could arise from the shifting attitudes of yak herders who lose livestock to predation. Livestock disease such as gid still causes higher yak mortality than predation and is a bigger problem that needs addressing. Bhutan carried out its first nationwide snow leopard survey between 2014 and 2016 and estimated 96 individuals. A conservation action plan (2018–23) has been endorsed and community-based conservation programs are in place.
The ability of animals to move across complex landscapes is critical for maintaining viable populations in the landscape. For an apex predator like tiger (Panthera tigris), which is territorial and requiring large home range, habitat connectivity through biological corridors is vital. In Bhutan, the landscape conservation approach for tiger was initiated since 1999 when biological corridors were first established. Yet, the status of connectivity are not widely known. This study assessed the structural connectivity of biological corridor number 8 (BC8) for the tiger movements between national parks considering the ecological and anthropogenic variables influencing tiger and its prey. Camera trap datasets were used to assess the single-season occupancy of three principal prey species of tiger, sambar (Rusa unicolor), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), and wild boar (Sus scrofa), and to determine the habitat use probability of tiger. A questionnaire survey was administered to assess the current trends of human-tiger conflict, and people's perception towards conservation. Barking deer had the highest occupancy estimate (ψ ± SE) 0.52 ± 0.09, followed by sambar (ψ ± SE) 0.49 ± 0.03 and wild boar (ψ ± SE) 0.45 ± 0.07. The influence of ecological and anthropogenic variables like elevation, aspect, slope, distance to river, and distance to settlement varied among the three prey species. Predicted occupancy map showed probable niche partitioning between species, thereby enabling better distribution of principal prey and thus the connectivity. Tiger habitat use probability was influenced positively by elevation and negatively by aspect and slope. Livestock predation was the prevailing human-tiger conflict in the area with tiger accounting 76.49% of the total kill in the past two years. Nomads were more vulnerable than agro-pastoralists, and livestock predation was higher during the winter. Over 80% of the respondents were not aware of biological corridors and over 30% perceived negative attitude towards tiger conservation and corridor management. The structural connectivity maintained by ecological variables and prey species would enable tiger movements across the BC8, but human-tiger conflict needs to be mitigated, and people should be educated for conservation. Management of the BC8 by developing the management plan remains the most pressing need.
The endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is widely but sparsely distributed throughout the mountainous regions of central Asia. Detailed information on the status and abundance of the snow leopard is limited because of the logistical challenges faced when working in the rugged terrain it occupies, along with its secretive nature. Camera-trapping and noninvasive genetic techniques have been used successfully to survey this felid. We compared noninvasive genetic and camera-trapping snow leopard surveys in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. We collected 180 putative snow leopard scats from 3 sites during an 8-day period along 37.74 km of transects. We then conducted a 65-day photographic survey at 1 of these sites, approximately 2 months after scat collection. In the site where both techniques were used noninvasive genetics detected 5 individuals in only 2 days of fieldwork compared to 7 individuals observed in the 65-day camera-trapping session. Estimates of population size from noninvasive genetics ranged between 16 and 19 snow leopards in the 314.3-km 2 area surveyed, yielding densities of 4.9—5.9 individuals/100 km 2 . In comparison, the population estimate from the 65-day photographic survey was 4 individuals (adults only) within the 264-km 2 area, for a density estimate of 1.5 snow leopards/100 km 2 . Higher density estimates from the noninvasive genetic survey were due partly to an inability to determine age and exclude subadults, reduced spatial distribution of sampling points as a consequence of collecting scats along linear transects, and deposition of scats by multiple snow leopards on common sites. Resulting differences could inflate abundance estimated from noninvasive genetic surveys and prevent direct comparison of densities derived from the 2 approaches unless appropriate adjustments are made to the study design.
Conservation and management of snow leopards (Uncia uncia) has largely relied on anecdotal evidence and presence-absence data due to their cryptic nature and the difficult terrain they inhabit. These methods generally lack the scientific rigor necessary to accurately estimate population size and monitor trends. We evaluated the use of photography in capture-mark-recapture (CMR) techniques for estimating snow leopard population abundance and density within Hemis National Park, Ladakh, India. We placed infrared camera traps along actively used travel paths, scent-sprayed rocks, and scrape sites within 16- to 30-km2 sampling grids in successive winters during January and March 2003–2004. We used head-on, oblique, and side-view camera configurations to obtain snow leopard photographs at varying body orientations. We calculated snow leopard abundance estimates using the program CAPTURE. We obtained a total of 66 and 49 snow leopard captures resulting in 8.91 and 5.63 individuals per 100 trap-nights during 2003 and 2004, respectively. We identified snow leopards based on the distinct pelage patterns located primarily on the forelimbs, flanks, and dorsal surface of the tail. Capture probabilities ranged from 0.33 to 0.67. Density estimates ranged from 8.49 (SE = 0.22) individuals per 100 km2 in 2003 to 4.45 (SE = 0.16) in 2004. We believe the density disparity between years is attributable to different trap density and placement rather than to an actual decline in population size. Our results suggest that photographic capture-mark-recapture sampling may be a useful tool for monitoring demographic patterns. However, we believe a larger sample size would be necessary for generating a statistically robust estimate of population density and abundance based on CMR models.
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