Browsing by Subject "Langtang National Park"
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Item An Analysis of Food Habits and Conservation of Red Panda (Ailurus Fulgens Cuvier, 1825) in Langtang National Park, Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2010) Thapa, ArjunThis study onfood habits andconservation threatsof red panda Ailurus fulgensinthe Langtang National Park, was carried outbetween March 2009 toMarch 2010and was mainly centered onexamining diet composition, food niche breadth and conservation threats. Three sites were chosen for the study, which wereGopache,Dhokachet and Trisuli-Originof Cholangpati-Dhokachet areas.Thisstudy includedreconnaissance survey for specific siteselection, altitudinal line intercept methodfor faecal samplecollectionanddung encounter,whereasmicro-histological techniquewas used to examine the seasonal diet compositionand niche breadth of the red panda. Conservation threats of animal were analyzedthrough semi-structured questionnairesand interviews with local people and also throughcattle dung encounter rate and grazing intensity. A total of 12 altitudinalline interceptswerelaid in three sites at theelevations of 3000m-3600m with verticallinesat theinterval of 150 m.A total of 161fecal sampleswere examinedusingmicro-histologicalanalysis.Results showed thatthe red panda’s diet composed ofeightdifferent plantsincluding bamboo, tree, herbs, shrubs and moss. They wereThamnocalamus aristatus, Sorbus cuspidata, moss, Juniper recurva, Acer caudatum, Rhododendron campanulatum,Abies spectabilis,andRubus sp.Itsdiet consistedof Thamnocalamus aristatus(mean=245.08±15.74%) inhighest proportion,followed by Moss (mean=5.91±1.95%), S. cuspidata (mean=5.83±1.22%), J. recurva(mean=1.08±071.95%), A. caudatum(mean=1.00±0.38%), andsomeothersinalow proportion (all<1). Statistically,T. aristatuswas consumed in all seasonsthat was insignificant (2> 0.001, df =11, P>0.05),where as other foodsvaried seasonally.Niche breadthdeterminationofred panda was 0.000104, which was quite low that resembledits high selectiveness in forage.Unidentified hairs, bonesand claws were observed in the few faecal samples. Livestock pressure, speciallytheChauri caused major threatstothered pandasalong with the fire woodandfodder collection. Dhokachet siteof Cholang-Dhokachet wasfoundwithhighest grazing intensity withahigher dung encounter rate(mean=34.19/km),followed by Gopche (mean=24.49/km) and Trisuli (mean=9.6/km).Also the line of regression(r2=0.491) showedthere wasa decreaseinfecal pellet encounter rate correspondingcattle dung encounter rate.Item Status of Assamese Macaque (Macaca assamensis McClelland, 1840) Inlangtang National Park, Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2008) Regmi, Ganga RamThe study was carried out in the month of MayJune, July and August of 2007.A total of 213Assamese macaques(Macaca assamensis)were encountered in 9 groups within the total are asurveyed of 113km²at Langtang National Park. The group density was found tobe 0.0790groups /km²with a population density of1.8691 individuals/km²andamean group size of23.66 individuals.Age-sex composition of macaquecomprised 31% adult females, 16% adultmales, 18% youngs, 16% Juvenilesand 19% were infantsin the study area.The adultsex ratioand the recruitment rate were found to be 1:1.92 and 0.61 (61 infants per 100 females)respectively.Four major behaviors were recorded from the selected Assamese macaque groupat Ronga Pool as foraging 49%, moving 26%, resting 16%, and grooming 9%.The estimatedcrop damage from 75 households was about Rs. 150,000 per annum with the average of Rs.2,000 per household.Presence or absence of macaque damage is significantly related to the distance of the farm from the forest ( 2 =30.9, df=2,P<<0.05).The costs of crop protectionper household ranged between Rs.500-1500 per household per year, which comes to Rs. 37,500-112,500 for75households. It was found that Assamese macaques spoiled more cropsthan they actually eat; juveniles and infants in particular brought about damage during play onthe ground.Among the crops raided by Assamese macaques,maize cobs were found to behighly preferred (62%) followed by potato tubers (23%), millet (7%),buck wheat (6%) and others 2%.The most commonly used crop protection strategy was constant vigilance during crop seasons and used by 60% of the farmers in the study area.Despite the measures of crop protection, macaques did manage to invade the crops in the area. Agricultural crop and livestock depredation by wildlife results indisputes between the park authorities and the local people.Potential solutions recommended here emphasize the need for the Park administration to accept responsibility for the protection of crops and livestock from park wildlife and measures taken immediately to minimize them up to the level of tolerance for sustainable conservation. Key words:Macaca assamensis, Langtang National Park,population,behavior, crop damage,crop protection strategy, conservation