Distribution and Diets of Wolves (Canis lupus, Linnaeus 1758) in Trans-Himalaya of Humla, Nepal

Abstract

The wolves are top predators in the Trans-Himalaya region. The research was conducted in Limi valley of Humla District of Nepal in June and July 2014. The major objectives were a) to determine the distribution of wolves in Limi valley, Humla, b) to analyze the characteristics of scats of Wolves and c) to examine the diet composition of Wolves. Scat samples were collected by line transects method and opportunistic survey. Diets were determined by micro-histological analysis of remains in sixty scats by using the Protocol developed by Klare et al. 2011. During the study revealed by a total of ten individual wolves were observed in the two study sites. Most of the scats were collected from grassland at 4600 masl to 4799 masl. Wolves preferred grassland than barren land. The weights of scats were ranged from 20 gm- 80 gm and 5 cm- 12 cm long with 2.5 cm- 4 cm in diameter. A minimum of 10 taxa were consumed by wolf constituted wild ungulates (46.9%), small mammals (29.7%) and livestock (23.4%). Kiang and Tibetan Argali were recorded first in diets of wolves. The frequency of occurrence of Blue Sheep in scats was 42% followed by Himalayan Marmot (19%), Horse (17.3%) and remaining others. In term of biomass consumption, Horse was the dominant prey species i.e. 36.8% which was followed by Blue Sheep (34.8%), Himalayan Marmot (10%) and remaining others. Significant proportion of diets consists of medium wild prey species (40.83%) followed by small wild prey (29.50%), large domestic prey (20.17%), large wild prey (6.34%) and medium domestic prey species (3.16%). Forty scats samples are enough for the diet analysis of wolf’s diet. The study concluded that a minimum 10 Wolves were found in the study area where large ungulates had great contribution in the diet compositions of wolves and secondary and small preys had seasonal importance. The study suggests exploring the distribution of Wolves throughout the country and to cover all the seasons and bigger landscape is needed to assess entire food spectrum of Limi Valley.