Distribution And Habitat Utilization Of Himalayan Goral (Nemorhaedus goral) in Dailekh District, Karnali Province, Nepal

Abstract

he study was conducted aiming at determining the distribution and habitat utilization of Himalayan goral (Nemorhaedus goral) in Dailekh District, Karnali Province, Nepal in January/February 2020. Line transects of 0.5 - 1.0 km were laid on the field to assess the status and distribution of this species. Direct observation of goral, fecal pellets in different habitat types and records of other topographic variables were used to find out distributions and habitat utilization of Himalayan goral. Interviews and a questionnaire survey with locals were used to assess level of threat. A total of five individuals and 122 fecal deposits of goral were recorded. Results suggested an uneven distributed pattern of goral. The survey through sign showed that gorals were distributed from 700m to 1250 m asl, in study area. Five habitat types were used by the goral: cliff rock area, mixed hardwood forest, Pine Forest, Quercus Forest, Sal-Terminalia forest. The highest number of Himalayan goral was recorded on cliff rock area followed by Quercus forest and Sal-Terminalia forest. Presence of goral declined with the vicinity of villages and increased with distance to nearest village. Gorals also preferred south facing steep slopes and top of cliffs. Himalayan goral was recorded in areas with a highly rugged and steep terrain. Himalayan gorals are facing a serious local threat of poaching for meat. Other threats include habitat destruction, fragmentation and various anthro-pogenic activities such as fire, wood collection, fuel wood collection, overgrazing.