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