Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :	Securing habitats for threatened mountain ungulates through robust population assessment and conservation planning
Area of research :	Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Focus area :	Biodiversity conservation including issues of Alien and invasive species and Human-wildlife interface
Principal Investigator :	Dr Vishnupriya Kolipakam, Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
Timeline Start Year :	2019
Timeline End Year :	2022
Contact info :	vishnupriya@wii.gov.in; qnq@wii.gov.in

Details

Executive Summary :	The 3 selected ungulates- Serow, Goral require urgent conservation measures. The Himalayan Serow is a goat-antelope native to the eastern Himalayas and eastern and south-eastern Bangladesh. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List because the population is considered to be declining due to habitat loss and hunting for its meat. The gorals are four species in the genus Nemorhaedus or Naemorheds They are small ungulates with a goat-like or antelope-like appearance. It is listed as near-threatened in the IUCN Red List. The Himalayan Tahr is a large even-toed ungulate native to the Himalayas in southern Tibet, northern Pakistan, northern India, and Nepal. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, in which the population is declining due to hunting and habitat loss. The present proposed project is to study Ghoral and Serow in the State of Arunachal Pradesh. The project is for a period of 2 years & 6 months. It is a Desk-cum-Field Study. Desk work includes remote sensing and GIS work, collecting and collating information from existing records and data. Fieldwork entails systematic field surveys and sample collections and analysis of data for population monitoring techniques. Lab work involves molecular and disease-based work to understand the molecular status and health status of mountain ungulates. Objective: i. To assess the population status of mountain ungulate community - Serow and Ghoral in representative sub-tropical and temperate Himalaya of Arunachal Pradesh. ii. To understand the abundance, habits relationship and health status of threatened mountain ungulates of Serow and Ghoral. iii. To develop a conservation action plan for mountain ungulates through securing habitats and conservation prioritization of populations.
Co-PI:	Prof. Qamar Qureshi, Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
Total Budget (INR):	74,38,940
Outcome/Output:	Output: Monitoring protocol for mountain ungulates-Serow and Ghoral in Arunachal Pradesh. Trained manpower, where forest department will be able to monitor ungulates self sustainably. Baseline information on the current population status and distribution of mountain ungulate populations in temperate and sub-tropical forests of Arunachal Pradesh. Identification of the specific habitat needs and optimum habitats of mountain ungulates, especially for Serow, and Goral- Habitat quality in correlation with ungulate abundance, Vegetation map using hybrid classifiers and knowledge-based classification procedures, and identification of critical habitats. Health status and risk assessment of mountain ungulates populations in terms of the prevalence of pathogens (parasites only will be studied). Capacity building of State Forest Department will be able to monitor ungulates self sustainably etc. Outcome: The output of developing a monitoring protocol for mountain ungulates will address the objectives of the scheme, and the ministry in generating baseline information on threatened fauna, or little known and indicator species, developing an institutional mechanism to monitor the populations of endangered species and their habitats in all biogeographic regions. Capacity building of State Forest departments and local DFOs to sustainably monitor wildlife, and in that contribute to the MoEFCC's objective of institutionalizing capacity-building programmes that would cater to the specific needs of the species, and ecosystems (NWAP 3). Conservation Action Plan for Serow, and Ghoral in Arunachal Pradesh.