An assessment of human impacts on endangered red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) living in the Himalaya.

Saroj Panthi,Tiejun Wang,Arjun Thapa,Yiwen Sun

doi:10.1002/ece3.5797

Saroj Panthi, Tiejun Wang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5797

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Abstract

Anthropogenic factors play an important role in shaping the distribution of wildlife species and their habitats, and understanding the influence of human activities on endangered species can be key to improving conservation efforts as well as the implementation of national strategies for sustainable development. Here, we used species distribution modeling to assess human impacts on the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in high‐altitude regions of Nepal. We found that the distance to paths (tracks used by people and animals), livestock density, human population density, and annual mean temperature were the most important factors determining the habitat suitability for red pandas in Nepal. This is the first study that attempts to use comprehensive environmental and anthropogenic variables to predict habitat suitability for the red pandas at a national level. The suitable habitat identified by this study is important and could serve as a baseline for the development of conservation strategies for the red panda in Nepal.

Highlights

Global biodiversity has been declining over the last several decades, mainly due to increasing anthropogenic interference (Tittensor et al, 2014)
Human populations are heavily localized at low el‐ evations, with low density at high elevations (Cohen & Small, 1998), and it is generally believed that biodiversity in high‐altitude regions is less disturbed by human activities than those living in low‐altitude regions (Kumar & Ram, 2005; Zhang, Huang, Wang, Liu, & Du, 2016)
Analysis of the contribution of environmental and anthropogenic variables to the predictive model indicated that distance to paths, annual mean temperature (Bio1), livestock density, and human pop‐ ulation density were the most important variables contributing to the prediction of suitable red panda habitat in Nepal (Figure 5)

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

Global biodiversity has been declining over the last several decades, mainly due to increasing anthropogenic interference (Tittensor et al, 2014). Human populations are heavily localized at low el‐ evations, with low density at high elevations (Cohen & Small, 1998), and it is generally believed that biodiversity in high‐altitude regions is less disturbed by human activities than those living in low‐altitude regions (Kumar & Ram, 2005; Zhang, Huang, Wang, Liu, & Du, 2016). Such assertions have not been tested in Nepal, where more than 1,200 human settlements are situated above 3,000 m (Chidi, 2009). The information from this study will be useful for the government of Nepal and conservation partners to prepare and implement policies, plans, and strategies for immediate and long‐term conservation of red panda in Nepal

| MATERIALS AND METHODS

Findings

| DISCUSSION