Mammal diversity in a montane forest in central Bhutan

Abstract

In Bhutan, knowledge of wildlife species richness in protected areas is increasing, particularly for mammals; however, the knowledge outside of protected areas typically remains poor. We conducted a camera trap survey from May 2016 to July 2017 in a montane forest outside of the protected areas network in central Bhutan and recorded 15 species of mammals (belonging to nine families and three orders), of which nearly half were listed as Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened. Our findings demonstrate that forested landscapes outside protected areas in Bhutan support a rich assemblage of wildlife species and are, therefore, deserving of comprehensive wildlife conservation plans and dedicated funding for ecological research and threat mitigation.