Status Of Large Mammals Research Articles

English

Studies on species composition, distribution and relative abundance of birds and mammals in Gonde Teklehimanot and Aresema Monasteries was carried out from December, 2015 to February, 2016. In these areas, wildlife conservation is directly relevant to the local community, often as a source of livelihood, medicine and spiritual values. To collect data on population status of large mammals, we commenced a line transect while date on distribution, species composition and habitat association of Avifauna were collected by using a point transect, or point count in both Gonde Teklehimanot and Aresema monasteries. Based on these, a total of 95 and 72 species of birds and 21 and 9 species of mammal were recorded, respectively. Duncan’s Multiple Range Test showed that mean number of species did significantly differ between the two study sites. However, mean no. of species between habitats did not show a significant in both study areas. During the dry season, the highest species diversity at was recorded in farmlands and its associated habitat, 0.93 and followed by Riverine bushland, 0.75. This might be correlated with the less habitat diversity; i.e a homogenous (Ticket forest) habitat type is a dominantly habitat type in the area. Among the monastries, Gonde Teklehimanot was better in mammalian and Avifauna diversity than Aresema monastery. Both of them are rich in biodiversity, and hence, conservation practices and management innervations should be done at different levels of the local communities. Key words: Gonde Teklehimanot, Aresema monasteries, species.

Status of large mammals in the mountain sector of Kahuzi‐Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1996

Kahuzi‐Biega National Park, located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, harbours an abundance of endemic species and maintains important populations of Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla gorilla graueri) and elephants (Loxodonta africana). This paper reports on the status of large mammals within the mountain sector of the park in 1996, 2 years after the arrival of half a million Rwandan refugees in the area immediately adjacent to the sector. Large mammal surveys found that gorilla populations had remained stable and that elephants were concentrated within a subsector of the area. However, although chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis), and owl‐faced monkeys (C. hamlyni) were abundant and widespread, most terrestrial mammal species were found in very low densities and had been subjected to poaching. Nevertheless, important mammal populations remained and complemented the biodiversity conservation value of the park.

Status and conservation of large mammals in Ladakh

The distribution and status of large mammals was surveyed in a 15 000 km 2 study area in Ladakh, India. Snow leopard Panthera uncia, wolf Canis lupus, ibex Capra ibex and bharal Pseudois nayaur have an almost continuous distribution throughout; Ladakh urial Ovis vignei, Tibetan argali Ovis ammon, wild ass Equus kiang and brown bear Ursus arctos have a limited distribution. Snow leopard prefer lower altitudes and rocky, undisturbed areas. Ibex and bharal occupy similar rocky habitats but their ranges are mostly separate, with a small area of overlap. The Ladakh urial shows signs of recovery from an earlier decline. Natural resources are widely used for fuel, fodder and grazing, but favourable factors include a low human population, low level of hunting and the existence of some uninhabited and undisturbed areas. A comprehensive Protected Area Network has been proposed.

Status of large mammals in the Taxkorgan Reserve, Xinjiang, China

A status survey of large mammals was conducted in the western half of China's 14 000 km 2 Taxkorgan Reserve. About 7750 people and 70 000 domestic animals inhabit the reserve. Only one viable population of fewer than 150 Marco Polo sheep survives, and it appears to be augmented by adult males from Russia and Afghanistan during the winter rut. Ibex occur primarily in the western part of the reserve and blue sheep—the most abundant wild ungulate—in the eastern and southeastern parts. The two species overlap in the area of contact. Counts in selected mountain blocks totalling 1445 km 2 within the reserve revealed an average wild ungulate density of 0·34 animals km −2. Snow leopard were rare, with possibly 50–75 in the reserve, as were wolves and brown bear. The principal spring food of snow leopard was blue sheep (60%) and marmot (29%). Local people have greatly decimated wildlife, killing wild ungulates for meat and predators to protect livestock. Overgrazing by livestock and overuse of shrubs for fuelwood is turning this arid steppe habitat into desert. There is need to place restraints on the killing of wildlife, to introduce appropriate technology such as solar cookers, and to encourage occupations that remove people from the land—trade, manufacture of handicrafts, and activities associated with tourism.

Status of large mammals of northern Saudi Arabia

Status of large mammals of northern Saudi Arabia

The distribution and status of large mammals in Benin

ABSTRACTRecords of the occurrence of larger mammals in Benin for the period 1974—79 are summarized. Quarter degree square distribution maps are given for the more conspicuous species. Abundant populations of savanna mammals exist in the Pendjari and ‘W’ National Parks and adjoining hunting reserves in the north. Programmes to eradicate trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis will lead to increased agricultural development and a consequent loss of savanna wildlife outside these parks and reserves. There are no effectively protected areas in the forested south and uncontrolled logging followed by agricultural development threatens all forest mammals.