Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan: a hot spot for wild felids

AbstractThe non-uniformity of the distribution of biodiversity makes allocation of the limited resources available for conservation of biodiversity a difficult task. Approaches such as biodiversity hotspot identification, endemic bird areas, crisis ecoregions, global 200 ecoregions, and the Last of the Wild are used by scientists and international conservation agencies to prioritize conservation efforts. As part of the biodiverse Eastern Himalayan region, Bhutan has been identified as a conservation priority area by all these different approaches, yet data validating these assessments are limited. To examine whether Bhutan is a biodiversity hot spot for a key taxonomic group, we conducted camera trapping in the lower foothills of Bhutan, in Royal Manas National Park, from November 2010 to February 2011. We recorded six species of wild felids of which five are listed on the IUCN Red List: tiger Panthera tigris, golden cat Pardofelis temminckii, marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa and common leopard Panthera pardus. Our study area of 74 km2 has c. 16% of felid species, confirming Bhutan as a biodiversity hot spot for this group.

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Preliminary study on bird and mammal diversity at ecosystem restored areas in the Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java, Indonesia

Indonesian Journal of Applied Environmental Studies ◽

10.33751/injast.v1i2.2190 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 34-42

Author(s):

Anton Ario ◽

Iip Latipah Syaepulloh ◽

Dede Rahmatulloh ◽

Irvan Maulana ◽

Supian Supian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sus Scrofa ◽

National Park ◽

Macaca Fascicularis ◽

Bird Species ◽

Camera Trap ◽

Panthera Pardus ◽

Species Trees ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Prionailurus Bengalensis

Since 2008, Conservation International Indonesia (CI Indonesia) has been working together with Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (GGPNP) develop ecosystem restoration program in extended critical land area of National Park. More than 120,000 trees of 8 native species trees planted in an area of 300 hectares. Now the ecosystem has been restored and provides multiple benefits including become a new habitat for wildlife. The preliminary study on birds and mammals diversity in restored area was conducted in 2 months from April to May 2018 in Nagrak resort, GPPNP. The aim of this study is to assess the diversity on mammals and bird within ecosystem restored in the GGPNP. Birds were surveyed using point counts method, and mammals using camera trap. The results shows a total of 33 bird species of 22 families with the total number recorded 1,881 individuals. A total of 10 mammal species of 7 families were captured in the study area with a total of 623 trap days produced 113 independent photos of mammals. The species of mammals consist of Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas), Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Common palm-civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), Small indian-civet (Viverricula indica), Javan gold-spotted mongoose (Hervestes javanicus), Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), Long-tiled macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Javan porcupine (Hystrix javanicus), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), and Malayan field rat (Rattus tiomanicus). The results obtained are evidence that restoring ecosystems is important not only for social and economic aspects but ecology for wildlife. The data gathered in this study will provide an important basis for future research and conservation management, and also provide support for biodiversity monitoring.Sejak tahun 2008, Conservation International Indonesia (CI Indonesia) bersama Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango (TNGGP) mengembangkan program pemulihan ekosistem di area perluasan taman nasional. Lebih dari 120.000 dari 8 jenis pohon jenis asli taman nasional telah ditanam di luasan 300 hektar. Kini kondisi area telah menjadi hutan kembali dan menyediakan berbagai jasa ekosistem termasuk menjadi habitat satwa liar. Studi pendahuluan tentang keanekaragaman jenis burung dan mamalia di area restorasi dilakukan selama 2 bulan yaitu dari bulan April hingga Mei 2018 di Resot Nagrak TNGGP. Survei burung menggunakan metode point count, sedangkan mamalia dengan menggunakan camera trap. Hasil menunjukkan sebanyak 33 jenis burung dari 22 famili dengan jumlah total tercatat 1.881 individu. Terdeteksi 10 jenis mamalia dari 7 famili di area penelitian dengan total 623 hari rekam dan menghasilkan 113 foto independen mamalia. Jenis mamalia tersebut yaitu Macan tutul jawa (Panthera pardus melas), Kucing hutan (Prionailurus bengalensis), Musang luwak (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), Musang rase (Viverricula indica), Garangan jawa (Hervestes javanicus), Kijang (Muntiacus muntjac), Monyet ekor panjang (Macaca fascicularis), Landak jawa (Hystrix javanicus), Babi hutan (Sus scrofa), dan Tikus belukar (Rattus tiomanicus). Hasil yang diperoleh menjadi bukti bahwa memulihkan ekosistem penting tidak hanya dalam aspek sosial dan ekonomi namun juga ekologi bagi satwa liar. Data yang dikumpulkan dalam penelitian ini akan memberikan dasar penting untuk penelitian masa depan dan manajemen konservasi, dan juga menyediakan dukungan untuk pemantauan keanekaragaman hayati.

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Histomorphological differentiation of the skin of leopard (Panthera pardus), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris), and golden jackal (Canis aureus)

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2020.827-832 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 827-832

Author(s):

Chukkath Vijayan Rajani ◽

Harshad Sudhir Patki ◽

Patgiri Simanta ◽

Kalaripparambath Surjith ◽

Padinjare Melepat Deepa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hair Follicles ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Golden Jackal ◽

Panthera Pardus ◽

Canis Aureus ◽

Stratum Spinosum ◽

Bengal Tiger ◽

Leopard Cat ◽

Prionailurus Bengalensis ◽

Skin Samples

Background and Aim: Leopard (Panthera pardus), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris), and golden jackal (Canis aureus) are carnivores. Leopard and Bengal tiger are listed in the red list as vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources. Leopard cat and golden jackal are grouped under animals of least concern. A wide variation exists in the structure of the skin and pattern of hair follicles among domestic and wild mammals. Thus, the study aims to create a baseline data on the skin of leopard, leopard cat, Bengal tiger, and golden jackal and the data so obtained may form an indispensable tool in wildlife forensics. Materials and Methods: Skin samples of leopard (n=3), leopard cat (n=4), Bengal tiger (n=3), and golden jackal (n=4) were collected from the Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode. The samples were processed for paraffin embedding. Horizontal and vertical sections of 5 μm thickness were used for histological staining techniques. Observations on the layers and features of epidermis, hair follicle pattern and glands, namely, sweat and sebaceous were recorded. Results: Skin comprised an outer epidermis and an inner dermis. Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium made up the epidermis. Stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, and stratum corneum were discernible in leopard, Bengal tiger, and golden jackal. In leopard cat, stratum basale, stratum spinosum, and stratum corneum were present. Compound hair follicles were a characteristic feature of all species. However, the pattern varied. In leopard, leopard cat and Bengal tiger, a single large primary guard hair was encircled by compound follicles. The number of surrounding compound follicles ranged between five to seven in leopard, two to five in leopard cat, and three to seven in Bengal tiger. Each compound follicle, in turn contained, one to two coarse primary hair follicles and several fine secondary hair follicles. Compound follicles arranged as clusters of three were a salient attribute in jackal. The central follicle was comparatively larger than the lateral ones. Each compound follicle comprised a single long, primary hair, and six to eight smaller secondary hairs. Conclusion: Histological variation in the skin of the leopard, leopard cat, Bengal tiger, and golden jackal was established. The data form a valuable basis for comparative histology of wild carnivores. Further, the data may be of value in the identification of the unknown skin samples of wild carnivores.

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Density trends of wild felids in northern Laos

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-021-02172-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Akchousanh Rasphone ◽

Jan F. Kamler ◽

Mathias Tobler ◽

David W. Macdonald

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Community Outreach ◽

Camera Trap ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Mesopredator Release ◽

Density Estimates ◽

Clouded Leopard ◽

Capture Recapture ◽

Leopard Cat ◽

Prionailurus Bengalensis

AbstractDetermining the density trends of a guild of species can help illuminate their interactions, and the impacts that humans might have on them. We estimated the density trends from 2013 to 2017 of the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis and marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata in Nam Et—Phou Louey National Park (NEPL), Laos, using camera trap data and spatial capture-recapture models. Mean (± SD) density estimates (individuals/100 km2) for all years were 1.77 ± 0.30 for clouded leopard, 1.50 ± 0.30 for leopard cat, and 3.80 ± 0.70 for marbled cat. There was a declining trend in density across the study years for all three species, with a ≥ 90% probability of decline for clouded leopard and leopard cat and an 83% probability of decline for marbled cat. There was no evidence that mesopredator release occurred as a result of tiger (Panthera tigris) and leopard (P. pardus) extirpations. We believe that snaring, the factor that led to the extirpation of tiger and leopard in NEPL, is now contributing to the decline of smaller felids, to an extent that over-rides any potential effects of mesopredator release on their densities and interactions. We recommend that the NEPL managers implement a more systematic and intensified snare removal program, in concert with extensive community outreach and engagement of local people to prevent the setting of snares. These actions might be the only hope for saving the remaining members of the felid community in NEPL.

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Dhole Cuon alpinus (Mammalia: Carnivora: Canidae) rediscovered in Bardia National Park, Nepal

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.4714.11.12.14582-14586 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 14582-14586

Author(s):

Shailendra Kumar Yadav ◽

Babu Ram Lamichhane ◽

Naresh Subedi ◽

Ramesh Kumar Thapa ◽

Laxman Poudyal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Camera Trap ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Panthera Pardus ◽

Canis Aureus ◽

Cuon Alpinus ◽

Sympatric Carnivores ◽

Wild Dogs

An increasing intensity of camera traps recorded the presence of poorly known and globally Endangered Asiatic Wild Dogs Cuon alpinus from different locations in recent years in Nepal. After 18 years since the previous report, we recorded 29 photos and a video of Dholes in four independent detections with an effort of 4,035 trap-nights during camera trap surveys targeted at tigers in the winter of 2016/2017. Solitary dholes were camera-trapped from four locations within 27.45km2 area in Bardia National Park. The evidence of a dead Dhole probably killed in retaliation shows the threat to the species. Dholes co-exist in Bardia with sympatric carnivores like Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard Panthera pardus, and Jackal Canis aureus.

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Small carnivores of the montane forests of Eravikulam National Park in the Western Ghats, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.2211.9.11.10880-10885 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 10880

Author(s):

S. Nikhil ◽

P. O. Nameer

Keyword(s):

Western Ghats ◽

National Park ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Montane Forests ◽

Palm Civet ◽

Southern Western Ghats ◽

Prionailurus Bengalensis ◽

Felis Chaus ◽

The Western Ghats

The study of small carnivores of the montane forests of Eravikulam National Park in the southern Western Ghats, India recorded nine species of small carnivores using the camera trapping technique. These include three species of Mongoose (Herpestidae), two species each of lesser cats (Felidae) and civets (Viverridae), one species each of Otter and Marten (Mustelidae). They are Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis, Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus, Indian Grey Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii, Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis, Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphrodites, Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica, Asian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus, and Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii. It is interesting to note that the felines (lesser cats) are the more common small carnivores in the montane forests. Felis chaus was the most abundant small carnivore, which is followed by Prionailurus bengalensis and Herpestes vitticollis. Two species are Vulnerable as per the IUCN Red List, viz., Martes gwatkinsii and Aonyx cinereus.

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The diversity and activity patterns of wild felids in a secondary forest in Peninsular Malaysia

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605306000147 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 36-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

J. Mohd. Azlan ◽

Dionysius S. K. Sharma

Keyword(s):

Secondary Forest ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Local Conservation ◽

Wild Felids ◽

Leopard Cat ◽

Prionailurus Bengalensis ◽

Wild Cats

A study to describe the diversity of wild felids was carried out in Jerangau Forest Reserve, Ulu Terengganu, Malaysia, using camera traps, over a period of 21 months. A total of 24 camera traps were used, with a total of 5,972 trap days. Six species of wild cats in five genera were recorded: tiger Panthera tigris, leopard Panthera pardus, clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, golden cat Catopuma temminckii and marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata. This represents all but two of the felid species known to occur in Peninsular Malaysia. The use of camera traps provided detailed information on the occurrence and activity patterns of these relatively secretive mammals. The most frequently photographed species was tiger (38.5% of records) followed by leopard (26.3%) and leopard cat (21.9%). The presence of charismatic flagship species such as tiger in this unprotected lowland dipterocarp secondary forest will be of help to local conservation organizations and the Wildlife Department in any proposals for the protection of these areas.

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Toxoplasma gondii AND OTHER PARASITES STUDIED IN FELINE FECES IN ZOOS IN CUBA AND BRAZIL

Revista de Patologia Tropical / Journal of Tropical Pathology ◽

10.5216/rpt.v48i4.62139 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Ginette Villar Echarte ◽

Alynne Da Silva Barbosa ◽

Jessica Lima Pinheiro ◽

Alejandro Manuel Rodriguez Segon ◽

Anderson Mendes Augusto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽

Panthera Leo ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Panthera Pardus ◽

Panthera Onca ◽

Leopardus Pardalis ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Wild Felids ◽

Toxascaris Leonina

Under certain circumstances, wild animals kept in zoos may be more exposed to infectious parasitic diseases. The puprpose of this study was to determine the frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in captive wild felids in the National Zoological Park (PZN) in Cuba (Havana) and in RioZoo in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). A total of 52 fecal samples were collected from 52 felids, as follows: 19 Panthera leo, two Leopardus tigrinus, two Leopardus pardalis, one Panthera tigris altaica, four Panthera tigris tigris, six Panthera onca, seven Puma concolor, one Herpailurus yagouaroundi, three Acinonyx jubatus, two Caracal caracal and five Panthera pardus. The fecal samples were processed and examined microscopically. The frequency of parasite positive animals was 17.5% (7/40) in PZN and 25% (3/12) in RioZoo. Panthera pardus (40%) and Panthera onca (20%) were most frequently infected in PZN and Panthera leo (100%) and Leopardus pardalis (50%) in RioZoo. Hookworm (12.5%) was detected in PZN as well as Toxascaris leonina (10%) and in RioZoo nematode larvae (9.1%) , hookworm eggs (9.1%), Toxascaris leonina (2%) and the cestode eggs from the Diphyllobothriidae family (9.1%) were found. Toxoplasma gondii-like oocysts were not detected in feline feces. Although the positivity of gastrointestinal parasites detected in feline fecal samples was not very high in these zoos, both institutions need to implement and maintain sanitary measures, including routine diagnosis of parasitosis followed by specific treatment according to the infections detected.KEY WORDS: Captive wild felids; gastrointestinal parasites; National Zoo Park of Cuba; Rio de Janeiro Zoo; Brazil.

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Inocybe brijunica sp. nov., a New Ectomycorrhizal Fungus from Mediterranean Croatia Revealed by Morphology and Multilocus Phylogenetic Analysis

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7030199 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 199

Author(s):

Armin Mešić ◽

Danny Haelewaters ◽

Zdenko Tkalčec ◽

Jingyu Liu ◽

Ivana Kušan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rna Polymerase Ii ◽

National Park ◽

Hot Spot ◽

Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽

Ectomycorrhizal Fungus ◽

Alkaline Solutions ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

28S Rrna ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽

Biogeographical Region

A new ectomycorrhizal species was discovered during the first survey of fungal diversity at Brijuni National Park (Croatia), which consists of 14 islands and islets. The National Park is located in the Mediterranean Biogeographical Region, a prominent climate change hot-spot. Inocybe brijunica sp. nov., from sect. Hysterices (Agaricales, Inocybaceae), is described based on morphology and multilocus phylogenetic data. The holotype collection was found at the edge between grassland and Quercus ilex forest with a few planted Pinus pinea trees, on Veli Brijun Island, the largest island of the archipelago. It is easily recognized by a conspicuous orange to orange–red–brown membranaceous surface layer located at or just above the basal part of the stipe. Other distinctive features of I. brijunica are the medium brown, radially fibrillose to rimose pileus; pale to medium brown stipe with fugacious cortina; relatively small, amygdaliform to phaseoliform, and smooth basidiospores, measuring ca. 6.5–9 × 4–5.5 µm; thick-walled, utriform, lageniform or fusiform pleurocystidia (lamprocystidia) with crystals and mostly not yellowing in alkaline solutions; cheilocystidia of two types (lamprocystidia and leptocystidia); and the presence of abundant caulocystidia only in the upper 2–3 mm of the stipe. Phylogenetic reconstruction of a concatenated dataset of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the nuclear 28S rRNA gene (nrLSU), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2) resolved I. brijunica and I. glabripes as sister species.

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New Geometric Morphometric Insights in Digital Taphonomy: Analyses into the Sexual Dimorphism of Felids through Their Tooth Pits

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11177848 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (17) ◽

pp. 7848

Author(s):

Darío Herranz-Rodrigo ◽

Silvia J. Tardáguila-Giacomozzi ◽

Lloyd A. Courtenay ◽

Juan-José Rodríguez-Alba ◽

Antonio Garrucho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Dimorphism ◽

Geometric Morphometrics ◽

Applied Statistics ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Panthera Pardus ◽

Geometric Morphometric ◽

Male And Female ◽

New Horizons ◽

Carnivore Species ◽

Felid Species

Recent studies using geometric morphometrics for taphonomy have yielded interesting results, opening new horizons of research in both archaeological and paleontological sites. Here we present the analysis of tooth pits left by male and female individuals of two different carnivore species (Panthera tigris and Panthera pardus) in order to see if sexual dimorphism influences the morphology of tooth pit marks. In the process, 3D-scanning and applied statistics were used. Based on samples derived from two individuals of different sexes, the present results indicate sexual dimorphism in these felid species to not be a conditioning factor of tooth pit morphology.

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The IUCN-SSC Cave Invertebrate Specialist Group

ARPHA Conference Abstracts ◽

10.3897/aca.1.e32231 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

Author(s):

Louis Deharveng ◽

Tony Whitten ◽

Judson Wynne ◽

Ana Komericki ◽

Sonia Khela

Keyword(s):

Social Impact ◽

Narrow Range ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Business Sector ◽

Conservation Priority ◽

The Past ◽

Species Survival ◽

Management Plans ◽

Specialist Group

The Cave Invertebrate Specialist Group, an IUCN Species Survival Commission, is a group of 80 taxonomists, biospeleologists, ecologists, and conservation biologists. Since 2014, our objectives have been to: (1) conserve subterranean habitats, and address one of the largest lacunas in conservation biology – the protection of sensitive cave and subterranean invertebrate populations; (2) conduct IUCN Red List evaluations for imperiled and/or narrow range endemic species; (3) encourage comprehensive baseline biodiversity surveys, in particular to determine the proportion of unknown biodiversity yet to be discovered; and, (4) provide collaborative opportunities with the business sector for conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, Biodiversity Action Plans, and site and species management plans. We will our accomplishments over the past four years including growth of membership, the number of Red List evaluations conducted and the total number of species recognized as a conservation priority.

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