PRODUCTIVITY TRAITS OF LOCAL MOUNTAIN GOAT AND SOME FACTORS AFFECTING THEM

The aim of the current investigation was to evaluate some reproductive aspects of local mountain goat raised in farm conditions. A total number of 498 does were mated during two successive years. Results revealed that fertility, conception, kidding, productivity and twinning rates averaged 80.72, 87.15, 84.94, 72.29 and 5.22 %, respectively. Litter size at birth and weaning were 1.05 and 0.9 respectively. Also, all above traits were significantly lower in does aged 2.5 years as compared with older does except those of litter size at birth and weaning. Effect of year of mating was found to be significant only on conception rate. Does mated in August resulted in a significant increase in the studied traits compared with that mated in September and October except those in twinning rate, litter size at birth and weaning. The regressions of litter size at birth and twinning rate on dam’s body weights were significant.

Human-Wolf (Canis lupus) Conflict in Upper Mustang of Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal

Human-wolf conflict has been one of the major issues in the Himalayan region of Nepal. It has obstructed the sustainable management initiatives in Annapurna Conservation Area. The aim of this study is to assess the status of human-wolf conflict, conservation threats to wolf and people’s perception towards this endangered carnivore. Questionnaire survey was conducted in different wards of three rural municipalities (RM) of the Upper Mustang. Similarly, key informants were interviewed followed by several discussions with stakeholders. The results indicate “wolf’s preference for domestic livestock” as the most probable cause of depredation with IRR value 0.91. The number of victims was found highest in Lomanthang RM (ward number 2) where 90% of respondents reported to be victims. However, in terms of the loss in monetary value, Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda RM (ward number 4) ranked highest with the loss of NRs. 55,880 (≈$479.1)/HH/year and Barhagaun Muktichhetra (ward number 3) is the least affected. Similarly, by number, mountain goat casualties (172) were highest in last 5 years, but the maximum economic loss was due to the horse depredation (NRs. 68,00,000 or $57,347.20) among sampled households. The results indicate that the negative perception of local people is the major threat to wolf. Active participation of local people in conservation and awareness program can play a vital role to reduce and mitigate the human-wolf conflict at community level.

Space Use and Seasonal Movement of Isolated Mountain Goat Populations in the North Cascades, WA

The spatial distribution and seasonal movement patterns of isolated populations of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in the North Cascade range of Washington State is not fully understood. Determining harvest potential in these populations is challenging without a clear understanding of spatiotemporal movement, space use, and spatial overlap. Mountain goat populations in the North Cascades are fragmented and many have declined considerably from historic estimates. Identification of harvestable populations requires a clear understanding of population size, distribution, and movement. We investigated the population trends and spatial distribution of mountain goats in the Boulder River North Harvest Area in the Boulder River Wilderness of Washington State. We reviewed recent mountain goat population estimates and used Global Positioning System collar data to determine year-round and seasonal home range distributions, spatial overlap within these ranges, and proximity of mountain goats to roads and trails. We found 2 populations of mountain goats inhabiting the Whitehorse and Three Fingers Mountains in the Boulder River North Harvest Area. These 2 populations were spatially distinct and did not intermix during our study period. We also found mountain goats using exclusive areas seasonally on Whitehorse Peak. The Whitehorse population appeared to be more vulnerable to harvest than Three Fingers based on its proximity to roads and trails. This study provides space use and movement information on mountain goats in the North Cascades Range that can be used to improve harvest management of fragmented and isolated populations. Our results indicate that a re-evaluation of harvest level, harvest unit boundary, and monitoring strategy may be warranted for the Boulder River North mountain goat harvest area.

Written monuments from Irtysh and Zhetysu from Kazakhstan

From the middle of the XIX century, on the territory of Kazakhstan, from the surface of the earth and archaeological excavations, ancient inscriptions written in silver bowls, bracelets, bronze mirrors in large numbers began to be found. Currently, the number of such Turkic runic inscriptions is increasing every year. The first of Kazakhstan scientists who found and tried to reveal their meanings was A.Amanzholov. He named such inscriptions found from Kazakhstan, summarizing them according to local values, such as the Irtysh, Ili, Syrdarya and Ural. One of the Irtysh inscriptions tells about the dangers of vodka and wine for human life. And the second tells about the coolness inside the mountain gorge. In the inscriptions found from the Zhetysu region, attention was paid to hunting. They describe the sensitivity and highest caution of a mountain goat. On the Talgar inscription the words are written about yarn and spinning profession. In one of the Aulie-Ata inscriptions, the phrase “my word” is written on the seal, and on a large stone about the enormity of the country of Karakhanids. And in the Syrdarya inscription the greatness of the Syr Darya river is mentioned. Key words: Issyk letter, Irtysh, ancient inscriptions, seal, jug cover

Space Use and Seasonal Movement of Isolated Mountain Goat Populations in the North Cascades, WA

Background: The spatial distribution and seasonal movement patterns of isolated populations of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in the North Cascade range of Washington State is not fully understood. Determining harvest potential in these populations is challenging without a clear understanding of spatiotemporal movement, space use, and spatial overlap. Mountain goat populations in the North Cascades are fragmented and many have declined considerably from historic estimates. Identification of harvestable populations requires a clear understanding of population size, distribution, and movement. We investigated the population trends and spatial distribution of mountain goats in the Boulder River North Harvest Area in Boulder River Wilderness of Washington State. Methods: We reviewed recent mountain goat population estimates and used Global Positioning System collar data to determine year-round and seasonal home range distributions, spatial overlap within these ranges, and proximity of mountain goats to roads and trails.Results: We found 2 populations of mountain goats inhabiting the Whitehorse and Three Fingers Mountains in the Boulder River North Harvest Area. These 2 populations were spatially distinct and did not intermix during our study period. We also found mountain goats using exclusive areas seasonally on Whitehorse Peak that may represent separate or isolated groups. The Whitehorse population appeared to be more vulnerable to harvest than Three Fingers based on its proximity to roads and trails. Conclusions and Management Recommendations: This study provides space use and movement information on mountain goats in the North Cascades Range that can be used to improve harvest management of fragmented and isolated populations. Our results indicate that a re-evaluation of harvest level, harvest unit boundary, and monitoring strategy may be warranted for the Boulder River North mountain goat harvest area.

Conservation implications of using an imitation carnivore to assess rarely used refuges as critical habitat features in an alpine ungulate

Understanding relationships between animals and their habitat is a central goal in ecology with important implications for conservation. Misidentified habitat requirements can have serious repercussions because land protection or reintroductions might occur in less than optimal habitat. Studies of resource selection have greatly facilitated an understanding of ecological relationships but can be improved when vital yet infrequently utilized habitat features are more fully described. A critical element for many prey species is escape terrain or some other form of refuge to avoid predation. Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are well known for their use of cliffs to avoid predation, but a survey of the literature revealed at least twelve different approximations of goat escape terrain, ranging from > 25° to > 50° slopes. Here, we seek to (1) enhance estimates of mountain goat escape terrain and antipredator behavior, and (2) highlight the limitations of the assumption that the time an animal spends in an area is proportional to importance. To improve estimates of goat escape terrain, we conducted field work across two years (2014–15) in Glacier National Park, Montana USA and manipulated apparent predation risk by exposing mountain goats to a threatening simulated grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) treatment and a non-threatening ungulate (control) treatment. Mountain goats moved in response to the simulated bear but not in response to the simulated ungulate, with shorter latencies to move for subjects in larger groups and at shorter distances to the simulated threat. Through a used-unused resource selection function we tested 22 landscape variables to describe the use of escape terrain. Proximity to slopes greater than 60° best explained the locations to which mountain goats fled after exposure to the simulated bear, and the average slope of these escape locations was 56.5° (±14.1 S.D.). Our results suggest that mountain goat escape terrain be considered at slopes of 60° as a minimum because our simulated threat did not include pursuit of goats and, thus, slopes of 60° are likely underestimates of actual escape terrain. Additionally, because direct interactions between carnivores and goats seldom occur, serious escape terrain is infrequently used. Past estimates of escape may have miscalculated the slopes which goats select for in response to predation risk. Based on experimental approaches in the wild, we suggest that anti-predator behavior should be included in studies of resource selection when the goal is to consider habitat as a predictor for conservation success. Finally, we discuss evidence suggesting a past mountain goat introduction failed due to lack of adequate escape terrain and subsequent recolonization of a predator.