Serow in Landruk Forest
Serow in Landruk Forest
Abstract
Himalayan Serow Capricornis sumatraensis. Thar (hereafter
Serow)
is a threatened, solitary mammal of Asia. The project has able to
collect
baseline data on this species and able to change local people attitude
towards
the conservation of Serow in natural habitat. The research explored the
population and habitat preference of Serow. The serow population is
isolated in a small patched
of the southern part of Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) with a
population
density of 1.17 individual/km2 and a population sex ratio of
1:1.6(Male:
Female). A strong correlation was found between population (y) and
pellets
density (x) (Y=0.011x-0.2619, R2-0.97). The altitude preference of
the serow depended on disturbance but positive correlation was found
with
different altitude preference (R2-0.5212): most preferred altitude
was 2500 to 3500 meters (Ivlev�s Value (IV)-0.44). The serow prefers
gentle to steep slopes with
the increasing Ivelv�s value by 0.1 to 0.3 but weak correlations
between them (R2-0.16). The serow mostly prefers dense forest (IV-
0.27), with descending
order of preference being rocky (IV-0.19), cliff (IV-0.17), and Cave
(IV-0.09) with weak correlation (R2-0.0096). There was significant
difference in the use of different habitat parameters such as altitudes
(F-0.0001, P<0.001), slopes (F-0.0013, P<0.001) covers (F-0.001,
P<0.001), crown covers (F-0.001, P<0.001) and ground covers
(F-0.001,
P<0.001) proportional to available habitat parameters.
In total 23 tree species, 14 shurbs
and 32 herbs were recorded on serow habitat. The serow showed preference for 11 trees species in its
habitat which were used for feeding & cover (thermal & hiding) purposes
and, of them Michalia Champaca, (IVI-36, I-0.17), Rhododendron
arborium (IVI-40; IV 0.11), Ilex
dipyrena (IVI-33; IV-0.16) were most important
and preferable to the serow. Plants species
were used in proportion to their availability {Trees (F-1.428, P-0.369),
Shrubs species (F-88.869, P-0.083) and herb species (F-0.459, P-0.895)}.
The major problems in the
serow habitat were habitat fragmentation & land use change, conflict
between predator and villager, livestock grazing and poaching. Conservation
education was an effective way to raise awareness of serow conservation among
the local people. The project was successful in providing information on the present status of
Himalayan Serow in the ACA.
Generally,
Government and Researchers are focusing on wildlife like Tiger, Rhino, Bears,
Snow leopards, etc, that have high economic and illegal market value. These
species are easier to raise funds for from international sources. That's the
reason behind lack of research on low illegal market value species like Serow,
Hispid hare, etc. Therefore, concerned agencies (Government/NGOs, INGOs, Civil
Society) and researchers must give equal emphasis in-situ conservation of low
illegal market values species such as serow, which is a prey species for
threatened species like leopards.
Key Words: Fragmentation, Ivelv's Value (IV), Important
Value Index (IVI), habitat
preference etc.
