IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library
   

 

View printer friendly
Ghimirey, Y.; Acharya, R.
Status assessment of wild felids with a special focus on clouded leopard in Hugu-Kori Biodiversity hotspot, Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal
  Full Book

Seven felid species - leopard _Panthera pardus_, clouded leopard _Neofelis nebulosa_, Asiatic golden cat _Pardofelis temminckii_, marbled cat _Felis marmorata_, Jungle cat _Felis chaus_ and leopard cat _Prionailurus bengalensis_ are found in the mid hills and mountains of of Nepal (Baral and Shah 2008). Eurasian lynx _Lynx lynx_ and snow leopard _Panthera uncia_ are also sympatric with some of these species such as leopard, Asiatic golden cat (exceptional cases) however their habitat is mostly associated with rugged, uninhabited terrain of the Himalayas lying above tree line. The small felid species are one of the least studied groups of carnivores in Nepal especially in the hills and mountains of Nepal whereas many studies have been conducted to know the status, ecology and population of the bigger carnivores such as tiger and even leopard in the lowlands of the country. These small animals seem to lack charisma associated with species such as tiger and rhino which may have played a role in keeping them far away from the sight of wildlife biologists and conservationists. This has been the prominent reason why we have not been able to know and understand the status, behavior and ecology of the small carnivores. Yet the attention that was captured by the big mammals didn't do the small carnivores any good as they remain unstudied and we still have meager data on these species.

PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here

 

(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union)