ISSN 1027-2992 CAT news N° 57 | AUTUMN 2012 02 CATnews is the newsletter of the Cat Specialist Group, a component of the Species Survival Commission SSC of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is published twice a year, and is available to members and the Friends of the Cat Group. For joining the Friends of the Cat Group please contact Christine Breitenmoser at ch.breitenmoser@kora.ch Original contributions and short notes about wild cats are welcome Send contributions and observations to ch.breitenmoser@kora.ch. Guidelines for authors are available at www.catsg.org/catnews CATnews is produced with financial assistance from Friends of the Cat Group. Design: barbara surber, werk’sdesign gmbh Layout: Christine Breitenmoser Print: Stämpfli Publikationen AG, Bern, Switzerland ISSN 1027-2992 Editors: Christine & Urs Breitenmoser Co-chairs IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group KORA, Thunstrasse 31, 3074 Muri, Switzerland Tel ++41(31) 951 90 20 Fax ++41(31) 951 90 40 <urs.breitenmoser@ivv.unibe.ch> <ch.breitenmoser@kora.ch> Contributing Editor: Peter Jackson 7 Lake Close, London SW19 7EG United Kingdom Tel/Fax: ++44 (20) 89 47 01 59 <peterfr.jackson@virgin.net> Associate Editors: Keith Richmond Brian Bertram Sultana Bashir Javier Pereira Cover Photo: Female jaguar with two cubs in the Gran Chaco, Bolivia Photo: Daniel Alarcón, Bolivia The designation of the geographical entities in this publication, and the representation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. CATnews 57 Autumn 2012 short communication BISHNU PRASAD PANDEY1 Clouded leopard in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal Methods The study was made in 2010. The reconnaissance survey consisting of informal interviews was carried out in April-May, while the sign survey and camera trapping were done from late May to June. Camera trapping The park area was monitored from four camps and 39 pairs of cameras were operated. The western camp, Kakani, was supplied with a higher concentration of cameras as from the interviews it was expected that the likelihood of trapping clouded leopards was higher there than around the eastern camps. Trail intersections with forest roads were generally preferred for camera locations, but some ridgelines, and entrances to the settlements and waterholes were also considered. Additionally, kill sites and where there were scratches, pugmarks or scat deposits were also chosen as camera-trap sites which were then cleared of bushes, herbs and leaves. Clouded leopard urine (collected from a zoo) was sprayed around the camera station to halt animal movement on the assumption that this might increase the chance of a photo. Pairs of automatically triggering cameras (Moultrie and Stealth Cams) were set up 8 m apart and facing each other, intersecting the major trail/road at around 38 degrees for maximum area coverage. The cameras were set up obliquely to increase the possibility of extended camera coverage especially in the Shivapuri hill terrain which is covered with hedges and thorny bushes and where trail exposure is short. On average, the camera stations were set 1-1.5 km apart. For each camp 9-11 camera stations were identified. Cameras were operated for 7 days (generally at night) and operation time was calculated. The trapping was done starting from Kakani camp and then passing to Jagat, Panimuhan, and Manichur camps in succession. Informal interviews Informal interviews with local people such as livestock herders, park professionals, and security staff were carried out during the reconnaissance survey. Printed photographs were provided to respondents who were requested to compare their encounters with clouded leopards, common leopards or black panthers. More than 100 individuals (not a statistically designed number) were interviewed for locating suitable sites for camera stations. Results and discussion Informal interviews and consultations with park officials and security personnel helped in finding suitable sites for camera set-up. During the sign surveys the investigating team recorded a numbers of signs. Signs of carnivores were grouped under a single heading, and signs of prey animals were also recorded. The common signs observed were digging by burrowing animals, excavations, calls, direct sightings, pellet A presence/absence survey was carried out by Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park staff using camera traps, supplemented by interviews and sign surveys during AprilJune 2010. Four images of a clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa (sex unknown) were captured in a single event in the transition zone of the subtropical and lower temperate vegetation zone of Schima and Castanopsis forest at 1,985 m. The study was carried out to verify the status of the poorly known clouded leopard. This is the first authentic record of the species in a decade and thus presents an important opportunity to follow up with an in-depth ecological study of the species in the area. 24 The presence/absence survey was carried out in order to understand the status of this species in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) so that the previous claims about its presence in this park could be confirmed. Since very few studies on the ecology of the clouded leopard have been done in Nepal, the study was designed to be a step forward for future research. This paper is a spur to draw the attention of the conservationists to planning and executing advanced studies on the clouded leopard in SNNP. The distribution of the clouded leopard in Nepal is poorly known. In Nepal, Dinerstein & Mehta (1989) found it in the eastern and southern foothills of the country. It is also found in the dense forest of the mid-hills of Nepal. The altitudinal range of this species starts at about 1,500 m and rises to 3,000 m (Chapagain & Dhakal 2002). Its preferred habitat is dense evergreen tropical and subtropical forest at altitudes up to about 2,000 m; however, it is sometimes also found in mangrove swamps and grasslands. The clouded leopard is fully protected by domestic law. The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1973 listed this species under schedule I (animals, birds and reptiles with full protection against killing, domestication and trade). For offences regarding schedule I species, the act foresees both a considerable fine and imprisonment. Study area SNNP, established in 2002, starts about 12 km north of Kathmandu. The Shivapuri area of this park is located at 27°45’ to 27°52’ N and 85°15’ to 85°30’ E. The study area covered 159 km2. The altitude ranges from 1,000 m to 2,732 m. The park has two major physiographic zones: Sign survey The trails between camera stations were monitored for signs of the clouded leopard and also for potential prey species. Altogether, 70 km of trails were monitored for this purpose. subtropical and temperate. There are four types of forests: lower mixed hardwood forests, chir pine forests, oak forests, and upper mixed hardwood forests. The major plant species found are Schima wallichii, Castonopsis indica, Pinus roxburghii, Myrica esculenta, Pyrus pashia, Quercus sp., Rhododendron arboreum, Juglans regia and associated species. Park records show that it supports a rich faunal diversity with a number of protected, threatened and endemic species. Twenty-two large mammals (excluding rodents and bats) were reported to be found there: among the carnivores, clouded leopard, common leopard Panthera pardus, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, jungle cat Felis chaus, civets, martens, mongooses and Himalayan black bear Ursus thibetanus. The park is also a popular destination for bird watching and is an important bird area in Nepal. SNP & BCN (2007) listed 318 species of birds in SNNP. CATnews 57 Autumn 2012 clouded leopard in Nepal groups, pugmarks, dung, nesting sites, furs, kill stations, quills, and tracks. In monitoring 70.2 km of 42 different trails a total of 503 different signs were recorded. Among the key prey species, barking deer had 2.02 different types of signs per km, followed by wild boar (1.15), Kalij pheasant (0.80), burrowing animals (0.56), and carnivores (1.45). Among the different types of signs observed were pugmarks (1.75 per km of travel) followed by direct sighting of prey species (1.62), excavation by arboreal animals (1.13) and calls (0.36). The photographs captured by the camera pair located at 27°48'53.1" latitude and 85°16'47.7" longitude were of sufficient quality to confirm the presence of the clouded leopard in SNNP. Altogether four photographs of a single individual were captured in a single event (Fig. 1). Sex and age of the animal remain unknown. Besides camera trapping the clouded leopard in SNNP, the investigating team succeeded in photographing three other felid species: common leopard Panthera pardus, leopard cat Felis bengalensis and jungle cat Felis chaus. Additionally, two species of Viverridae were also found in this park: large Indian civet Vivera zibetha, and Himalayan palm civet Paguma larvata. Other species pictured were crab-eating mongoose Herpestes urva, Indian pangolin Manis crassicaudata, barking deer Muntiacus muntjak, wild boar Sus scrofa, yellowthroated marten Martes flavigula, Indian crested porcupine Hystrix indica, Indian hare Lepus nigricollis, rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta, and Kalij pheasant Lophura leucomelanos. Most of the cameras were operating during the night in those sites where there was a likelihood of camera loss during daytime, but the cameras in the least disturbed areas were operating for 24 hours. The total of trappingtime was 161 hours (including the trap nights during camera tests). The total number of photographs taken was 2778, out of which 276 were wildlife images. 59% of the photos were taken due to human disturbance, and 35.5 % were unidentified or due to camera error. Table 1 shows the details of the photos captured from camera trapping. This is a great step forward for clouded leopard conservation in Nepal. Few studies have been carried out that could provide a baseline for launching a conservation project. Jnawali et al. (2011) assessed the CATnews 57 Autumn 2012 Fig 1. Clouded leopard photographed in SNNP, Nepal (Photo B. P. Pandey). species as endangered in the country, and similar conclusions were reached by other researchers. A previous study on the clouded leopard in SNNP by Yadav (2008) had no photographs or other relevant evidence but provided good hints from social survey results for possible sites where to find the clouded leopard. In similar work carried out in the eastern hills of Nepal in Makalu Barun National Park, Ghimirey (2010) obtained neither camera-trapping data nor direct observations but found two pelts from the park buffer zone, which provided a good clue for future studies in the eastern hills. Another study by Yadav (2009) in Langtang was also not able to confirm the presence of this species in Langtang National Park. Despite its limited resources and effort, it was able to figure out what constituted a good prey base for the clouded leopard. ment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal. SNP & BCN. 2007. Birds of Shivapuri National Park. Shivapuri National Park and Bird Conservation Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal. Yadav B. 2008. The Presence and Absence Status of Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) in Shivapuri National Park, Nepal. Report submitted to DNPWC, Kathmandu, Nepal. Yadav B. 2009. Presence/Absence Survey of Clouded Leopard in Langtang National Park, Nepal. Report submitted to DNPWC, Kathmandu, Nepal. Supporting Online Material Table 1 available at www.catsg.org/catnews 1 Park Ranger at Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Kathmandu, Nepal; C/O Department of National Parks and Wildlife Coservation Babar- References Chapagain D. & Dhakal J. 2002. An Introduction to CITES implementation in Nepal, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Babar Mahal, Kathmandu, Nepal. Dinerstein E. & Mehta J. N. 1989. The Clouded Leopard in Nepal. Oryx 23, 199-201. Ghimirey Y. 2010. Status of Small Carnivores with a Special Focus on Clouded Leopard in Makalu Barun National Park. A research report submitted to WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal. Jnawali S. R., Lee S., Baral H. S., Upadhyay G. P., Pandey M., Shrestha R., Griffiths J., Joshi D. and Amin R. 2011. The Status of Nepal’s Mammals: The National Red List Series. Depart- mahal, P.O.Box No. 860, Kathmandu, Nepal <pandeybp@gmail.com> 25 Supporting Online Material Pandey B. P. 2012. Clouded leopard in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal. Cat News 57, 24-25. SOM Table 1. Number of photos taken of different wildlife species during the 2010 study in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal. Animals Manis crassicaudata Species Unknown Felis chaus Herpestes urva Hystrix indica Neofelis nebulosa Martes flavigula Macaca mulatta Paguma larvata Sus scrofa Others (game birds) Prionailurus bengalensis Panthera pardus Muntiacus muntjak Lepus nigricollis Viverra zibetha Total Total Number of Photos Male Female Unknown 1 1 3 3 3 4 6 6 7 1 8 3 16 3 19 4 28 16 28 45 71 24 39 213 Total 1 1 3 3 3 4 6 6 7 9 19 22 32 44 45 71 276