Guwahati: Every wildlife survey in Manas National Park (MNP) throws up surprises, thanks to strong conservation efforts on the ground after the park had experienced a fifteen-year-long ethnic and political battle in the mid-1980s until fledgeling peace was restored in 2003.
A camera trap survey carried out by Urjit Bhatt and Salvador Lyngdoh of the Wildlife Institute of India from 2017-19 has photo-documented Himalayan Goral, Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupine, and Ferret Badger for the first time, while Chital was photo-documented after two decades.
A total of 37 species (34 mammals and 3 Galliformes) were recorded with 24,888 independent records over the whole sampling period of 12,601 trap nights. Mammals were photographed using camera traps in an area of 270 sq. km within the forested habitats of Manas.
Seven rare mammals (four herbivores and three carnivores), Chital, Himalayan Goral, Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupine, Hispid Hare, Jungle Cat, Chinese Pangolin and Ferret Badger were seen on camera and all seven species required more than 1,500 trap nights for a single detection, with Chital and Himalayan Goral requiring the most 12,601 nights.
Among these seven rare species, three– Chinese Pangolin, Hispid Hare, and Himalayan Goral, are globally threatened as per the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
“Additional surveys are needed to resolve the distribution status of these seven rare mammals in MNP. Given the availability of these species’ habitat and confirmed occurrence, this region should be prioritised for initial survey efforts,” the study said.
The survey however could photograph other rare mammal species, such as the Marbled Cat Asiatic Golden Cat, Fishing Cat, Golden Jackal, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Serow, Swamp Deer, and Pygmy Hog in MNP which was found earlier.
The Park also supports 22 of India’s most threatened mammal species, as listed in Schedule I of the WildLife (Protection) Act of India 1972. Together with the Royal Manas National Park (RMNP) in Bhutan, the Park forms one of the largest areas of conservation significance in South Asia, representing the full range of habitats from the savannah grasslands and tropical forests to upper hill oak forests. MNP is a vital conservation area due to its tropical forests, endemism and a history of social and political conflict.
MNP is connected to the west by First Addition to MNP (formerly Manas RF), the east by Deodhara RF, and the north by RMNP, creating a large landscape with habitats ranging from savannah grassland and tropical forest (<500 m) to upper hill oak forest. “This healthy connectivity with a range of habitats and varied elevations makes MNP the unique National Park with eight species of wild cats (felids), i.e., Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Marbled Cat, Golden Cat, Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat, and Fishing Cat, being recorded and coexisting in the same area. These cats also share the same habitat as other carnivores such as Dhole, Sloth Bear and Black Bear, making the National Park more unique,” the study said.
The study said conservation, both political lobbying and on-the-ground management, can only be effective with complete knowledge of what species are present, their distribution and relative abundance.
“The ensuing violence caused extensive damage to the Park, leaving it vulnerable to logging, local hunting, and poaching of important fauna, resulting in habitat degradation and rapid loss of wildlife. Nonetheless, the current record of these rare and uncommon species suggests stabilising suitable habitats. Furthermore, it emphasises the
importance of focusing on conservation efforts and awareness in adjacent areas to strengthen the necessity for its protection,” the study said.
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