TITLE:
Distribution and Habitat Preference of Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) in Jumla District, Nepal
AUTHORS:
Manoj Bhatta, Karan Bahadur Shah, Bhupendra Devkota, Rajiv Paudel, Saroj Panthi
KEYWORDS:
Distribution, Habitat Preference, Jumla, Red Panda, Sign
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.4 No.15,
November
28,
2014
ABSTRACT: Reliable and sufficient information regarding status, distribution and
habitat preference of red panda (Ailurus
fulgens fulgens) is lacking
in Nepal. The research activities on red panda in the mid-western Nepal are
very limited, so the status of red panda in the region is quite unknown. The
study conducted during May, 2013 in three Village Development Committees (VDCs)
namely Godhemahadev, Malikathata and Tamti of Jumla district was an important
step for providing vital information including distribution and habitat
preference of this species. The study included the reconnaissance, key
informants survey, interviews and consultation for the most potential area
identification, opportunistic survey comprising the direct observation and
indirect sign count method for the presence and distribution, habitat
assessment consisting vegetation sampling and ocular estimation. The study
revealed the presence of red panda in three forests namely Bahirepatan,
Imilchadamar and Tyakot of Godhemahadev, Tamti and Malikathata VDCs
respectively. The species was found distributed between 2880 and 3244 m with an
average dropping encounter rate of 1.04 per hour of searching effort and 12
pellets per dropping. Red panda mostly preferred the habitat in the elevation
range of 2900 - 3000 m with southwest facing steep slopes (36? - 45?), associated
with water sources at the distance of ≤100 m. Trees such as Acer spp., Betula utilis and Quercus semecarpifolia, shrub species of Elaeagnus parvifolia, Drepanostachyum spp. and Jasminum humile, and the herbs like Polygonatum cirrhifolium, Fragaria nubicola and Galium asperifolium were found to be the most preferred species by red panda. The red panda
preferred the habitat with dense crown coverage (>20% - 100%) and 31% - 50%
ground cover. Fallen logs (39%) were the most preferred substrate used for
defecation.