Sambar is the most widespread deer in Southeastern Asia and is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List. In this communication, we report the results of an extensive literature review and camera trapping to present the historic and current distribution of Sambar in Aravalli Mountain region. The records state that the species is nearly exterminated in the protected areas of Gujarat Aravalli and bordering areas of Rajasthan, although a sizable population still survives in northern and central Aravalli (Pali-Rajasamand-Udaipur & Alwar-Sawai Madhopur region). We also report the first record of Sambar from the Aravalli Hill region of Haryana.
Mapping and monitoring of land use and land cover types along with detection of change are essential in the Trans Himalaya to understand landscape dynamics and assist with planning for sustainable development. This study attempts to monitor land use and land cover in Ladakh and identifies patterns of spatio-temporal change in land use using multi-temporal satellite images. Landsat images for three different time-periods (1999, 2009, and 2019) were used to quantify changes between 1999 and 2019. Eight major classes were identified on satellite images: barren land, agriculture, built-up, waterbody, wetland, range land, scrub land, and snow/glacier. Results indicate that major land use in Ladakh is barren land in all three time-periods and that built-up area has increased significantly by 123 sq km (800%) between 1999 and 2019. The possible causes for change in the region include geopolitical importance of the region, growth of the tourist sector with increase in number of tourists, and change of socio-cultural lifestyle.
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