Response of the Endangered red panda <i>Ailurus fulgens fulgens</i> to anthropogenic disturbances, and its distribution in Phrumsengla National Park, Bhutan

Dendup, Pema; Cheng, Ellen; Lham, Choki; Tenzin, Ugyen

doi:10.1017/s0030605316000399

Cited by 16 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(28 reference statements)

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“…While in another separate study in the PNP, red pandas were recorded in CBL and MCF between 2,860 and 3,597 m (Dendup et al, 2016). In the present study, red panda habitat use was significantly associated with fir forests.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 42%

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Habitat requirements of the Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and threat analysis in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan

Dendup

Humle

Bista

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Understanding the influence of anthropogenic disturbances on species’ habitat use and distribution is critical to conservation managers in planning effective conservation strategies and mitigating the impact of development. Few studies have focused on the Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in Bhutan. This study aimed to assess the habitat requirements and threats to this endangered species in the Khamaed subdistrict of the Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan. We employed a transect walk and plot‐sampling survey design across two seasons, that is, winter and spring. In total, we surveyed 84 × 50 m radius circular plots along 51 km of existing trails within a 25.4 km2 study area. At 500 m intervals, we established plots at random distances and direction from the trail. We recorded direct sightings (n = 2) and indirect signs (n = 14), such as droppings and footprints as evidence of red panda presence within an altitudinal range of 2,414–3,618 m. We also noted 21 tree and 12 understory species within plots with red panda evidence; the dominant tree species was the Himalayan hemlock (Tsuga dumosa) and the Asian barberry (Berberis asiatica) as an understory species. Red panda presence showed a significant positive association with distance to water sources and fir forests. Plant disturbance and infrastructure, such as power transmission lines, were identified as prominent anthropogenic threats in the study area. Based on our findings, we recommend the development and implementation of local forest management plans, livestock intensification programs, and strict application of environmental impact assessment regulations to promote the conservation of the red panda in the region.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 42%

“…(1 × 1 m) were superimposed on the center of each understorey quadrat (Dendup et al, 2016). Vegetation data were recorded following Schemnitz (1980) and Dendup et al (2016, Table 1).…”

Section: Field Survey Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat requirements of the Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and threat analysis in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan

Dendup

Humle

Bista

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Being bamboo specialists, more than 80% of their diet consists of bamboo grass [29–32,54]. Previous studies in this region also have shown strong associations between red panda presence and habitats with understorey cover dominated by bamboo grass [26,53]. Red pandas occur in temperate forests ranging from deciduous broad leaved forests to conifer forests.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large anthropogenic impacts on a charismatic small carnivore: Insights from distribution surveys of red panda Ailurus fulgens in Nepal

Panthi¹,

Khanal²,

Acharya³

et al. 2017

PLoS ONE

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Protected areas are key to preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem services. However, their ability to ensure long-term survival of threatened andendangered species varies across countries, regions and landscapes. Distribution surveys can beparticularly important for assessing the value of protected areas, and gauging their efficacy incatering to species-specific requirements. We assessed the conservation value of one such reserve for a charismatic yet globally endangered species, the red panda Ailurus fulgens,in the light of on-going land-use transformation in Nepal. We conducted field surveys forindirect signs of red pandas along forest trails in 25-km2 sampling grid cells (n = 54) of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, and confronted a set of ecological hypotheses to the data using hierarchical occupancy models. We estimated overall occupancy at Ψ(SE) = 0.41 (0.007), with relatively high site-level detectability [p = 0.93 (SE = 0.001)]. Our results show that despitebeing a subsistence form of small-scale resource use, extraction of bamboo and livestock grazing negatively affected panda occurrence, albeit at different intensities. The amount of bamboo cover,rather than the overall proportion of forest cover, had greater influence on the panda occurrence. Despite availability of bamboo cover, areas with bamboo extraction and anthropogenic disturbances were less likely to be occupied by pandas. Together, these results suggest that long-term persistence of red pandas in this reserve and elsewhere across the species’ range will require preventing commercial extractionof bamboo, coupled with case-specific regulation of anthropogenic exploitation of red panda habitats.

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“…Although the red panda is protected by international conventions (CITES, 2017) and national law in Nepal (GoN, 1973), its population has continued to decline over the past 30 years (Glatston et al, 2015). The anthropogenic impact on red panda habitat has been identified as a major threat to the conservation of this species in its current distribution range (Acharya et al, 2018;Dendup, Cheng, Lham, & Tenzin, 2017;Dorji, Rajaratnam, & Vernes, 2012;Panthi, Khanal, Acharya, Aryal, & Srivathsa, 2017). A large number of cattle, herders, and their guard dogs have also been responsible for disturbance to red pandas and their habitats (Yonzon & Hunter, 1991a).…”

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confidence: 99%

An assessment of human impacts on endangered red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) living in the Himalaya

Panthi¹,

Wang

Sun

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Anthropogenic factors play an important role in shaping the distribution of wildlife species and their habitats, and understanding the influence of human activities on endangered species can be key to improving conservation efforts as well as the implementation of national strategies for sustainable development. Here, we used species distribution modeling to assess human impacts on the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in high‐altitude regions of Nepal. We found that the distance to paths (tracks used by people and animals), livestock density, human population density, and annual mean temperature were the most important factors determining the habitat suitability for red pandas in Nepal. This is the first study that attempts to use comprehensive environmental and anthropogenic variables to predict habitat suitability for the red pandas at a national level. The suitable habitat identified by this study is important and could serve as a baseline for the development of conservation strategies for the red panda in Nepal.

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Response of the Endangered red panda Ailurus fulgens fulgens to anthropogenic disturbances, and its distribution in Phrumsengla National Park, Bhutan

Cited by 16 publications

References 13 publications

Habitat requirements of the Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and threat analysis in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan

Habitat requirements of the Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and threat analysis in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan

Large anthropogenic impacts on a charismatic small carnivore: Insights from distribution surveys of red panda Ailurus fulgens in Nepal

An assessment of human impacts on endangered red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) living in the Himalaya

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