Livestock creating food shortage for Asiatic ibex

From The Hindu, Tuesday, 25 November 2008

Shimla (IANS): Overgrazing by livestock in a national park in Himachal Pradesh is threatening the survival of the Asiatic ibex – a wild goat species – that in turn is crucial for the snow leopard population in the area, says a conservationist.

“Overgrazing by livestock and unscientific extraction of various species of flora by locals and shepherds in and around the Pin Valley National Park is depleting its flora,” senior scientist Yash Veer Bhatnagar, who is associated with the Mysore-based Nature Conservation Foundation, told IANS.

Bhatnagar has been studying the ecology of animals in the Pin Valley park for the past 10 years.

“The Asiatic ibex is mainly threatened due to shortage of food. Grazing pressure by livestock results in competition among species,” he said.

The Asiatic ibex has a wide global distribution spanning over 200,000 sq km – from the Hindukush to the Sutlej gorge along the Himalayas in India to the Tien Shan and Altai ranges in Mongolia and Russia.

“Villages in the vicinity of the park are an immediate threat to the species. The hazards for the wild animals have increased as the park is used from June to November by migratory graziers whose livestock are potential carriers of diseases.

“The dependence of the villagers on the park for wood, fodder and cultivation is also degrading its habitat,” he said.

Rugged with sandy plains and surrounded by barren mountains ranging from 3,650 m to 6,632 m, the Pin Valley park was established in 1987. It is spread over 1,825 sq km with a core zone of 1,150 sq km.

Bhatnagar advocated the need to check the dwindling population of the Asiatic ibex.

“The Asiatic ibex, along with bharal (Himalayan blue sheep), is an important prey species of the highly endangered snow leopard. Good ibex populations, especially in parts of Spiti, Lahaul, Kinnaur, Chamba and Kullu, can greatly help maintain a good snow leopard population.

“Studies have shown that in areas with a healthy ibex population, instances of snow leopard attacks on herders’ livestock are fewer,” he said.

According to studies conducted by the Solan-based high altitude zoology field station of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), mammalian fauna in the cold desert of the Pin Valley park is quite diverse.

The ZSI has recorded the presence of the red fox, Tibetan wolf, stone marten, Himalayan weasel, pale weasel and the mouse hare in the park.

Thirty-nine species of birds and 14 species of butterfly are also found in the park. The bird species include the snow pigeon, blue rock pigeon, plain mountain finch, golden eagle, Himalayan griffon, common kestrel and long-tailed shrike.

Himachal Pradesh, probably a storehouse of biodiversity in the western Himalayas, supports 25 percent of the country’s mammalian fauna.

The ZSI in its report, “Fauna of Western Himalaya”, has recorded 447 species of birds and 107 species of mammals in the tiny hill state.

The best sighting of animals can be made between September and November when animals start their seasonal migration to lower altitudes.

 

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200811251131.htm

One thought on “Livestock creating food shortage for Asiatic ibex”

  1. From: sln-members-bounces@lists.snowleopardnetwork.org
    On Behalf Of Yash Veer Bhatnagar
    Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 7:02 PM
    To: sln-members@lists.snowleopardnetwork.org
    Subject: Re: SLN – SLN News: Livestock creating food shortage for Asiatic ibex

    Dear Rana,

    The article doesn’t represent the answers I had given to Vishal’s query. In fact they kind of convey the opposite message. Pl. see the attached interview and see if you should send it to the mailgroup. I am separately contacting Vishal to tell specifically how he has misrepresented my statements.

    Bye,

    Yash Veer
    ————-
    Dear Vishal,

    Some quick responses are inserted below. Sorry that my present schedules don’t allow a more detailed response. I am also attaching a photo that you may use. Pl. ask if there are any other specific questions. I will be leaving for field work in Sikkim on 6th and can respond before that. In case you write anything based on this pl. do send me a copy.

    Regards,

    Yash Veer

    Yash Veer Bhatnagar, Ph.D.
    Assoc. Director
    International Snow Leopard Trust-India
    Senior Scientist
    Nature Conservation Foundation

    3076/5 IV Cross, Gokulam Park
    Mysore, Karnataka, India – 570002

    Tel: +91-821-2515601
    Fax: +91-821-2513822

    http://www.ncf-india.org
    http://www.snowleopard.org

    ________________________________________
    From: Vishal Gulati [mailto:gulatiians@gmail.com]
    Sent: 19 October 2008 18:39
    To: yash@ncf-india.org
    Subject: Questionnaire.

    Dear Bhatnagar

    As discussed with you during your visit to Barog in Himachal Pradesh, I am sending you a questionnaire about the Asiatic ibex in Pin Valley National Park.

    What are the threats to the Asiatic ibex?

    Asiatic ibex has a wide global distribution spanning over 200,000 sq. km. – from Hindu Kush to Sutluj gorge along the Himalaya in India, and NE towards the Tien Shan and Altai ranges in Mongolia and Russia. There are spatial variations in threats in this range.

    In Pin Valley and in rest of its range in India competition with livestock is an important threat. In Pin Valley large sheep-goat herds are brought in by maal wallas from Rampur Bushair and Kinnaur during summer (>8,000) that seem like a serious threat. In some areas of Lahul, Pangi and Jammu (eg. Kisthwar) poaching is also an important threat.

    Is ibex population increasing or falling or constant?

    No good estimate exists yet, but the general feeling is that in India, the population is constant and may be locally increasing or decreasing.

    Is human interference affecting their local migration or degrading their habitat?

    Degradation of habitat is caused due to overgrazing by livestock in some areas, extraction of biomass and even natural climate change related events. As said above, migratory herders appear to pose serious threat to the species, especially in its range in Himachal. Locally, extraction of fodder and fuel (such as wild rose bushes) may be important.

    I feel that as a rule ibex and most other wildlife appear to be better off in Buddhist areas such as Spiti compared to others in Lahul, Jammu and Kashmir.

    How many villages are located in the vicinity of the national park?

    There are none inside the park – just some 5 dogris or summer settlements. In the vicinity of the Pin Valley NP there are some 10-12 villages.

    Is livestock of shepherds posing threat to the animal?

    Yes. Pl. see above.

    Any other information you would like to share.

    Ibex, along with bharal is an important prey species of the highly endangered snow leopard. Good ibex populations, especially in parts of Spiti, Lahul, Kinnaur, Chamba and Kullu, can greatly help maintain a good snow leopard population. Studies have shown that in areas with a healthy ibex (or bharal) population, instances of snow leopard attacks on herder’s livestock are fewer, thus resulting in lesser conflict levels.

    Regards

    Vishal Gulati
    State Correspondent (Himachal Pradesh), Indo-Asian News Service (IANS)
    Mobile: 09805051443
    http://www.ians.in

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