Search Results (55)

Climate change has severely impacted many species, causing rapid declines or extinctions within their essential ecological niches. This deterioration is expected to worsen, particularly in remote high-altitude regions like the Himalayas, which are home to diverse flora and fauna, including many mountainous ungulates. Unfortunately, many of these species lack adaptive strategies to cope with novel climatic conditions. The Red Goral (Naemorhedus baileyi) is a cliff-dwelling species classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN due to its small population and restricted range extent. This species has the most restricted range of all goral species, residing in the temperate mountains of northeastern India, northern Myanmar, and China. Given its restricted range and small population, this species is highly threatened by climate change and habitat disruptions, making habitat mapping and modeling crucial for effective conservation. This study employs an ensemble approach (BRT, GLM, MARS, and MaxEnt) in species distribution modeling to assess the distribution, habitat suitability, and connectivity of this species, addressing critical gaps in its understanding. The findings reveal deeply concerning trends, as the model identified only 21,363 km² (13.01%) of the total IUCN extent as suitable habitat under current conditions. This limited extent is alarming, as it leaves the species with very little refuge to thrive. Furthermore, this situation is compounded by the fact that only around 22.29% of this identified suitable habitat falls within protected areas (PAs), further constraining the species’ ability to survive in a protected landscape. The future projections paint even degraded scenarios, with a predicted decline of over 34% and excessive fragmentation in suitable habitat extent. In addition, the present study identifies precipitation seasonality and elevation as the primary contributing predictors to the distribution of this species. Furthermore, the study identifies nine designated transboundary PAs within the IUCN extent of the Red Goral and the connectivity among them to highlight the crucial role in supporting the species’ survival over time. Moreover, the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary (DWLS) and Hkakaborazi National Park are revealed as the PAs with the largest extent of suitable habitat in the present scenario. Furthermore, the highest mean connectivity was found between DWLS and Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary (0.0583), while the lowest connectivity was observed between Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary and Namdapha National Park (0.0172). The study also suggests strategic management planning that is a vital foundation for future research and conservation initiatives, aiming to ensure the long-term survival of the species in its natural habitat. Full article

The objective of this paper is to highlight animal stakeholders, evidenced-based best practices, care ethics, and compassion as essential components of sustainable wildlife tourism. These tenets stem from an animal geography lens, which is well-positioned for studies of animal-based tourism and transspecies caregiving. As a conceptual contribution, this paper presents a theory synthesis that ‘stays with the trouble’ of wildlife tourism and identifies ways to ‘bring animals in’. Our approach could be described as multispecies, critical, and socio-ecological. We argue that the trouble with wildlife tourism writ large includes nonhuman suffering and biodiversity loss, unethical and unevidenced practices, gaps in the knowledge of wildlife welfare, and limited engagement with animals as stakeholders. We then present four ways to ‘bring animals in’ as co-participants in wildlife tourism research and practice. This involves enfranchising animals as stakeholders in wildlife tourism, buttressed by ethics of care, best practices, and a commitment to improved outcomes along the conservation-welfare nexus. Finally, we consider the extent to which wildlife sanctuary tourism serves as a further problem or panacea that balances the conservation and welfare of wild animals. The result of our theory synthesis is the promotion of a more care-full and compassionate paradigm for wildlife tourism, which draws from diverse scholarships that contribute, conceptually and practically, to the underserved niches of wildlife welfare, rehabilitation, and sanctuary research. Full article

The hispid hare, Caprolagus hispidus, belonging to the family Leporidae is a small grassland mammal found in the southern foothills of the Himalayas, in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Despite having an endangered status according to the IUCN Red List, it lacks studies on its distribution and is threatened by habitat loss and land cover changes. Thus, the present study attempted to assess the habitat suitability using the species distribution model approach for the first time and projected its future in response to climate change, habitat, and urbanization factors. The results revealed that out of the total geographical extent of 188,316 km², only 11,374 km² (6.03%) were identified as suitable habitat for this species. The results also revealed that habitat significantly declined across its range (>60%) under certain climate change scenarios. Moreover, in the present climate scenario protected areas such as Shuklaphanta National Park (0.837) in Nepal exhibited the highest mean extent of habitat whereas, in India, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (0.631) is found to be the most suitable habitat. Notably, two protected areas in Uttarakhand, India, specifically Corbett National Park (0.530) and Sonanandi Wildlife Sanctuary (0.423), have also demonstrated suitable habitats for C. hispidus. Given that protected areas showing a future rise in habitat suitability might also be regarded as potential sites for species translocation, this study underscores the importance of implementing proactive conservation strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on this species. It is essential to prioritize habitat restoration, focused protection measures, and further species-level ecological exploration to address these challenges effectively. Furthermore, fostering transboundary collaboration and coordinated conservation actions between nations is crucial to safeguarding the long-term survival of the species throughout its distribution range. Full article

Despite previous concerns regarding the survival of Asiatic Lions confined to the Gir Protected Area, their dispersal into surrounding landscapes has become a subject of considerable research and discussion. This study employs species distribution modeling, corridor analysis, and additional landscape assessment using satellite-based temperatures and Land Cover statistics to investigate this dispersal and identify potential corridors based on extensive field data. The results reveal the identification of a potential corridor from Gir Wildlife Sanctuary towards Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, indicating the expansion of the Asiatic Lion’s range in the Eastern Greater Gir Landscape. These findings highlight the significance of resilience in Lion dispersal and corridor expansion, with implications for conservation and potential regional benefits, including ecosystem services and eco-tourism for sustainable development of the region. Full article

Saltlicks are fundamental resources for wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). This study aimed to assess the nutrients found in natural saltlicks (NSs) and artificial saltlicks (ASs), as well as general soils (GS) in the natural forest of Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) and a restoration area of Kui Buri National Park (KNP), a which is a forest in Western Thailand. We monitored 33 NSs, 35 ASs, and 20 GSs used by wild Asian elephants. In both areas, the K, Mg, Fe, and Cu in NSs were significantly higher than in ASs. The Ca and Zn in NSs of KNP were lower than the ASs of SWS. The salinity of ASs was the highest, making it significantly higher than that of the NSs in both areas. The ASs can supplement Na, thereby increasing salinity in both areas. The Ca, K, Mg, Fe, and Cu in NSs were significantly higher than in ASs, making them a primary target for elephants. These findings have consequences for conserving elephants and other large herbivores by supplementing essential macro- and micro-nutrients in ASs. Full article

Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems that provide feeding and nesting grounds for diverse species of waterbirds. The quality of wetland habitat may have an impact on the density, diversity, and species richness of waterbirds. Toxic metal contamination is one of the most significant threats to wetland habitats. Feathers are a key indicator of heavy metal contamination in avian communities as a non-invasive method. We examined the levels of Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) using ICP-AAS and standards of digestion procedure from the primary feathers of 10 distinct species of waterbirds. The study was conducted at four wetlands, viz., Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar site); Pallikaranai Marshland (Ramsar site); Perunthottam freshwater lake (unprotected wetland), Tamil Nadu and the Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh, (Ramsar site), India. The Large crested tern had higher concentrations of As, Co, Cr, and Ni. Cu was greater in the Indian pond heron, and Zn was higher in the Grey heron. The accumulation of metals differed among the waterbirds (p < 0.05), and the inter-correlation of metals found positive influences between the tested metals, i.e., Co was positively associated with As, Cr had a positive correlation with As and Co, and Ni was positively correlated with As, Co, Cr, and Cu. In contrast, Pb had a positive association with Cu and Ni. The Zn was associated with Co, Cr and Cu. The level of metals in waterbirds was Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd > As. The results showed that metal levels in the primary feathers of waterbirds were greater than the other species of waterbirds examined across the world. Thus, the study emphasizes that managing wetlands and controlling pollution is crucial to saving waterbirds; otherwise, the population and diversity of waterbirds will decline and become a significant threat to waterbird communities. Full article

Satellite-based forest alert systems are an important tool for ecosystem monitoring, planning conservation, and increasing public awareness of forest cover change. Continuous monitoring in tropical regions, such as those experiencing pronounced monsoon seasons, can be complicated by spatially extensive and persistent cloud cover. One solution is to use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery acquired by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1A and B satellites. The Sentinel 1A and B satellites acquire C-band radar data that penetrates cloud cover and can be acquired during the day or night. One challenge associated with operational use of radar imagery is that the speckle associated with the backscatter values can complicate traditional pixel-based analysis approaches. A potential solution is to use deep learning semantic segmentation models that can capture predictive features that are more robust to pixel-level noise. In this analysis, we present a prototype SAR-based forest alert system that utilizes deep learning classifiers, deployed using the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform, to identify forest cover change with near real-time classification over two Cambodian wildlife sanctuaries. By leveraging a pre-existing forest cover change dataset derived from multispectral Landsat imagery, we present a method for efficiently developing a SAR-based semantic segmentation dataset. In practice, the proposed framework achieved good performance comparable to an existing forest alert system while offering more flexibility and ease of development from an operational standpoint. Full article

The Doi Chiang Dao massif, which became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2021, is the highest karst mountain in Thailand. Tham Chiang Dao cave is located at the foot of this massif and is among the best-known caves in Thailand, having been visited since prehistoric times, and being a sacred place for the local Shan and Thai people. The cave consists of five main interconnected passages with a total length of 5342 m which ranks it as the 11th longest cave in Thailand. Tham Chiang Dao is the best studied cave in Thailand with a long series of explorations, investigations and zoological collecting. Here, we summarize the 110 years of biological exploration and investigation devoted to this cave. A total of 149 taxa have been recognized in Tham Chiang Dao, of which 61 have been identified to species level. The cave is the type locality for 14 species. The obligate subterranean fauna includes 37 species, of which 33 are troglobionts and 4 are stygobionts. Conservation issues are addressed in the discussion. This work is intended to provide a reference for the knowledge of cave fauna of the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary and a tool for its management by the local cave management committee, the National Cave Management Policy Committee, and the Department of Mineral Resources. It also documents the biological importance of Tham Chiang Dao in the Doi Chiang Dao UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Full article

The last five decades (since 1980) have witnessed the introduction of exotic trees as a popular practice in India to fulfill the demand of forest-based products for utilization in afforestation programmes. This study examines the distribution and habitat suitability of exotic Grevillea robusta trees in the northwestern Himalayas (state: Uttarakhand), focusing on the interaction between G. robusta and abiotic factors, such as climate, soil, and habitat suitability. This multipurpose agroforestry species is mainly grown by farmers as a boundary tree, windbreak, or shelterbelt and among intercrops on small farms in agroforestry systems worldwide. The results indicate that phenotypic plasticity is determined by tree height and diameter, indicating a higher frequency of young and adult trees. The study also highlights spatio-temporal modeling coupled with geological analysis to address the current distribution pattern and future habitat suitability range through MaxEnt modeling. The AUC ranged from 0.793 ± 3.6 (RCP 6.0_70) to 0.836 ± 0.008 (current) with statistical measures, such as K (0.216), NMI (0.240), and TSS (0.686), revealing the high accuracy of the model output. The variables, which include the minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio 6), the slope (Slo), the mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio 9), and the precipitation of the driest quarter (Bio 17), contribute significantly to the prediction of the distribution of the species in the Himalayan state. The model predicts a significant habitat suitability range for G. robusta based on bio-climatic variables, covering an area of approximately ~1641 km² with maximal occurrence in Pauri (~321 km²) and Almora (~317 km²). Notably, the future prediction scenario corroborates with the regions of Tons (Upper Yamuna, Uttarkashi), Kalsi (Mussoorie, Dehradun), the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Badrinath Forest Division for the potentially suitable areas. The climate was found to have a strong influence on the species’ distribution, as evidenced by its correlation with the Köppen–Geiger climate classification (KGCC) map. While the species demonstrated adaptability, its occurrence showed a high correlation with bedrocks containing an elevated iron content. Furthermore, the study also provides the first trees outside forests (TOF) map of G. robusta in the region, as well as insight into its future habitat suitability. Full article

Actinomycetia are known for their ability to produce a wide range of bioactive secondary metabolites having significant therapeutic importance. This study aimed to explore the potential of actinomycetia as a source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial properties against multi-drug-resistant (MDR) clinical pathogens. A total of 65 actinomycetia were isolated from two unexplored forest ecosystems, namely the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS) and the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary (DBWS), located in the Indo-Burma mega-biodiversity hotspots of northeast India, out of which 19 isolates exhibited significant antimicrobial activity. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used for the identification and phylogenetic analysis of the 19 potent actinomycetia isolates. The results reveal that the most dominant genus among the isolates was Streptomyces (84.21%), followed by rare actinomycetia genera such as Nocardia, Actinomadura, and Nonomuraea. Furthermore, seventeen of the isolates tested positive for at least one antibiotic biosynthetic gene, specifically type II polyketide synthase (PKS-II) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). These genes are associated with the production of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial properties. Among the isolated strains, three actinomycetia strains, namely Streptomyces sp. PBR1, Streptomyces sp. PBR36, and Streptomyces sp. DBR11, demonstrated the most potent antimicrobial activity against seven test pathogens. This was determined through in vitro antimicrobial bioassays and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of ethyl acetate extracts. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GS-MS) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of the three strains revealed a diverse group of bioactive compounds and secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (smBGCs), respectively, indicating their high therapeutic potential. These findings highlight the potential of these microorganisms to serve as a valuable resource for the discovery and development of novel antibiotics and other therapeutics with high therapeutic potential. Full article

Monitoring of banteng (Bos javanicus) after reintroduction is important for their management. This study aimed to monitor the preferred habitat and area of use of reintroduced banteng at the core (13 banteng) and the edge (three banteng) of Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary between 2019 and 2021 and compared the finding with previous studies conducted from 2014 to 2019. The Binary Logistic Regression (BLR) showed the most preferred, moderately preferred, and least preferred areas were 44.7 km², 1.2 km², and 54.1 km² in the dry season, and 25.9 km², 1.0 km², and 9.3 km² in the wet season, respectively. Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) showed the most preferred, moderately preferred, and least preferred areas as 12.1 km², 17.3 km², and 65.9 km², respectively. Banteng have previously been found close to ponds and salt licks. The area of use size, as determined by Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), was 20.3 km² and 6.5 km², respectively. Three banteng were reintroduced to the edge area in 2020. The edge area was temporarily utilized by these individuals. In the core area, the area of use in this study decreased compared to the previous studies from 2014 to 2019, indicating they were able to find their preferred habitat. This study suggested that, if the area is managed appropriately, banteng will be able to live in a smaller habitat, and we will be able to restore the banteng population in the future. Full article

Canine leishmaniasis is an important vector-borne protozoan disease in dogs that is responsible for serious deterioration in their health. In the Iberian Peninsula, as in most countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, canine leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania infantum (zymodeme MON-1), a digenetic trypanosomatid that harbors in the parasitophorous vacuoles of host macrophages, causing severe lesions that can lead to death if the animals do not receive adequate treatment. Canine leishmaniasis is highly prevalent in Spain, especially in the Mediterranean coastal regions (Levante, Andalusia and the Balearic Islands), where the population of domestic dogs is very high. However, the presence of this disease has been spreading to other rural and sparsely populated latitudes, and cases of leishmaniasis have been reported for years in wildlife in northwestern Spain. This work describes for the first time the presence of wolves that tested positive for leishmaniasis in the vicinity of the Sierra de la Culebra (Zamora province, northwestern Spain), a protected sanctuary of this canid species, using PCR amplification of L. infantum DNA from different non-invasive samples such as buccal mucosa and those from both ears and hair. In addition to live animals (21), samples from carcasses of mainly roadkill animals (18) were also included and analyzed using the same technique, obtaining a positivity rate of 18 of the 39 wolves sampled (46.1%) regardless of their origin. Full article

The worldwide pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 challenged conservation organizations. The lack of tourism has benefited or negatively affected wildlife organizations in various ways, with several primate sanctuaries struggling to cope with the COVID-19 crisis and to keep providing for their inhabitants. In addition, the genetic similarity between great apes and humans puts them at higher risk than any other species for the transmission of COVID-19. PASA is a non-profit organization comprising 23 sanctuaries, and cares for many species of primate, including African great apes. In light of the pandemic, we aimed to understand the direct effects of COVID-19 on PASA management throughout three time periods: before (2018–2019), at the start of (2019–2020), and during (2020–2021) the pandemic. We collected data via annual surveys for PASA members and ran Generalized Linear Mixed Models to highlight any significant differences in their management that could be linked to COVID-19. Our findings demonstrated no particular impact on the number of primates rescued, employees, or expenses. However, revenues have been decreasing post-COVID-19 due to the lack of income from tourism and volunteer programs. Nonetheless, our results reveal a form of resilience regarding the sanctuaries and the strategy applied to maintain their management. Consequently, we emphasize the specific impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak and its repercussions for conservation work. We discuss the difficulties that sanctuaries have faced throughout the crisis and present the best measures to prevent future outbreaks and protect biodiversity. Full article

The genus Vigna has several crop species that could be used to feasibly address nutritional security challenges in the subtropical and tropical regions of the world, particularly in climate-changing scenarios. Wild taxa of Vigna are a source of economically important traits and need to be studied. Out of the 34 wild Vigna species reported in India, 928 indigenous accessions belonging to 19 wild Vigna are conserved in India’s National Genebank (INGB) housed at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi. Geospatial mapping has identified diversity-rich areas and the Western Ghats region exhibits the highest Shannon diversity values (H = 1.65–3.0). Using the complementarity procedure, six diversity hotspots were identified for the 34 wild Vigna, and these require utmost priority for exploration and germplasm collection. Due to the meagre amount of information available for wild Vigna, the BioClim model was used to successfully predict the Idukki district of Kerala as a suitable site for germplasm-collecting expeditions. Coastal areas identified as rich in twelve wild taxa, V. bourneae, V. dalzelliana, V. marina, V. sublobata, V. subramaniana, V. vexillata, V. stipulacea, V. trilobata, and V. trinervia, require immediate attention to protect hotspots as well as to collect accessions from these areas for ex situ conservation. A hotspot in the protected forest of Anshi National Park and Bhagwan Mahavira Wildlife Sanctuary was identified as an ideal spot for possible in situ conservation of V. konkanensis, V silvestris, and V. sublobata. The 15 wild Vigna species do not have representation in the INGB, and 11 Vigna species have been identified as endemic species to India. Priority needs to be given to these species for focussed exploration and germplasm collection. This paper discusses the future focus on explorations to be carried out for the collection of the germplasm of wild Vigna species. Full article

The Thung Yai Naresuan (East) Wildlife Sanctuary (TYNE), in the core area of the Western Forest Complex of Thailand, harbors a diverse assemblage of wildlife, and the region has become globally significant for mammal conservation. From April 2010 to January 2012, 106 camera traps were set, and, in 1817 trap-nights, registered 1821 independent records of 32 mammal species. Of the 17 IUCN-listed (from Near Threatened to Critically Endangered) mammal species recorded, 5 species listed as endangered or critically endangered included the Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), tiger (Panthera tigris), Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), dhole (Cuon alpinus), and Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica). The northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyuran), and sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) were the most frequently recorded species (10–22 photos/100 trap-nights), representing 62% of all independent records, while the golden jackal (Canis aureus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), and Sunda pangolin were the least photographed (<0.1/100 trap-nights). Species accumulation curves indicated that the number of camera trap locations needed to record 90% of taxa recorded varied from 26 sites for herbivores to 67 sites for all mammals. TYNE holds a rich community of mammals, but some differences in photo-rates from an adjacent sanctuary and comparisons with other research on local mammals suggest that some species are rare and some are missed because of the limitations of our technique. We also conclude that the management and conservation plan, which involves the exclusion of human activities from some protected areas and strict protection efforts in the sanctuaries, is still suitable for providing key habitats for endangered wildlife populations, and that augmented and regular survey efforts will help in this endeavor. Full article