Singh, Navinder
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
In the Himalaya, wild ungulates and livestock share resources and interact. We studied impacts of livestock on Kashmir markhor (Capra falconeri cashmeriensis), a species on the brink of local extinction within Indian Himalayan region. One of our study sites (Lachipora WLS received much less livestock than the other (Limber WLS) which allowed us to investigate and compare the interactions between livestock and markhor in a better way. We assessed the impact of livestock grazing on altitudinal migration and habitat use of markhor. We further looked at population performance of markhor by studying its population density and structure in the two valleys. Markhor habitat use was examined along a gradient of livestock grazing intensity. Livestock grazing intensity at each pasture was assessed based on the number of livestock and number of days livestock spent in that pasture. Population of markhor was monitored through block counts. Results reveal that livestock population seasonally exceeds by over 30 times that of markhor. Markhor primarily used areas with low to medium livestock pressure. Markhor showed altitudinal migration in the valley with no livestock in alpine and subalpine habitats but did not migrate to higher altitudes which were occupied by livestock. High livestock pressure had negative impact on population performance of markhor, as evident by a lower population density and extremely low yearling: adult female ratios in the Limber Valley. Keeping habitats of markhor relatively free from grazing should help to maintain the population of this threatened caprid within India.
Keywords
Livestock grazing; Ungulate; Population structure; Temperate system
Published in
Journal for Nature Conservation
2025, volume: 86, article number: 126933
Publisher: ELSEVIER GMBH
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Ecology
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126933
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/141706