Distribution and relative abundance of mountain ungulates in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India

A two-year study in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, revealed distinct distribution patterns and seasonal variations in mountain ungulate populations. Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) were predominantly found in alpine regions, with blue sheep extending up to 5,500 meters. Encounter rates for blue sheep averaged 4.13 per hour, while Himalayan tahr had a lower rate of 1.38 per hour. Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) were more common in the krummholtz region, with an encounter rate of 0.26 per kilometer. Relative density estimates indicated blue sheep at 0.35 individuals per square kilometer and Himalayan tahr at 1.38 individuals per square kilometer. The study also identified eastern, southeastern, and western mountain slopes as preferred habitats for these ungulates, with slope preferences varying among species. Livestock grazing and anthropogenic pressures were highlighted as significant threats to their conservation in the region.

Kandpal, V. (2010). Distribution and relative abundance of mountain ungulates in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India. Galemys, Spanish Journal of Mammalogy, 22(NE), 277–294. https://doi.org/10.7325/galemys.2010.ne.a17