Records of Siberian Weasel Mustela sibirica and Yellow-bellied Weasel M. kathiah from Makalu–Barun National Park, Nepal
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Abstract Yadav GHIMIREY and Raju ACHARYA
Mustela sibirica M. kathiah Two species from family Mustelidae rarely recorded in Nepal, Siberian Weasel and Yellow-bellied Weasel , were recorded for the first time in the Makalu–Barun National Park in eastern Nepal during a field survey in 2009– Keywords2010. This is probably the first photograph or video record of each species in the country.
: camera-trapping, Data Deficient, Least Concern, rhododendron
Camera-trapping was the primary method during a field survey in 2009–2010, with signNeofelis surveys nebulosa also conducted. was the main Twenty- tar one body-heat sensor camera-traps were placed on trails. Northern Clouded Leopardet al. 2012). The units were operated- get species, so camera-traps were mounted on trees at a height of 30–60 cm (Ghimirey for the full 24 hour cycle except for those cameras (two units) Luresused in or movie baits weremode not(for used only during20 days most in total): of the these survey, ran but in drieddaylight meat only, was because used therefor a weekwas no at light one back-upsite where for theapparent night. Introduction Martes flavigula faeces were recorded.
Mustela is the largest genus in the family Mustelidae, treated Yellow-throated Marten LocationsObservations are given to the datum of WGS84. by different authors as containing 14–17 species (Corbet 1978, Corbet & Hill 1980,M. erminea, 1992, Abramov Siberian 2000,Weasel Macdonald M. sibirica, 2001, Wozencraft 2005). M. Five kathiah, species, Mountain namely Weasel Stoat M. (‘Ermine’ altaica and in wereSiberian made Weasel with the and two Yellow-bellied cameras in movie Weasel mode, were during camera- day North America) M. strigidorsa have been recorded fromYel- light,trapped with once no preciseeach, in time 1,184 recorded. trap-nights (Fig. 1). Both records low-bellied Weasel et al - Stripe-backed Weasel Nepal (Baral & Shah 2008), although Abramov . (2008) A Siberian Weasel was camera-trapped on 15 No- recordsconsidered of Siberian that there Weasel were and no acceptable records of Stripe- wasvember taken 2009 in subalpine inside grassland Makalu–Barun with scattered NP at 27°48'20.58"N, rhododendron backed Weasel from the country. This paper discusses the first 87°15'51.72"E at a recorded altitude of 3,183 m. The movie Yellow-belliedet al. Weasel 2011). from Among the Makalu–Barun National Park in eastern Nepal. Both species are poorly known in the country (Jnawali the carnivores in Nepal, weasels are the most neglected as far as scientific studies are concerned. There have been no studies exclusively targeted to weasels in the country, a situation typi- Surveycal in South area and and South-east methods Asia. zone where about 40,000 subsistence agriculturalists reside Makalu–Barun NP covers 1,500 km², with 830 km² of buffer Zomer et al. 2001). Average annual precipitation is 4,000 mm. under the remit of 12 Village Development Committees (VDCs; tropical Sal Shorea robusta forest below 1,000 m altitude; sub tropicalThis protected Schima area–Castanopsis exhibits a forests high diversity between of vegetation1,000 and types:2,000 m; temperate broadleaf forests between 2,000 and 3,000 m;- subalpine conifer forest with stands of Himalayan Birch Betula utilis and Rhododendron between 3,000 and 4,000 m; and alpine Juniperus, aromatic herbs Fig. 1. Makalu–Barun National Park, Nepal, with camera-trap locations of and dwarf rhododendron Rhododendron et al. 2001). Siberian Weasel Mustela sibirica and Yellow-bellied Weasel M. kathiah. pastures above 4,000 m with juniper (Zomer Small Carnivore Conservation,
65 Vol. 47: 65–66, December 2012 Ghimirey & Acharya
trees (locally called ‘kurlingo’; a white-flowered species). We poration for their financial support, and Idea Wild for providing also recorded a Yellow-throated Marten pair at the same log equipment (three camera-traps) for field work. Friends of Nature withwhere this the record. weasel The was area captured. is within Pocock the Saldim (1941) valley, said thata strict Si- mitsprovided and support. logistic Kashmira support during Kakati theneeds field special work. mentioning Dept of Nationalhere for natureberian reserve.Weasel occursThe area only is undisturbed above 3,000 during m in Nepal, most of in the accord year, Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Nepal, provided the necessary per- but some herders keep their cattle and sheep there in summer we would like to acknowledge S. Khaling, A. P. Sherpa, B. V. Dahal, and monsoon. Hunting and trapping, to which weasels may be B.encouraging Ghimire and us beforeR. Lama and for during their constantfield work. cooperation, Last but not encourage the least, vulnerable, are frequent at these times. The video allows no ment and logistics support. stills of printable quality, but was shared with several people, - References Siberian Weasel. The animal shows a small black tip to the tail. Mustela Althoughincluding thisA. V. species’s Abramov, tail who is oftenconcurred said to with lack identification a dark tip, A. asV. malia, Carnivora). Zoosystematica Rossica in litt Abramov, A. V. 2000. A taxonomic review of the genus (Mam- on M. erminea) is common in the populations in South Asia and Mustela strigidorsa 8: 357–364. Abramov ( . 2012) confirmed that such a tip (smaller than Abramov,ogy, distribution A. V., Duckworth, and status. J. W., Mammal Wang Y. ReviewX. & Roberton, S. I. 2008. shape: bushy, thinning to the end. The Stripe-backed Weasel Wild mammals of Nepal: taxonomy,. Himalayan ecol- China. The video also shows the species’s characteristic tail- 38: 247–266. Baral, H. S. & Shah, TheK. B. mammals 2008. of the Palaearctic Region: a taxo- A Yellow-bellied Weasel was camera-trapped on 9 June nomicNature, review Kathmandu, Nepal. park,2010, in at the 27°27'23.04"N, buffer zone. 86°59'54.72"EThe habitat is atdominated a recorded by eleva oaks- Corbet, G. B. 1978. A world list of mammalian species. Brit Quercus.tion of 2,457 During m, summer in the Sisuwa and monsoon river valley seasons, southwest the area of the is . British Museum (Natural History), London, U.K. disturbed by herders and their livestock; trapping and hunt Corbet, G. B. & Hill, J. E. 1980. - ing of the local wildlife is then rampant. People from the near ish Museum (Natural History)The andmammals Comstock of the Publishing Indomalayan Associ re- est villages, Tenchhong and Hoyongla, also frequently visit the- gion:ates (Cornell a systematic University review Press), London, U.K. and Ithaca, U.S.A. area to fetch Himalayacalamus - Corbet, G. B. & Hill, J. E. 1992. as malingay nigalo) for their household requirements, which . Natural History Museum Publications affects the habitat of these weasels.(a thin This bamboo video locally also gave known no Malayand Oxford Weasel University Mustela Press,nudipes Oxford,: distribution, U.K. natural history and Duckworth,a global J. conservation W., Lee, B. P. statusY.-H., Meijaard,review. Small E. & CarnivoreMeiri, S. 2006.Conserva The- including Kashmira Kakati and A. V. Abramov. tion printable stills, but the identification was validated by others Discussion 34&35: 2–21. Ghimirey, Y.,Cat Ghimire, News B., Pal, P., Koirala, V., Acharya, R., Dahal, B. V. & Jnawali et al. Appel, A.IUCN 2012. Red Status List ofof felids Threatened in Makalu–Barun Species. Version National 2011.2. Park, Least Concern under Red List criteria. However, there are so
The status of Nepal mammals: that it shouldet al. arguably be considered Data Deficient. Yellow- theM., Shrestha,National R.,Red Joshi, List D.,Series Lamichhane, B.R., Griffiths, J., Khatiwada, bellied Weasel’s national status is assessed as Data Deficient A. & Amin, R. (compilers) 2011. (Jnawali 2011). These may be the first video or photo- Macdonald, D. 2001. The encyclopedia. Department of mammals of National Parks and graphBoth of eitherthese speciesspecies takenof weasel in Nepal. are categorised Effects of potentialas Least Wildlife Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal. Concernthreats in globally Nepal to by these The speciesIUCN Red are List unknown. of Threatened Species The fauna of British India, including. Barnes Ceylon & Noble/ and Burma.Andromeda Mammalia Oxford, Abingdon, U.K. Pocock,don, R. U.K. I. 1941. Duckworth(IUCN 2011). et al. There 2006, is Abramov growing et evidence al. that the tropical , 2nd edn, vol. II. Taylor and Francis, Lon- Asianet al weasels are not well surveyed by camera-traps (e.g. 2008, Supparatvikorn Supparatvikorn,lied Weasel S.,Mustela Sutasha, kathiah K., Sirisumpun, in Thailand. T., Natural Kunthawong, History N., Bulletin Chut- . in press), so these species may be more common in Nepal ofipong, the Siam W. & SocietyDuckworth,. J. W. in press. Discovery of the Yellow-bel- than is suggested by the rarity in camera-trap results. Conser- vation awareness at local levels in Nepal regarding weasels is Mammalian species of the world. A taxo- extremely low. Most local people do not even know that such Wozencraft,nomic and W. geographicC. 2005. Order reference Carnivora., 3rd edn. Pp. Johns532–628 Hopkins in Wilson, Univer D. species exist in the area. This, coupled with the lack of scien- sityE. & Press,Reeder, Baltimore, D. M. (eds) U.S.A. weaselstific studies that of are the rarely species, recorded are serious by typical problems survey for methods, conser- - perhapsvation of because weasels ofin theirNepal. small The buildsmaller and carnivore skulking species behaviour, like along tropical and subtropical riparian corridors within the Zomer, R. J., Ustin, S. L. & Carpenter, C. C. 2001. Land cover change Mountain Research and Development Acknowledgementsshould be high priority for specific scientific investigation. Makalu–Barun National Park and Conservation Area, Nepal. Friends of Nature, P.O. Box 23491, 21: Kathmandu, 175–183. Nepal. *Email: [email protected] We would like to acknowledge the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund grants in eastern Himalayas/WWF Nepal and Panthera Cor- Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 47, December 2012 66