PLATINUM The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles online OPEN ACCESS every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

Journal of Threatened Taxa Building evidence for conservaton globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Short Communication The first photographic record of the Ailurus fulgens (Cuvier, 1825) from outside Annapurna Conservation Area,

Ganesh Ghimire, Malcolm Pearch, Badri Baral, Bishnu Thapa & Rishi Baral

26 September 2019 | Vol. 11 | No. 12 | Pages: 14576–14581 DOI: 10.11609/jot.4828.11.12.14576-14581

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Threatened Taxa Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 September 2019 | 11(12): 14576–14581

The first photographic record of the Red Panda Ailurus fulgens (Cuvier, 1825) from Lamjung District

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) outside Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal Short Communication Short ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Ganesh Ghimire 1 , Malcolm Pearch 2 , Badri Baral 3 , Bishnu Thapa 4 & Rishi Baral 5 PLATINUM OPEN ACCESS 1,4,5 Tribhuvan University, Central Department of Zoology, Kirtpur 44618, Kathmandu, Nepal. 2 Harrison Insttute, Centre for Systematcs and Biodiversity Research, Bowerwood House, 15 St. Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3AQ, United Kingdom. 3 Nepal Environmental Research Insttute, Tarakeshwor 9, Kathmandu, Nepal. 5 Natonal Trust for Nature Conservaton, Annapurna Conservaton Area Project, P.O. Box 183, Hariyo Kharka, Pokhara, Nepal. 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected], 4 [email protected], 5 [email protected] (corresponding author)

Abstract: In May and June, 2018, a series of feld surveys was northern Myanmar to Sichuan Province in south-central undertaken to determine the presence of the Red Panda Ailurus China (Glatston et al. 2015). Throughout its range, its fulgens in Marsyangdi Rural Municipality in Lamjung District, western Nepal. A single, adult, Red Panda was photographed and recorded preferred bamboo habitat is increasingly under threat on video at Nafada Khola while scratch marks and distnctve scats from human actvity, adding further pressure to its provided evidence of Red Panda actvity at eleven further localites at elevatons between 3,150 and 3,650 m. Threats to the habitat of A. highly disjunct distributon. fulgens within the study area are discussed. Despite having extensive tracts of bamboo forest between 2,500 and 4,000 m, which is the species’ Keywords: Ailurus fulgens, Red Panda, distributon, Lamjung District, Nepal. preferred habitat, Nepal is considered currently to support only 1.9% of the total global populaton of Red Pandas (Bista & Paudel 2014). The Red Panda Ailurus fulgens is classifed as In Nepal, A. fulgens has been reported from Endangered by IUCN and is confned to the temperate the following districts: Taplejung, Panchthar, forests in the foothills of the Himalaya. Its range extends Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, Ramechhap, Dolakha, from in western Nepal (Dangol 2014), Sindhupalchowk, Rolpa, Rukum, and Mugu (Jnawali et al. eastwards through northeastern India, Bhutan, and 2012), Ilam (Williams 2004), Jajarkot (Baral 2014), Kalikot

DOI: htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.4828.11.12.14576-14581 | ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:960F4820-5302-40CD-9333-5586B142AB98

Editor: Angela R. Glatston, Red Panda Network, Eugene, USA. Date of publicaton: 26 September 2019 (online & print)

Manuscript details: #4828 | Received 15 January 2019 | Final received 22 June 2019 | Finally accepted 31 August 2019

Citaton: Ghimire, G., M. Pearch, B. Baral, B. Thapa & R. Baral (2019). The frst photographic record of the Red Panda Ailurus fulgens (Cuvier, 1825) from Lamjung District outside Annapurna Conservaton Area, Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa 11(12): 14576–14581. htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.4828.11.12.14576-14581

Copyright: © Ghimire et al. 2019. Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of this artcle in any medium by adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

Funding: Small Grant from The Ruford Foundaton, UK.

Competng interests: The authors declare no competng interests.

Acknowledgements: We are pleased to acknowledge the Department of Natonal Parks & Wildlife Conservaton, and the Natonal Trust for Nature Conservaton (Annapurna Conservaton Area Project) for providing useful informaton and for grantng permission to undertake this research. We extend our thanks to Ganesh Tripathi and to the local guides, Maita Bahadur Gurung and Balaram Gurung, for their help during the feld survey. We are grateful to Basant Kumpakha and Dipak Raj Basnet for their kind assistance with GIS mapping. This research was funded by a Small Grant from The Ruford Foundaton, U.K., for which the lead author would like to express his sincere appreciaton.

14576 Photographic record of Red Panda from Lamjung District Ghimire et al.

(Dangol 2014), Khotang (Mali 2014), Bhojpur, Dolpa, and Untl the present study, Ailurus fulgens was known Lamjung (MoFSC 2016), and Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Myagdi, to occur in Lamjung District only within Annapurna Baglung, and Dhading (Bista et al. 2017). Ailurus fulgens Conservaton Area (MoFSC 2016) although scats was reported to occur in Manang District (Paudel 2009) consistent with those of A. fulgens were identfed also but its presence there has not been confrmed (Bista et in the District at (28.3780N & 84.4110E) (MoFSC al. 2017). 2016). The purpose of the current feld surveys was The protected areas in Nepal in which the species to determine the presence and populaton status of A. is known to occur include Kangchenjunga Conservaton fulgens in Lamjung District outside protected areas. Area (Mahato & Karki 2005; Yonzon 1996), Manaslu Conservaton Area (Yonzon et al. 1997), Makalu Barun Materials And Methods Natonal Park (Jackson 1990), Sagarmatha Natonal Park Study area (Mahato 2004), Langtang Natonal Park (Yonzon 1989; Lamjung District is located in Yonzon & Hunter 1991; Yonzon et al. 1991; Fox et al. in western Nepal. The total populaton of the district 1996), Annapurna Conservaton Area (Shrestha & Ale is 1,67,724 with 42,079 households (CBS 2011). The 2001), Dhorpatan Huntng Reserve (Sharma & Kandel district is located between 28.055–28.5100N and 2007), and Rara Natonal Park (Sharma 2008). 84.189–84.1890E (Fig. 1). It has an elevaton range of

Figure 1. Study area in Marsyangdi Rural Municipality, Lamjung District, Nepal

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 September 2019 | 11(12): 14576–14581 14577 Photographic record of Red Panda from Lamjung District Ghimire et al.

385­–8,162m and covers an area of 1,692km² (DDC 2011). The climate is dictated by elevaton and topography, which results in a mosaic of diferent geographical zones, from subtropical conditons in southern areas to an alpine zone in the north. Average annual rainfall is 2,448mm. (www.meteomean.com), more than 80% of which occurs during the monsoon season (June to September) (DDC 2011). Average air temperature A ranges from a minimum of 15.50°C to a maximum of 27.17°C (DDC 2011). Marsyangdi Rural Municipality is the largest of the rural municipalites in Lamjung District and covers an area of 597.25km2 with a total populaton of 18,759 (CBS 2011). The Municipality is located between 28.251– 28.5100N and 84.238–84.6190E. Marsyangdi Rural Municipality is characterised by subtropical, temperate, subalpine, alpine, and nival vegetaton. Common plant species include Abies spectabilis, Betula utlis, Drepanostachyum falcatum, Juniperus spp., Quercus lanata, Q. semecarpifolia, Rhododendron anthopogon, R. arboreum, R. barbatum, and Tsuga dumosa. B Marsyangdi Rural Municipality has nine wards, of which wards 5, 6, and 7 (Ghermu, , and VDCs) lie outside Annapurna Conservaton Area (ACA) with the remainder of the wards being managed as part of the ACA. Seasonal transhumance (the movement of catle and herders between lower valleys in winter and higher pastures in summer) is commonplace within the study area.

Methods As a part of a Ruford Small Grant project, a team C comprising six members surveyed areas near Ghermu, Bahundanda, and Bhulbhule (Wards 5, 6, and 7 of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality) in May and June, 2018. An area of 15.54km2 of potental Red Panda habitat were searched and 12 line transect surveys were done. Length of transects varied between 780m and 1500m depending upon the terrain. Red Panda signs like scat, scratch marks were searched for 12 search-efort hours in the potental habitats. Relatve abundance of signs per unit hour and unit kilometer was estmated. A Canon Powershot SX 50 camera was used to D photograph the single, adult A. fulgens together with arboreal scratch marks, and scats. A video of the Figure 2. A—Ailurus fulgens photographed at Nafada Khola, Red Panda was recorded using the same camera. Co- Bhulbhule VDC, Lamjung District | B—Distnctve Red Panda scratch marks on a tree trunk at Nafada Khola | C—Fresh Red Panda scats ordinates of localites were ascertained using a hand- on a tree limb at Nafada Khola | D—Red Panda habitat at Nafada held Garmin eTrex10 GPS. Khola showing an understorey of Slender bamboo Drepanostachyum falcatum. © Ganesh Ghimire.

14578 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 September 2019 | 11(12): 14576–14581 Photographic record of Red Panda from Lamjung District Ghimire et al.

Results The adult Red Panda, which was observed from a New locality record distance of approximately 100m, was seen grooming One adult Ailurus fulgens was sighted in the forested itself and restng on a moss covered, horizontal limb of area of Nafada Khola (28.4380N & 84.5300E), Marsyangdi a mature Himalayan Birch Betula utlis (Image 1A). The Rural Municipality Ward Number 7 (Bhulbhule) on 28 tree was growing on a north-west facing slope with a May 2018 at 07.00h. (Fig. 1, Image 1A). gradient of 39˚ (cp. Wei et al. 1999). The immediate area A total of 11 scat groups were observed in 12 line was dominated by Himalayan Birch, Eastern Himalayan transects of length ranging between 780m and 1500m. Abies spectabilis, and Rhododendron spp. with an Relatve abundance of Red Panda scats was 1.44 scat understorey of Slender Bamboo (Drepanostachyum groups per 1,000m walk and 0.92 scats groups per hour falcatum). This foral matrix compares favourably with search efort in 15.54km2. Red Panda habitat reported by Yonzon (1989). The Scratch marks consistent with those of A. fulgens nearest water source, the Nafada River, was at a distance were observed on a tree trunk approximately 50m east of 100m. of the site (Fig. 1, Image 1B). Scratch marks considered to have been made by A. Scats consistent with those of A. fulgens were fulgens were observed on the trunk of a tree 50m east of observed between 3,150m and 3,650m at 11 localites the live observaton site (Image 1B). Red Panda fur was within 200m of the live observaton site (Fig. 1, Image found at the site. 2C). The principal threats to the preferred habitat of Red Panda scats are spindle-shaped, sof, moist, and the Red Panda within the study area were identfed as green in colour (Image 1C). They are highly diagnostc overgrazing by catle, man-made forest fres, and the and are reliable indicators of Red Panda actvity. Scats collecton of tender shoots and mature stalks of bamboo consistent with those of A. fulgens were observed at 11 by local people. localites within an area of 15.54km2, each locality lying within 200m of the live observaton site (Fig. 1). The Discussion localites were situated between 3,150 and 3,650 m. This paper provides the frst photographic evidence The fresh scats were found on the limbs of trees and on of Red Panda in Lamjung, which was once reported as the ground over a two month period (May–June 2018). one of the potental areas for Red Panda (Jnawali et The size of Red Panda scats can be helpful in determining al. 2012). Diferent researchers have considered the whether they are those of a mature or immature panda sign encounter rate as the basis for abundance individual (Yonzon 1989). The size of scats ranged from analysis. Williams (2004) found 5.1 Red Panda sign/km 35.5mm to 40.3mm in length and 15.2mm­ to 20.7mm in and 235 pellets per day in the alttudinal range of 2,800– width. Owing to the limited duraton of the feld survey, 3,000 m in eastern Nepal, Ilam. Pradhan et al. (2001) it was not possible to determine the abundance of Red suggested rate of pellet groups and Red Panda to be Pandas in the study area but the variaton in scat size 28.83±32.16 and 2.98 ± 2.1/100 hours walk respectvely would seem to indicate the presence of at least one in Singhalila Natonal Park, Darjeeling. In the study area, mature and one immature individual and, accordingly, the scat group encounter rate was found to be 1.44 scat the possibility of a reproductve populaton. groups per 1,000m walk and 0.92 scats groups per hour Several threats to Red Panda habitat were identfed search efort on an average which is lower than those within the survey area. Principal amongst these were encountered by Williams (2004). So, the study area grazing by livestock and man-made forest fres. Mahato may have lower relatve density than Ilam and similar to (2004) mentoned overgrazing pressure between Jumla. This relatve abundance in small spatal scale over 3,200m and 3,400m in prime Red Panda habitats. short period of study, however, may mislead the results We observed similar overgrazing pressure caused by hence an intensive study over a period of tme is highly the movement of catle throughout the study area, recommended for beter understanding of numbers partcularly during seasonal transhumance. Grazing, of Red Pandas in this isolated habitat and to meet Red trampling of vegetaton and soil compacton were noted Panda Conservaton Acton Plan (2019-2023)’s aim of to damage the understorey and to impact negatvely on protectng and managing the Red Panda populaton foral regeneraton. These movements during the main in Nepal through a holistc approach of conservaton season when Red Pandas give birth and raise young including research, monitoring, awareness building, (May–August) have been identfed as a threat to Red habitat improvement, and threat management (DNPWC Panda populatons (Jnawali et al. 2012). Other threats to and DFSC 2018). habitat integrity included the collecton of bamboo and

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 September 2019 | 11(12): 14576–14581 14579 Photographic record of Red Panda from Lamjung District Ghimire et al.

Figure 2. The distributon of Ailurus fulgens in Nepal (orange areas) (www.redpandanetwork.org). The new locality record from Nafada Khola in Lamjung District is indicated by the red dot.

Figure 3. The extent of the preferred habitat of Ailurus fulgens in Nepal (dark green areas) (MoFSC 2016).

plants. Tender shoots of bamboo are utlised in cooking round, woven tray used for sifing grain) and ‘mandro’ while the stalks are used as winter catle fodder, in the (a mat for sun-drying cereals). Plants that are collected constructon of walls and roofs of buildings, to stabilise include Paris polyphylla (Himalayan Paris), Berberis soil in the felds, for basket weaving, and for producing asiatca (Asiatc Barberry), and Daphne spp. (Lokhta). utlitarian bamboo products such as ‘nanglo’ (a fat, The current distributon of A. fulgens in Nepal is

14580 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 September 2019 | 11(12): 14576–14581 Photographic record of Red Panda from Lamjung District Ghimire et al. shown in Fig. 2 while Fig. 3 indicates the extent of the Jackson, R. (1990). Threatened wildlife, crop and wildlife depredaton Red Panda’s preferred habitat throughout the country. and grazing in the Makalu Barun Natonal Park and Conservaton Area. Department of Natonal Parks and Wildlife Conservaton, Although resident in a broad area of the Nepalese Kathmandu, Nepal. 105pp. Himalaya, it is clear from a comparison of the two fgures Jnawali, S., K. Leus, S. Molur, A. Glatston & S. Walker (Eds.) (2012). Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens). Populaton and Habitat Viability that the distributon of A. fulgens is markedly disjunct Assessment (PHVA) and Species Conservaton Strategy (SCS) with a notable hiatus between eastern and western Workshop Report. Natonal Trust for Nature Conservaton, subpopulatons. It is recommended that further feld Kathmandu, Nepal, Conservaton Breeding Specialist Group and Zoo Outreach Organizaton, Coimbatore, India. 66pp. research be undertaken in Nepal, partcularly in Kaski Mahato, N.K. (2004). Status of Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) in District, which adjoins Lamjung District to the west and Kangchenjunga region of Nepal. Tigerpaper 31: 7–9. from which there are no records of A. fulgens despite Mahato, N.K., & J.B. Karki (2005). Distributon and habitat assessment of Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) in Kanchenjunga Conservaton Area the presence of suitable Red Panda habitat. Eforts to with reference to Riya Samba and Lama Khanak forests. Nepal create corridors between isolated groups to maintain Journal of Forestry 12: 32–40. genetcally viable populatons, as suggested by Bista et Mali, N. (2014). Status and Conservaton Threats of Red Panda in Chiuridada and Nirmalidada VDCs of , Nepal. al. (2017), should be encouraged. Master’s Dissertaton. Central Department of Environmental Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. 43pp. References MoFSC (2016). Natonal Survey of Red Panda to Assess its Status, Habitat and Distributon in Nepal. Ministry of Forest & Soil Conservaton, Kathmandu, Nepal. 16pp. Unpublished report. Baral, B. (2014). Baseline study of Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens, Paudel, K. (2009). Status and Distributon of Red Panda (Ailurus Cuvier 1825) in , Mid‐Western Nepal. Master’s fulgens) in Manang District, Nepal Bachelor’s Dissertaton, Insttute Thesis. Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara Campus, Nepal, 43pp. University, Kathmandu, Nepal, 52pp. Sharma, H.P. (2008). Distributon and conservaton status of Red Bista, D. & R. Paudel (2014). An overview of the status and conservaton Panda (Ailurus fulgens) in Rara Natonal Park, Nepal. Final Report. initatves of Red Panda Ailurus fulgens (Cuvier, 1825) in Nepal. The People’s Trust for Endangered Species, London, UK. Initaton 05: 171–181. Sharma, H.P. & R.N. Kandel. (2007). Red Panda Ailurus fulgens Bista, D., S. Shrestha, P. Sherpa, G.J. Thapa, M. Kokh, S.T. Lama & in the Dhorpatan Huntng Reserve of Nepal: An Assessment of S.R. Jnawali (2017). Distributon and habitat use of Red Panda in Their Conservaton Status. People’s Trust for Endangered Species, the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape of Nepal. PloS one 12(10): London, UK. e0178797. Shrestha, R. & S.B. Ale (2001). Species diversity of Modikhola CBS (2011). Natonal Populaton and Housing Census 2011. Central watershed. King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservaton, Bureau of Statstcs. Natonal Planning Commission Secretariat, Annapurna Conservaton Area Project, Pokhara, Nepal. 47pp. Kathmandu, Nepal, 262pp. Wei, F., Z. Feng, Z. Wang & J. Hu (1999). Current distributon, status Cuvier, F.G. (1825). Panda. In: Geofroy Saint-Hilaire, E. & F.G. 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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for assessing habitat and estmatng populaton of Red Pandas in 2015: e.T714A110023718. Downloaded on 19 September 2019. Langtang Natonal Park, Nepal. Ambio 20: 285–288. htps://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T714A45195924.en Yonzon, P.B., P. Yonzon, C. Chaudhary & B. Vaidya (1997). Status of DNPWC and DFSC (2018). Red Panda Conservaton Acton Plan for Red Panda in Himalaya. Resources Himalaya Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal (2019–2023). Department of Natonal Parks and Wildlife Nepal, 21pp. Conservaton and Department of Forests and Soil Conservaton, Kathmandu, Nepal.

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Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 September 2019 | 11(12): 14576–14581 14581 PLATINUM The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles online every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. OPEN ACCESS All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)

September 2019 | Vol. 11 | No. 12 | Pages: 14471–14630 Date of Publicaton: 26 September 2019 (Online & Print) www.threatenedtaxa.org DOI: 10.11609/jot.2019.11.12.14471-14630

Artcle Cuon alpinus (Mammalia: Carnivora: Canidae) rediscovered in Bardia Natonal Park, Nepal Ornithophony in the soundscape of Anaikaty Hills, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, – Shailendra Kumar Yadav, Babu Ram Lamichhane, Naresh Subedi, India Ramesh Kumar Thapa, Laxman Prasad Poudyal & Bhagawan Raj Dahal, – Chandrasekaran Divyapriya & Padmanabhan Pramod, Pp. 14471–14483 Pp. 14582–14586

Communicatons Observatons of Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus (Mammalia: Carnivora: Herpestdae) in the wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, India A case study on the public knowledge and awareness of the – Vignesh Kamath & Kadaba Shamanna Seshadri, Pp. 14587–14592 Philippine Pangolin Manis culionensis (Mammalia: Pholidota: Manidae) – Frances Mae Tenorio & Joselito Baril, Pp. 14484–14489 Further studies on two species of the moth genus Paralebeda Aurivillius (Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea: Lasiocampidae) from northwestern India Winter food habits of the Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus – Amritpal Singh Kaleka, Devinder Singh & Sujata Saini, Pp. 14593–14598 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Viverridae) in Patna Bird Sanctuary, India – Khursid Alam Khan, Jamal Ahmad Khan, Khursheed Ahmad & The genus Grewia (Malvaceae: Grewioideae) in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Narendra Mohan, Pp. 14490–14495 India with a conservaton note on the endemic G. indandamanica – K.C. Kishor & Mayur D. Nandikar, Pp. 14599–14605 Report of fve interestng avian species from Durgapur ecoregion, West Bengal, India by citzen science efort Three grasses (Poaceae), additons to the fora of Andhra Pradesh, India – Sagar Adhurya & Shantanu Bhandary, Pp. 14496–14502 – Anil Kumar Midigesi & Boyina Ravi Prasad Rao, Pp. 14606–14611

Brief insight into the behavior, actvity, and interspecifc interactons of urban Ethnobotanical survey of indigenous leafy vegetables consumed in rural Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops) albolabris (Reptlia: Squamata: Viperidae) vipers areas of Terai-Dooars region of West Bengal, India in Bangkok, Thailand – Mallika Mazumder & Anup Kumar Sarkar, Pp. 14612–14618 – Curt Hrad Barnes & Tyler Keith Knierim, Pp. 14503–14510 Australasian sequestrate Fungi 20: Russula scarlatna (Agaricomycetes: The distributonal patern of benthic macroinvertebrates in a spring-fed Russulales: Russulaceae), a new species from dry grassy woodlands of foothill tributary of the Ganga River, western Himalaya, India southeastern Australia – Vijay Prakash Semwal & Asheesh Shivam Mishra, Pp. 14511–14517 – Todd F. Elliot & James M. Trappe, Pp. 14619–14623

Seasonal vegetaton shif and wetland dynamics in vulnerable granitc rocky Notes outcrops of Palghat Gap of southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India – Pathiyil Arabhi & Maya Chandrasekharan Nair, Pp. 14518–14526 The Himalayan Crestless Porcupine Hystrix brachyura Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Rodenta: Hystricidae): frst authentc record from Bangladesh A comprehensive checklist of endemic fora of Meghalaya, India – Mohammad Ashraf Ul Hasan & Sufa Akter Neha, Pp. 14624–14626 – Aabid Hussain Mir, Krishna Upadhaya, Dilip Kumar Roy, Chaya Deori & Bikarma Singh, Pp. 14527–14561 A new distributon record of Asplenium scalare Rosenst. (Aspleniaceae) in India Shola tree regeneraton is lower under Lantana camara L. thickets in the upper – Periyasamy Vijayakanth, Jaideep Mazumdar, S. Sahaya Sathish, Nilgiris plateau, India Veluchamy Ravi & Ramachandran Kavitha, Pp. 14627–14628 – Muneer Ul Islam Najar, Jean-Philippe Puyravaud & Priya Davidar, Pp. 14562– 14568 Response & Reply

Overcoming the pollinaton barrier through artfcial pollinaton in the Response to spiders of Odisha: a preliminary checklist additons to the Wild Nutmeg Knema atenuata (Myristcaceae), an endemic tree of the spider checklist of Odisha Western Ghats, India – John T.D. Caleb, Pp. 14629–14630 – Murugan Govindakurup Govind, Koranapallil Bahuleyan Rameshkumar & Mathew Dan, Pp. 14569–14575 Reply to response: spiders of Odisha – Sudhir Ranjan Choudhury, Manju Siliwal & Sanjay Keshari Das, P. 14630 Short Communicatons

The frst photographic record of the Red Panda Ailurus fulgens (Cuvier, 1825) from Lamjung District outside Annapurna Conservaton Area, Nepal – Ganesh Ghimire, Malcolm Pearch, Badri Baral, Bishnu Thapa & Rishi Baral, Pp. 14576–14581 Publisher & Host

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