IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Kusi, N.; Manandhar, P.; Subba, S.A.; Thapa, K.; Thapa, K.; Shrestha, B.; Pradhan, N.M.B.; Dhakal, M.; Aryal, N.; Werhahn, G. | |
| Shadowed by the ghost: the Eurasian lynx in Nepal | |
| 2018 Cat News (68): 16-19 | |
The Eurasian lynx_ Lynx lynx _is poorly studied in most of Asia and almost nothing is known about its status in Nepal. We present new data on lynx in Nepal collected during 2014 to 2017 based on non-invasive genetic sampling, camera trap survey, live observation and local report from the districts of Dolpa, Mustang and Humla. We combined this data with available past records of Eurasian lynx in Nepal. We found only 16 records from 1967 to 2017 (12 from this study of which 11 are from 2014-2017) which suggests that the species is sparsely distributed and little studied in Nepal. We believe that snow leopard _Panthera uncia_ focused conservation activities have shadowed the importance of Eurasian lynx conservation in the country. The presence of lynx in the Nepalese Himalayas has a potential to contribute to human-carnivore conflicts. We identified the need for a baseline study of human-lynx conflict in connection to livestock depredation. The government of Nepal may need to amend the wildlife damage relief guidelines and include the Eurasian lynx as eligible for depredation compensation. More in-depth studies of the species are required in the Nepalese Himalayas which shall facilitate a systematic monitoring of this elusive cat along with other high altitude carnivores. |
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