IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Dhendup, T. | |
| Results from a pilot camera trap survey on Pallas's cat in western Bhutan | |
| 2021 Cat News (72) | |
Pallas's cat _Otocolobus manul_ is one of the least known small wild cats of the Himalayas. Bhutan recorded its first Pallas's cat in 2012; however, no other records have emerged in the last eight years despite several camera trapping surveys. We carried out a pilot survey using camera traps to re-confirm the presence of the species in Soe region (previously recorded here in 2012) located to the west of Jigme Dorji National Park from mid-August to mid-October in 2018. The survey data consisted of images from eight camera trap stations covering 32 km2, totaling 303 camera trap nights, which resulted in the detection of several mammal species, including the snow leopard _Panthera uncia_, but no Pallas's cat. Given the limited sampling area and the number of camera trap stations, we cannot conclude if the species is absent in the area. Despite repeated camera trap surveys over the years, although focused on large carnivores, the absence of recent records suggests that the species is naturally rare in Bhutan. We recommend the identification of potential habitats for the species across the country and to prioritise presence-absence surveys. |
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