Inventory of medium- to large-sized wild mammals from District Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan through camera-trap surveys

초록

Background The study area is located within the Central Karakoram National Park, nestled in thetowering Karakoram mountain range. Situated at high altitude in the District of Nagar,Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, this region is characterised by its rugged terrain, glaciers andsnow-covered peaks. The area encompasses diverse habitats, including alpinemeadows, subalpine forests and glaciated zones, which provide potential habitat formedium- to large-sized mammals. Despite its ecological significance, wildlife in this arearemains understudied. Therefore, the current study aimed to document the wild mammalspecies of the high-altitude Hoper and Hisper Valleys . New information Camera-trapping surveys were conducted from April to November 2024 to record wildmedium- to large-sized mammals in the study area. Thirty trail cameras were deployed across the study area, which resulted in 85 occurrence records for seven mammalspecies, including three carnivores, two lagomorphs, one rodent and one ruminant. Allspecies were native, non-endemic to the region. According to the IUCN ConservationStatus, Panthera uncia (Snow Leopard), Mustela altaica (Mountain Weasel) and Capra sibirica (Himalayan Ibex) belong to the endangered categories. Out of the sevenmammals recorded in this study, five are newly documented, while the Snow Leopardand Himalayan Ibex have been previously reported from the area. The data collectedfrom this survey provide valuable occurrence information on the mammal species presentin the study area, which can serve as a baseline for monitoring and conservation effortsin the future.

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