120 T. Dhendup et al.
Dorji National Park. There were no wolf records in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary in the east, although the MaxEnt model predicts the presence of suitable habitat in the area. Discrepancies in prediction of suitable habitat by MaxEnt may arise if there are no records from particular re- gions or if ecological factors, such as prey availability, are not included in the model. Further research is required to identify key ecological variables for a detailed fine-scale habitat analysis in areas of potential habitat (Červinka et al., 2013; Rich et al., 2017; Wolf & Ripple, 2018). Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve is proximal to the Indian state of Sikkim, where there have been wolf sightings (Choudhury, 2015), and it is possible that wolves move be- tween these areas. Investigating gene flow and connectivity amongst wolf populations in Bhutan and neighbouring re- gions would provide a better understanding of genetic diver- sity, population structure and the impacts of barriers on gene flow. Knowledge of these matters is essential for effec- tive conservation strategies, particularly within the broader Himalayan and Tibetan contexts. In the Himalayas and Tibet, wolves rely on domestic prey
PLATE 1 (a) A Himalayan wolf Canis lupus chanco camera- trapped in Paro Forest Division in western Bhutan (elevation 4,557 m). (b) Two Himalayan wolves photographed at a high altitude pass between Soe and Lingzhi region of Jigme Dorji National Park (elevation 4,882 m).
The majority of wolf records occurred in alpine meadows (18 of 32), followed by juniper forests (6), rocky outcrops (3), scrubland (3), and ridge (1) and screed slopes (1). Amongst the camera stations, those strategically placed on ridgelines (13 of 32) recorded the highest number of wolf oc- currences, followed by those on trails (11) and at the base of cliffs and valley bottoms (4 each). After checking for spatial autocorrelation, we used 31 location points for the MaxEnt model. The model demonstrated a high discriminatory power (area under curve = 0.970), estimating 2,431 km2 of potential habitat in Bhutan (Fig. 1). The mean temperature of the warmest quarter (BIO10) was the most influential variable (Table 1). There was a greater number of wolf records from
Wangchuck Centennial National Park than in other loca- tions. Despite extensive coverage in the nationwide snow leopard survey and reportedly having a high density of blue sheep Pseudois nayaur, which is a preferred wild prey for wolves in Bhutan, therewere fewer wolf records in Jigme
as well as on wild prey species (Lyngdoh et al., 2020; Shrotriya et al., 2022). In Bhutan, blue sheep comprise the main wild prey of the wolf in high-altitude regions, with blue sheep densities relatively higher in western areas and declining towards the east (Lham et al., 2021). Other potential prey species include the Himalayan musk deer Moschus chrysogaster,marmot Marmota himalayana,goral Naemorhedus goral and serow Capricornis thar (NCD, 2023). Livestock also comprise a significant proportion of wolf prey, particularly in regions with limited natural prey and suboptimal livestock husbandry, as reported in the higher altitudes of Wangchuck Centennial National Park (Jamtsho & Wangchuk, 2016; Lyngdoh et al., 2020). Wolves frequently prey on livestock in the Park, especially adult yaks, resulting in economic losses that are nearly dou- ble those attributed to snow leopards and fostering negative attitudes towards wolves and other predators (Jamtsho & Katel, 2019). The absence of compensation for livestock losses increases the risk of persecution of wolves and threa- tens the long-term persistence of the species in Bhutan. Anecdotal sources describe a near extirpation of the wolf population in some parts of the country, and suggest that local people set fires in denning caves. We have described the grey wolf distribution in the
Bhutan Himalayas for the first time, and our findings sug- gest a restricted range for the species, in, 7%ofthe coun- try. The IUCN Red List indicates wolf range in . 50%of Bhutan (Boitani et al., 2023), implying wolves are wide- spread across northern Bhutan. Our findings will help in- form a revision of this assessment. There is a need to examine the dynamics of human–wolf conflict in Bhutan, for designing appropriate intervention strategies to minimize any conflict. A study of wolf diet using
Oryx, 2025, 59(1), 119–122 © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605324000127
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140
