New species of wild carnivores recorded in Humla

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Apr. 22: Three new species of wild carnivores have been recorded from Humla district, north-western Nepal. 

The Steppe polecat, scientifically called Mustela eversmanii, Pallas’s cat, scientifically called Otocolobus manul (Palas biralo) and Eurasian lynx, scientifically called Lynx lynx (Pahan biralo), were documented from the Limi Valley in Upper Humla during July-September 2021, representing the first records of these species outside the protected areas network in Nepal. 

Steppe polecat has no Nepali name. The Steppe polecat record was obtained through a live observation while the records of Pallas’s cat and Eurasian lynx were from camera trapping surveys, said a press statement issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC).

These findings were made during the fieldwork of the research titled ‘Sustainable ecosystem protection: Conservation of the wildlife communities of Upper Humla through an understanding of wolf behaviour and local communities’ by Himalayan Wolves Project/Resources Himalaya Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, DNPWC, Division Forest Office, Humla, Namkha Rural Municipality, Humla and Green Governance Nepal.

The Steppe Polecat was recorded as a new species in Nepal from Annapurna Conservation Area (Upper Mustang) in 2014 and there has been no record of the species thereafter. 

This current record is the second record of the species for Nepal seven years later. Since the earlier records were night-time camera trap images, the current record represents the first live observation of the species in Nepal. 

“More importantly it enriches the southernmost records of the species in Asia. Interestingly, the IUCN range map of the species does not include Nepal although it mentions Nepal as a country where the species is native,” the statement reads. The Steppe polecat is assessed as Data Deficient in Nepal.

The Pallas’s cat was also recorded as a 

new species for Nepal from Annapurna Conservation Area (Upper Manang) in 2012. It has also been recorded from Shey-Phoksundo National Park. Interestingly, the current record represents 

the first family photo of the species in Nepal showing two adults with a cub. All previous records are of single individuals. The Pallas’s cat is also assessed as Data Deficient in Nepal, according to the statement.

The Eurasian lynx is a protected priority species of Nepal according to the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973. Confirmed records of the species in Nepal are available from 

Annapurna Conservation Area (Mustang), Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Shey-Phoksundo National Park (Dolpa). The current record provides the first conclusive evidence for Eurasian lynx in Upper Humla. The Eurasian lynx is assessed as vulnerable in Nepal.

Records of Steppe polecat, Pallas’s cat and Eurasian lynx from Upper Humla add to the fascinating diversity of wild mammals in the area. The Trans-Himalayan habitats in Upper Humla 

are home to the last remaining wild yaks of Nepal and are a stronghold of Tibetan wild ass/Kiang as the area supports the largest population of the species in the country. 

Other important wild mammals found in Upper Humla include Tibetan argali, Tibetan gazelle, Tibetan fox, Himalayan wolf, musk deer, and snow leopard. The present findings call for 

more dedicated conservation actions to protect the unique biodiversity of Upper Humla. With the current records, Upper Humla represents the westernmost distribution range of the three species in Nepal. All of these findings are being written up as formal scientific articles that shall be available soon.