Status of large mammals in proposed Big Pamir Wildlife Reserve, Wakhan, Afghanistan. Annual Report 01. [Statut des grands mammifères dans la réserve de faune proposée du Grand Pamir, Wakhan, Afghanistan. Rapport annuel 01.]

Résumé

During the first phase of survey mammal team surveyed the Proposed Big Pamir Wildlife Reserve encompassing an area of 679.38 km2. The mammal team reported the presence of 8 large mammalian species out of the 9 mammalian species as reported earlier by Petocz (1978). Out of the 8 species found in the area, Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) and Marco Polo Sheep (Ovis ammon polii) are globally threatened. Overall mammal team reported the presence of 10 mammalian species from the area. Altai Weasel (Mustela altaica) is new addition to the species checklist of the Afghanistan reported during the present survey from the Wakhan valley. During the survey mammal team surveyed 11 valleys and confirmed the presence of snow leopard from the 10 valleys. Information about the presence/absence and abundance estimation of the snow leopard was collected from the 15 sign transects in all the 11 valleys surveyed during the survey period. We estimated the presence of 1 – 2 snow leopards per square kilometer which gives an estimate of 6.78 – 13.56 cats for the Proposed Big Pamir Wildlife Reserve. This may be an underestimate because the survey time was late as almost all the herders had already moved deep inside resulting in destruction of signs. The team reported the presence of Marco Polo Sheep from the 3 valleys out of the 11 valleys surveyed. Record of the presence of the Marco Polo sheep from the Nakchrishitk valley is an addition to the previous records. Marco Polo has been reported first time from this valley during the present survey. Based on time series analysis we expect presence of 211 animals in the Proposed Big Pamir Wildlife Reserve. The present Marco Polo habitat is highly grazed and this needs to be immediately stopped. Based on the measurement of 59 horns from the Proposed Big Pamir Wildlife Reserve, the animals are usually dead by the time they reach to an age of 4 – 7 years, an age when most animals have not achieved the notable horn length – the ideal trophy. Presence of Long Tailed Marmot (Marmota caudata) in all the valleys surveyed is good sign to reduce the conflict by the predators during summer months. Regression equation was developed to estimate the number of marmots based on the number of holes counted in any area. The equation is Y (population Size) = 0.70 (±0.02) Total Number of Marmot Holes + 0.20 (±0.01). The equation explained 97% of the variation. Other species reported during the survey are Wolf (Canis lupus), Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), Siberian Ibex (Capra ibex siberica), Himalayan stoat or Ermine (Mustela erminea), Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Cape Hare (Lepus capensis). During the survey mammal team also collected 100 scats of wolves, 32 scats of snow leopard and 15 scats of red fox. The scats have been stored and will be analyzed only after collecting more scats from the field to achieve statistically significant sample size. We also interviewed 20 families from the Proposed Big Pamir Wildlife Reserve to access their dependence on the resources; same will be analyzed after we interview all the families from the area. At the end, the Proposed Big Pamir Wildlife Reserve is worth to be considered as one of the finest reserves of the world based on the uniqueness of fauna and flora it holds.