Assessing the Anthropogenic Threats to Clouded Leopards in Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan

29 Jul 2016 Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan, Indian Sub-continent Carnivores

Tashi Dhendup

The project aims to assess the anthropogenic threats to clouded leopard habitats in Royal Manas National Park and identify factors which may assist in restoration and improved conservation of the species and its habitats. We will also inform the general mass and the managers of the threats with recommendations

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With development inevitable for an underdeveloped country like Bhutan, and sharing a porous border with India, Royal Manas National Park is facing a lot of challenges in regard to conservation of pristine habitats of wild life and their population. Activities such as selective logging, deforestation, hunting and tourism are a rising challenge and could add to some level of anthropological stressors on wild life. Clouded leopard is a threatened species and a good population of the species has been observed in the park but is prone to some of these stressors as some level of above mentioned human activities has been observed here.

With habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting, wild life tourism etc having become few of the major threats to the viability of species worldwide, the question of how to manage landscapes for species conservation has attracted much attention. Therefore, assessing these aspects of the habitat of the clouded leopard will be vital for their survival in the region and especially for Bhutan as a pro-active measure to protect the threatened species.

With the study, we shall be able to identify the activities and conditions that maybe threatening the survival of clouded leopard in their habitat within the park. The finding shall also be able to prioritize areas in need of conservation and then help in future development. The results will also include information on additional research needed to bolster recommended actions.

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