A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape
Addressing the effects of human-caused habitat destruction on free-ranging threatened large carnivores requires actions that go ‘beyond borders’ in conserving and protecting their habitat and prey base. In this review, we compiled information from available literature on 20 years of conservation eff...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| author | Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar Diana Ethel Amonge Nawraj Pradhan Hla Naing Zhipang Huang Mahendra Singh Lodhi |
| author_facet | Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar Diana Ethel Amonge Nawraj Pradhan Hla Naing Zhipang Huang Mahendra Singh Lodhi |
| author_sort | Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Addressing the effects of human-caused habitat destruction on free-ranging threatened large carnivores requires actions that go ‘beyond borders’ in conserving and protecting their habitat and prey base. In this review, we compiled information from available literature on 20 years of conservation efforts aimed at tigers, co-predators, and their prey in the Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape that is situated at the confluence of three global biodiversity hotspots covering parts of India, Myanmar, and China. The vast area of the proven biodiversity-rich forested landscape is highly suitable for long-term survival of carnivores, such as tigers. Habitat loss, ritual hunting, commercial exploitation, and poaching are the prevailing threats that have resulted in low tiger, co-predator, and prey population densities. Studies suggest that tiger presence is confined to a few areas, while other tiger populations have been extirpated across most parts of the landscape. Past research also suggests that the landscape holds low abundance of diverse prey species richness (<i>n</i> = 22), and urgent conservation measures are required to improve their habitat and numbers. This calls for greater regional and transboundary co-operation on research and knowledge sharing, conservation awareness programs for locals, and cross-border co-operation on wildlife monitoring. Strict policies are also required to enable PA managers to develop strategic plans to conserve large predators and protect their habitats and corridors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:04:33Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:04:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae7a4a6c22924c34a997f3450ad14fd22023-11-22T06:31:04ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-08-01118236510.3390/ani11082365A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan LandscapeMriganka Shekhar Sarkar0Diana Ethel Amonge1Nawraj Pradhan2Hla Naing3Zhipang Huang4Mahendra Singh Lodhi5North-East Regional Centre, GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE), Itanagar 791113, IndiaNorth-East Regional Centre, GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE), Itanagar 791113, IndiaInternational Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), GPO Box 3226, Kathmandu 44700, NepalWildlife Conservation Society Myanmar Program, No. 100, Yadanar Myaing Street, Ward (1), Kamayut Township, Yangon 11041, MyanmarInstitute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, No. 2 Hongsheng Road, Dali 671003, ChinaNorth-East Regional Centre, GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE), Itanagar 791113, IndiaAddressing the effects of human-caused habitat destruction on free-ranging threatened large carnivores requires actions that go ‘beyond borders’ in conserving and protecting their habitat and prey base. In this review, we compiled information from available literature on 20 years of conservation efforts aimed at tigers, co-predators, and their prey in the Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape that is situated at the confluence of three global biodiversity hotspots covering parts of India, Myanmar, and China. The vast area of the proven biodiversity-rich forested landscape is highly suitable for long-term survival of carnivores, such as tigers. Habitat loss, ritual hunting, commercial exploitation, and poaching are the prevailing threats that have resulted in low tiger, co-predator, and prey population densities. Studies suggest that tiger presence is confined to a few areas, while other tiger populations have been extirpated across most parts of the landscape. Past research also suggests that the landscape holds low abundance of diverse prey species richness (<i>n</i> = 22), and urgent conservation measures are required to improve their habitat and numbers. This calls for greater regional and transboundary co-operation on research and knowledge sharing, conservation awareness programs for locals, and cross-border co-operation on wildlife monitoring. Strict policies are also required to enable PA managers to develop strategic plans to conserve large predators and protect their habitats and corridors.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2365large carnivoresFar-Eastern HimalayaHI-LIFEconservationtransboundary co-operation |
| spellingShingle | Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar Diana Ethel Amonge Nawraj Pradhan Hla Naing Zhipang Huang Mahendra Singh Lodhi A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape Animals large carnivores Far-Eastern Himalaya HI-LIFE conservation transboundary co-operation |
| title | A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape |
| title_full | A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape |
| title_fullStr | A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape |
| title_short | A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape |
| title_sort | review of two decades of conservation efforts on tigers co predators and prey at the junction of three global biodiversity hotspots in the transboundary far eastern himalayan landscape |
| topic | large carnivores Far-Eastern Himalaya HI-LIFE conservation transboundary co-operation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2365 |
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