Densities and Population Sizes of Large Mammals in Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Large mammal census exercise was conducted in Kishtwar High Altitude National Park to estimate their populations using Belt Transect Count approach. For seven common species of large mammals, the densities (number of animals/ 2 km ) estimated from our survey were 0.2 mean ± 0.1 95% CI (Red deer, Cervus elaphus hanglu), 0.18 mean ± 0.04 95% CI (Musk deer Cervus chrysogaster), 1.73 mean ± 0.56 95% CI (Goral, Nemorhaedus goral), 1.76 mean ± 0.24 95% CI (Himalayan ibex, Capra ibex), 3.45 mean ± 1.79 95% CI (Common langur, Semnopithecus entellus), 7.1 mean ± 0.69 95% CI (Rhesus macaque, Macaca mulatta) and 0.29 mean ± 0.04 95% CI (Yellow-throated martin, Martes flavigula). We estimated 60 - 90 Musk deer, 4 - 20 Red deer, 527 - 1036 Goral, 684 - 900 Himalayan ibex, 747 - 2360 Common langur, 2884-3508 Rhesus macaque and 109 - 148 Yellow-throated martin. The sex ratio of Rhesus macaque was 1 male : 2 female and age composition being 2.94 adults : 1 young. Similarly, 2.5 females were available for every male with age composition being 3.23 adults : 1 young.