OPPORTUNISTIC OCCURRENCE, SIGNIFICANCE AND CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS OF TRICHO-MORPHOMETRICS: LARGE WILD HERBIVORES OF CHANG CHENMO VALLEY, LADAKH, INDIA.

Tricho-morphometric studies plays significant role in understanding various aspects of mammalian biology and ecology that have direct conservation implications for species and associated habitats. In the present study, the Chang Chenmo Valley (CCV) region of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) in the Western Himalayas, India was extensively surveyed during August–October, 2013 to document the occurrence of large wild herbivores. Both direct (sightings) and indirect (calls, faecal pellets, chew and hoof marks, hair, carcasses) evidences were recorded and geo-referenced accordingly. Resting sites, tracks and areas frequently visited by animals were intensively searched for the presence of opportunistically found naturally shed hair which were collected (n=43) for identification of species using tricho-morphometric analysis following established protocols. Five large wild herbivore species, namely the Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii Abel, 1826), the Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur Hodgson, 1833), the Tibetan Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsonii Blyth, 1841), the Wild Yak (Bos mutus Przewalski, 1883) and the Tibetan Wild Ass (Equus kiang Moorcroft, 1841) were directly sighted in the CCV region. Simultaneously multi-species assemblages in inhospitable terrain were also confirmed by tricho-morphometric analysis. Habitat conservation is the vital requirement for protecting the species and ecological processes of the entire ecosystem. Therefore, we suggest that hair be collected along with GPS locations when surveys are undertaken for direct evidence. Tricho-morphometric studies from opportunistically found hair provides additional help to understand species ecology, estimating relative abundance, occupancy and in establishing wildlife–habitat relationships which may help in the development of effective conservation policies for restoring unique habitats.