Photographic evidence of Himalayan Serow Capricornis sumatraensis ssp. thar (Hodgson, 1831) in Bardia National Park, Nepal

Abstract

Himalayan Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis ssp. thar Hodgson, 1831) believed to be distributed
only in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India and in Nepal. It occurs across the Churia - Himalayan
range and has also been detected within the Annapurna Conservation Area, Langtang and
Makalu Barun National Park. Recently it was discovered from wider areas than previously
thought but never recorded from Bardia National Park (BNP). During a camera trap survey
primarily targeted for tigers Panthera tigris, Himalayan Serow was photographed multiple
times on four camera trap stations in BNP in December 2017 and January 2018. The camera
trapped location is in dry-deciduous mixed forest mainly composed of hill Sal Shoresa robusta,
Saj Terminalia tomentosa forest in core area of the park at a distance of approximately 15 km
from settlements. This is the first photographic evidence of Himalayan Serow captured in BNP,
Nepal. Similarly, a single record exists, from a rescue in 2013, of a Himalayan Serow at Kalinara
in the Babai Valley (along the Babai River) of the Park. As stated by the BNP and Buffer Zone
Management Plan (2016 – 2020), a total of 56 mammal species are reported from the park and
with this record adds one more mammal species in the park. The study revealed that camera
trapping targeted at tigers can provide opportunity for getting important information on rare
and elusive species. Himalayan Serow co-exist in Bardia with sympatric herbivores like Four Horned Antelope Tetra cerusquadri cornis, Himalayan Crestless Porcupine Hystrix brachyuran,
and Sambar Rusa unicolor and other animal like Tiger Panthera tigris and Sloth bear Melursus
ursinus.