ECOLOGY OF WESTERN HORNED TRAGOPAN (Tragopan melanocephalus) IN MACHIARA NATIONAL PARK, AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Tragopan spp. belongs to Order Galliformes and Family Phasianidae. Pheasants own a central position in the food web and are important bio-indicators. Tragopan genera have five species; Satyr tragopan (Tragopan satyr), Western horned tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus), Temminck’s tragopan (Tragopan temmincki), Cabot’s tragopan (Tragopan caboti) and Blyth’s tragopan (Tragopan blythi). Tragopan melanocephalus is a medium sized, brightly plumaged, dimorphic pheasant distributed in northeastern areas of Pakistan, India and China. IUCN listed Western horned tragopan as a vulnerable species in Pakistan. In Pakistan, Western horned tragopan is found in Palas and Kaghan valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province and Neelum valley in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). Present study was conducted in Machiara National Park (MNP) of AJ&K to determine distribution of Western horned tragopan, population density, diet composition, habitat use and anthropogenic and natural factors that impose negative impacts on its population and habitat. Reconnaissance survey was conducted in the study area to identify potential habitats and distribution of Western horned tragopan. Information was gathered related to occurrence of Western horned tragopan from park workers and local people in the study area. Based on information from reconnaissance survey, Machiara and Serli Sacha were recognized as distribution sites of Western horned tragopan in the park. Quadrate method was used for vegetation sampling in the study area. Importance value index was calculated using cover and frequency of plant species. In Machiara, 34 plant species were identified in vegetation sampling while 17 plant species were recorded at Serli Sacha. Shrubs dominated the flora of study sites followed by trees, herbs and grasses. Call count method was used to assess Western horned tragopan population in study area and data was further used to calculate population density. A total of 11 calling sites at two localities were covered revealing overall population density index of 1.26/ Km2 at Machiara and 0.79/ Km2 at Serli Sacha. Micro-histological analysis of Western horned tragopan faecal droppings was carried out to identify diet composition. Eighty faecal samples were collected from study area during summer and winter seasons. Slides from faecal samples were prepared and compared with reference slides of plants collected from study area. Chi square test revealed that consumption of plants was significantly different between the two seasons at Machiara (P < 0.05). In Machiara, Western tragopan utilized 11 plant species during summer whereas in winter 12 plant species were consumed. Likewise, at Serli Sacha site faecal samples analysis showed that 14 plant species were consumed during summer season and 13 plant species in winter. Seasonal differences in Western horned tragopan’s diet were associated with changing proportions of plant species consumption. Questionnaire survey was conducted from park staff and local respondents to gather information related to major threats to Western tragopan population in the study area. Major threats in Machiara site included; hunting (40%), predation (20%), anthropogenic activities (18%), livestock pressure (14%), trade (12%), fuel wood collection (6%), agriculture (6%) and disease (4%). In Serli Sacha site major threats to Western horned tragopan population were livestock pressure (20%), human interference (18%), trade (14%), hunting (14%), predation (12%), disease in wild (10%), fuel wood collection (8%) and agriculture (4%). Machiara National Park management should initiate awareness program with local people to reduce threats affecting population of Western horned tragopan.