The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

information available to make an accurate
assessment of the extinction risk of this species in
Nepal.
Legal Status
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973). This species occurs within protected areas.
National Distribution
This species is distributed along the northern border
of Nepal along the Himalaya and Trans-Himalayan
areas. It has been recorded from within the
protected areas of Annapurna Conservation Area,
Langtang National Park, Makalu Barun National Park
and Rara National Park.
Distribution outside Nepal
Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Mongolia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan.
Main Threats
• Depletion of prey-base (pikas) due to poisoning.
• Habitat degradation due to overgrazing of
natural vegetation cover by livestock.
References
Smith and Foggin 1999, Baral and Shah 2008, Suwal and Verheugt 1995, Ernst 2003.
65) Mustela erminea (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common Names
Ermine (English); Bahurupi Malsapro (Nepali)
Species Description
Small chestnut-brown weasel, flecked with white,
and with a white chin, throat and belly. Most
individuals change colour dramatically to become
pure white between the winter months of October
and January. The tail tip remains black all year round.
Species Ecology
The Ermine is highly adaptable and able to live in a
variety of habitat conditions including alpine habitat
and beech forest, using rocks, hollow stumps, logs
and burrows for shelter. The Ermine feeds on birds,
eggs, insects and small rodents.
Gestation is around four weeks, after which a litter of
four to eight young is produced (although it can be
up to 13 young).
Conservation Status
Global: Least Concern
National: Data Deficient
Rationale for assessment: There is insufficient
information available to make an accurate
assessment of the extinction risk of this species in
Nepal.
Legal Status
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973). This species occurs within protected areas.
National Population Size
There is no information available on the population
size or status of this species in Nepal.
National Distribution
This species occurs in the Trans-Himalayan area and
on the southern slopes of the Annapurna district.
Distribution outside Nepal
Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,
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