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

127
groups.
vi) Encourage the use of natural fertilisers and
pesticides to reduce potential impact on pangolins
through the food chain.
vii) Undertake a feasibility study on establishing a
community-based pangolin sanctuary in suitable
pangolin habitat.
viii) Develop successful captive breeding
programme and undertake further research on the
ecology of this species.
References
Suwal and Verheught 1995, CITES 2000, Kaspal 2008, Duckworth et al. 1999, Prativa Kaspal (pers.comm.)
2009, Nepal Red List of Mammals Field Technicians Workshop 2010.
82) Ochotona himalayana (Feng, 1973)
Common Names
Himalayan Pika (English); Himali Thutekharayo
(Nepali)
Synonyms
Ochotona roylei himalayana (Feng, 1973)
Species Description
Difficult to distinguish from other pika species.
Brown coloured coat dispersed with black hair along
dorsal area. Lighter on the chest. Long whiskers.
Species Ecology
The Himalayan Pika inhabits rocky habitats bordered
by evergreen or broadleaved forests, subtropical
and tropical montane forests. Pikas mainly feed on
grasses, lichens and mosses.
Little is known about the reproductive parameters
of the species.
Conservation Status
Global: Least Concern
National: Endangered B1ab(iii,v)
Rationale for assessment: The Himalayan Pika
(Ochotona himalayana) has been nationally assessed
as Endangered under criterion B due to a small
distribution from a single location, with an extent of
occurrence of approximately 1,000 km 2 . This species
population and quality of habitat are considered to
be in decline due to persecution as a pest species
and overgrazing of livestock. Population size is not
well known but could potentially be relatively small.
The species also occurs in neighbouring areas of
China but due to the terrain and altitude between
these areas it is unlikely that there is significant
movement between populations to down list this
species, however further confirmation is required.
Legal Status
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973). This species occurs within a protected area.
National Population Size
There is no information available on the population
size of this species in Nepal.
National Distribution
This pika has been recorded in the past in Sagarmatha
National Park.
Distribution outside Nepal
China (Tibet Autonomous Region).
Main Threats
• Competition with livestock.
• Persecution as pest species.