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Certificate - Etheses - Saurashtra University

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(Ursus arctos), the other wild animals in the study area are leopard (Panthera<br />

pardus), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), musk deer (Moschus<br />

chrysogaster), Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex), goral (Nemorhaedus goral), serow<br />

(Capricornis sumatraensis), blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), langur (Presbytus<br />

entellus) and porcupine (Hystrix indica). This sanctuary forms the western most limit<br />

of tahr distribution. Photograph 5 shows brown bear digging activity, and<br />

Photograph 6 shows brown bear feeding on Rumex nepalensis in the study area.<br />

Besides the sanctuary is known for a rich diversity of avifauna, major ones being<br />

cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichil), monal (Lophophorus impeyanus), kalij (Lophura<br />

leucomelanos), koklas (Pucrasia macrolopha) and others. The temperate belt of the<br />

sanctuary forms ideal habitat for black partridge, cheer pheasant, chukar, several<br />

species of laughing thrushes and kalij. The alpine zone have typically monal, koklass<br />

and a variety of other birds including golden eagle, upland buzzard, accentors and<br />

finches.<br />

3.5 Habitat types<br />

In the study area, vegetation showed high degree of heterogeneity and variable degree<br />

of biotic pressure. We classified the habitat types of the study area broadly into 9<br />

different habitat categories viz. Agricultural land, Grassland and forest blanks, Mixed<br />

forest with conifers and broad leaf species, Himalayan Moist temperate forests with<br />

conifers, Near water bodies, river and streams, Dry alpine scrub characterized by<br />

Juniperus species, Riverine forests, Exposed rock with slope grasses and Moist sub-<br />

alpine scrub dominated by Rhododendron species. The vegetation and landcover map<br />

showing different broad habitat categories is shown (Map 2).<br />

45

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