Author(s):

Ugyen Tshering, Om Katel and Tshering Nidup

Abstract: Conservation of ungulates is vital to protect the viable population of tiger, leopard and dhole as ungulates are the principal prey species of carnivores of conservation importance. The objective of this study is to determine the distribution and habitat utilization by ungulates in Royal Manas National Park in southern Bhutan. The study area was stratified into four habitat types and a total of 53 sample plots of 20 x 20 m were surveyed to enumerate pellet groups and habitat variables such as canopy cover, ground cover, elevation, slope and aspect. A total of 80 pellet groups were recorded in 53 plots with a mean pellet of 1.51 per plot with a detection probability of 0.8. Among ungulates, Sambar pellet showed highest relative abundance (23.8%) and mostly ungulates detection probability is high in elevation zone less than 1000masl. The study concludes that RMNP could be one of the hotspot areas for tiger conservation through forest habitat conservation and protecting ungulates habitat.

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