I= A STUDY ON ECOBIOLOGY OF GRAY GORAL (NAEMORHEDUS GORAL) WITH REFERENCE TO PAKISTAN
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Title of Thesis
A STUDY ON ECOBIOLOGY OF GRAY GORAL (NAEMORHEDUS GORAL) WITH REFERENCE TO PAKISTAN
Author(s)
Fakhar-i-Abbas
Institute/University/Department Details
University of the Punjab, Lahore
Session
2006
Subject
Zoology
Number of Pages
168
Keywords (Extracted from title, table of contents and abstract of thesis)
gray goral, naemorhedus goral, artiodactyla, ruminantia, bovidae, himalayas, hindukush

Abstract
The Himalayan grey goral (Naemorhedus goral, order: Artiodactyla, sub-order: Ruminantia, family: Bovidae) is endemic to Himalayas and Hindukush ranges. The present study has been instituted to study the eco-biology of the species with reference to its distribution range extending into Pakistan with the aim of providing a base line data on population distribution and status.

The Phytosociological studies on the habitat suggest the presence of at least 99 species of endospermic plants, distributed with a low constancy of appearance with three well defined vegetation layers, Le. Tree (22 species), shrub (25), herbs (31) and grasses (21). Pinus roxburghii is the most widely distributed species. Eight vegetation communities have been identified using TWINSP AN ordination, which are distributed in different parts of the available gora habitat.

The population data collected from 98 stands through variable transects technique suggests that the species is distributed over some 4,839 km2 of the potential area with an overall density of 0.15±0.02 heads/km2. The major part of this population (around 200) is present in Azad Kashmir. The male: female sex ratio (1:1.92) suggests the preponderance of the females. There are on the average 0.31 sub-adult per adult female (0.50 in February -March, falling to 0.11-0.17 in November-December). The mean herd size is 1.72± 0.11 (summer=1.91±0.16 winter 1.38±0.10). The species is basically solitary through the individuals may aggregate into small groups. Different vegetation communities hold variable goral densities, depending upon available physico-biotic conditions. The herb and shrub cover has a positive association; while tree cover has a negative association with goral density. The goral population is present at altitude of 800-2,200 m above sea level during winter, and tends to move to 1400-2600 m as during summer.

The faecal pellet analysis and field observations suggest that goral consumes a minimum of 28 plant species; herb, shrub, and trees appearing in the ratio of 1 :36:63. The species mainly subsets on six species of grasses (Chrysopogon aucheri, Themeda anathera, Poa pratensis, Digitaria decemnens, Apluda mutica, Aristida cyanatha), though leaves of the shrubs (Rubus ellpticus, Ipomoea hispida, Carisa opaca, Dodenaea viscose, Buxus sempervirens, Mimose rubicaulis, M africana) are preferred to different degrees. The food plants provide 77.85±2.56% water, 8.55±0.38% ash, 6.77±0.06% carbohydrates, and 5.5% ±0.25% protein and 1.28±0.08% fats. The food provides 4.440 kcal of energy and 5.45 I of water per day to the adult goral.

The behavioural studies conducted on goral maintained in semi-captive conditions suggest that the sub-adult spends 33.48%, 12.22%, 20.24%, 22.16% and 7.92% of time while sleeping, ruminating, resting, feeding and agnostic activities, respectively. The adults spend 24.88%, 26.48%, 14.09%, 8.06% and 13.42% of the time on such activities. The species spends major part of the night while sleeping, has a crepuscular feeding behaviour and goes for the day time rest during the hotter parts of the day. The limited field observations showed that the gorals remain vigilant to environmental changes while feeding, ruminating and resting. The species also prefers to go for drinking from a source of running water rather than from that of stagnant water. Gorals mainly depends upon camouflaging and threat behaviour for its defence.

The analysis of the species biology suggests that it has a vulnerable status as per IUCN criteria, having a fragmented population of less than 1,000 individuals. The goral, as a species has full potentials of its survival under the available habitat conditions. The future management would require protection to fawns in the protected areas, creation of habitat corridors, international cooperation to provide support to the population surviving in Indian part of the distribution range of the species, habitat management and arousing public cooperation through awareness campaign.
Download Full Thesis
3166.78 KB
S. No. Chapter Title of the Chapters Page Size (KB)
1 0 Contents
161.58 KB
2 1 Introduction 1
345.87 KB
  1.1 Background 1
  1.2 Objective 2
  1.3 Grey Goal 3
  1.4 Study Area 10
  1.5 General Methodology 19
3 2 Habitat 21
588.86 KB
  2.1 Introduction 21
  2.2 Review Of Literature 22
  2.3 Materials And Methods 25
  2.4 Results 29
  2.5 Discussion 41
4 3 Population Dynamics 48
815.36 KB
  3.1 Introduction 48
  3.2 Review Of Literature 49
  3.3 Materials And Methods 53
  3.4 Results 58
  3.5 Discussion 79
5 4 Food And Feeding 92
361.89 KB
  4.1 Introduction 92
  4.2 Review Of Literature 93
  4.3 Materials And Methods 96
  4.4 Results 99
  4.5 Discussion 104
6 5 Behavior 109
444.98 KB
  5.1 Introduction 109
  5.2 Review Of Literature 110
  5.3 Materials And Methods 113
  5.4 Results 116
  5.5 Discussion 127
7 6 Indirect Field Identification 132
333.8 KB
  6.1 Introduction 132
  6.2 Materials And Methods 133
  6.3 Results 134
  6.4 Discussion 144
8 7 Population Status And Management 146
333.55 KB
  7.1 Introduction 146
  7.2 Population 146
  7.3 Habitat Potentials 148
  7.4 Species Potentials 149
  7.5 Management 150
  7.6 References 153