Successful recue and release of Himalyan serow (Capricornis sumatraensis)

Photo: Himalayan serow by Tashi Dendup

On the day of 14^th April 2017; the wildlife rescue team of Wangdue Forest Division successfully rescued and released Himalayan serow back to the forest on the day it was rescued. The office does wildlife rescue and release work, but rescuing such species was first time in the history of the Division. As per the Grubb, 2005, this species is known to occur in east and southeast Bangladesh, Himalayas (Bhutan, northern India including Sikkim and Nepal), Tibet, northeast India (provinces east of Bangladesh), and probably into western Myanmar. The Himalayan serow is widespread but sparsely distributed throughout the forested southern slopes of the Himalaya in northern India, from Jammu and Kashmir to the Mishmi hills in Arunachal Pradesh, and in the hill states of northeastern India (Prater 1971). Himalayan serow is known to be locally present between 300 and 3,000 m as in all Himalayan states (Green 1987b), and is found extensively in the Sutlej and Beas River catchments (Himachal Pradesh) (Pandey, 2002). And, almost nothing is known of its distribution in Bhutan, other than it can exist in subtropical and temperate zones, and has been recorded in Royal Manas and Black Mountain National Parks (NCS, 1995).

In Wangdue, Himalayan serow is found along the ridge of biological corridor2, where a major problem is poaching and attack by feral dogs. In these areas, they are distributed in chirpine and mixed broadleaved forest between elevations of 900 to 1800 meters above sea level. Since its inception this office has given shelter to 100’s of wild animals. Many of these wild animals are rehabilitated in the temporary barracked shed and released back to the forest. Those that cannot be released are provided with shelter for the rest of their lives. All the animals within the center have been rescued from poor living conditions, where they may have been victims of road traffic accidents, dog attacks or other human caused accidents, juveniles having lost their mother as a result of habitat fragmentation, or to prey or poachers. Thus, the juvenile wildlife requires special care, shed and feeding that is beyond what the average household is prepared and able to manage.

The Division also believes there is always a humane answer to any wildlife issue since the needs of the animals are much the same as our own as we need healthy food, clean water, and a safe place to live. Thus, the rescuing and bringing to new home is one answer that we the conservationist can deliver to those victims. Each year, the Wangdue Forest Division rescues and rehabilitates more than 20 wildlife species. The species of animals rescued ranges from large animals such as Sambar deer, Clouded leopard, Barking deer, Wild boar, Himalayan Black Bear, Goral, Monkey, to small animals, including hawks, owls, small birds, and migratory birds, and more. Above all, the Sambar deer and Himalayan Black Bear is the most common wildlife rescued every year as per the record. Bhutan has rich biological diversity; however, human pressures such as over exploitation, habitat loss and habitat degradation, are pushing many of the wildlife to the brink of extinction. Despite the stern legislation in place the problem still persists as it tops the list of threats to the country’s faunal diversity. A loss of species is real conservation disaster, regardless of whether it is caused by natural forces or human activity.

By; Tashi Dendup

Web Administrator