Investigation on the population of wild Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in Medog, Tibet

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  • (1 Tibet Autonomous Region Research Institute of Forestry Inventory and Planning,Lhasa 850000,China)
    (2 School of Life Sciences,Peking University,Beijing 100871,China)
    (3 Institute of Zoology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China)
    (4 Institute of Ecology,Beijing Normal University,Beijing 100875,China)

Online published: 2019-11-27

Abstract

Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) used to be commonly distributed in Medog County, southeast Tibet, whereas no occurrence record has been reported across this area since 2002. In 2013—2018, we conducted field surveys in nine potential distribution areas of Bengal tigers in Medog using integrative approaches including camera-trapping, information network collection method and footprint identification method. The results suggested that there are only 1~3 non-resident individuals of Bengal tiger existing in Medog, occurring only during the dry season (October to March) in the south bank of the Yalu Zangbo River in the town of Beibeng, the south bank of the Yarlung Zangbo River in the Medog Town, and the south bank of the Jinzhu Zangbo in the Gedang Township. The prospects of the subsistence of wild Bengal tiger in Medog are not optimistic, subjected to various conditions and causes. Actions we proposed to conserve the wild tigers in this region include: (1) Conduct systematically designed basic monitoring on Bengal tigers and their prey;(2) Strengthen field patrolling and law enforcement against wildlife poaching; (3)Strengthen the protection of the intact forests; (4) Promote the livelihood and education of indigenous peoples to reduce their consumption of nature resources; (5) Develop landscape corridors for wild tigers to increase the habitat connectivity and facilitate their dispersal; (6) Strengthen cooperation on research and technical exchanges among different institutions and parties.

Cite this article

WANG Yuan, LIU Wulin, LIU Feng, LI Sheng, ZHU Xuelin, JIANG Zhigang, FENG Limin, LI Bingzhang . Investigation on the population of wild Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in Medog, Tibet[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2019 , 39(5) : 504 -513 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150265

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