Human- Indian Grey Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) Conflict and Threats to Mongoose in Mirpur District, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
Human- Indian Grey Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) Conflict and Threats to Mongoose in Mirpur District, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
Muhammad Furqan1*, Zulfiqar Ali1, Usman Ali2, Muhammad Mudassar Shahzad3, Bushra Nisar Khan1, Waqar Ahmed1, Zakir Hussain1, Mian Amman Ullah1, Nimra Afzal1 and Anjum Ara2
ABSTRACT
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ and K) is blessed with a rich floral and faunal diversity. The Indian grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii Hilaire, 1818) is a small carnivore, controls the population of reptiles, ground birds, small mammals, insects, distributed in plain areas of Pakistan and southern AJ and K. The present study aimed to investigate conflict of Indian grey mongoose with human beings. Field surveys were conducted from April 2015-March 2016 in 18 localities of Mirpur, AJ and K. Human mongoose conflict was evaluated following structured questionnaire method. A total of 490 poultry and pets were killed by mongoose during the study period, summing up to an estimated cost of 0.126 million PKRs (784 US$). The highest (n=56) depredation was recorded at Naugran and Mehmoodabad locality and the lowest (n=14) at Rata and Thara localities. Most (66%) attacks were observed in summer season; the preferred (32%) attack timing was the morning time. Three retaliatory killings were reported, 2 at Kalyal and one at Sorakhi locality. Habitat degradation by clearing forests for fuel wood, grazing, agricultural purposes, use of insecticides and retaliatory killing are major threats to the survival of mongoose in the study area. These factors could be controlled through awareness campaigns and better law enforcement in order to conserve this specie.
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October 2021
Vol. 53, Iss. 5, Pages 1603-2000
