Mammals of Kalimpong Hills , Darjeeling District , West Bengal , India

Author Details: Jayanta Kumar mallicK postgraduated in 1974, joined the Wildlife Wing (Headquarters) in 1976 and has been working as PA to PCCF, Wildlife, West Bengal, for the last 37 years. Worked in the Project of the North-East India Task Force, IUCN/SSC/Elephant Specialist Group and also as project consultant of the Indian Society for Wildlife Research, Kolkata. He has been involved in all departmental publications, has participated in departmental workshops, undertaken a number of studies, is looking after departmental data bank and has more than hundred published articles, study reports, book and book-chapter on wildlife conservation, particularly of mammals.

The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended up to 2002) includes about 80 mammalian species in Schedule I, which are considered nationally 'threatened' (Anonymous 2003;Saha & Mazumdar 2008).The Red Data List of Threatened Species (2008) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) records 96 threatened species of mammals in India (Vié et al. 2009).According to Nandy (2006a), West Bengal harbours at least 24 globally threatened (eight 'Endangered' and 16 'Vulnerable') mammalian species.However, 70 species of mammals in the state require special attention for conservation (Saha et al. 1992).
Out of 11,879km 2 of recorded forests in West Bengal, Darjeeling district (26 0 31'-27 0 13'N & 87 0 59'-88 0 53'E) occupies 1,204km 2 including Kalimpong sub-division (556km 2 or 46.17%).But, in terms of the actual proportion of foliage cover, one-fourth of the geographical area (3,148.74km 2 ) of this district is forest (Mukherjee 1995), which is below the prescription of 60% coverage in the hills and mountains.But, owing to the great difference between the climatic conditions of the northern hills (Eastern Himalaya) and southern parts (foothills stretching down to the plains), Darjeeling District harbours a rich variety of flora (2,439 species) and fauna (4,166 species) (Alfred et al. 2004).Approximately, 72% of West Bengal's mammal diversity is exhibited in Darjeeling Himalayan region, of which 53 species are not met with within other ecosystems of West Bengal (Chakraborty & Agrawal 1993).Pradhan & Bhujel (unpub.)listed 124 mammalian species in the Darjeeling Himalayas.While Agrawal et al. (1992) recorded 128 species, Mitra (2004) 180 species, and Sanyal et al. (2007) mentioned 126 species in Darjeeling.
NVNP combined with its adjoining forests in the Kalimpong Hills is the largest part in Darjeeling District with its wide range of environment gradients, supporting a unique, ecologically important and the most undisturbed patch of intact and well-preserved late succession forest (<http://education.vsnl.com/bengaltiger> downloaded on 15 January 2009).Neora Valley is designated as one of the key biodiversity areas in the Eastern Himalaya for mammals and birds (WWF-US, Asia Program 2005).This area falls in one of the global hotspots (Myers et al. 2000), Global 200 forest eco-regions (Olson & Dinnerstein 1998), two endemic bird areas (Stattersfield et al. 1998) and several centres for plant diversity (Davis et al. 1995).It is also an integral part of the Kanchenjunga Landscape (Sharma & Chettri 2005;Chettri et al. 2007a).
Recently, the fauna and flora have been studied in few parts of Neora Valley National Park (NVNP), but a large tract remains unexplored.Hence, an indepth study in the Kalimpong Hills (NVNP and KFD) is considered to be of prime importance from conservation point of view.
The baseline for the present study is the first scientific research conducted in June-October 1916 by N.A. Baptista, who collected as many as 560 specimens of mammals belonging to 29 species under 22 genera from the dense mixed and bamboo forests of the Kalimpong Hills, east of the Teesta River, west of Ni-chu (Jaldhaka River) and Di-chu (tributary of the Jaldhaka) and bounded by Bhutan on the north (Wroughton 1917b).It appears that these fairly large collections did not attribute a corresponding wide range of the mammalian species, as found in the Sikkim-Bengal 'terai', Darjeeling Hills and Bhutan 'duars' (Wroughton 1916a(Wroughton ,b, 1917a)).
During the post-independence era, a range of 80 to 90 species of mammals in Kalimpong Forest Division (KFD) including Neora Valley have been recorded (Anonymous 1964), but, ironically, no supporting checklist was appended.West Bengal Forest Development Corporation Limited (WBFDCL) surveyed the eastern ridges of Neora Valley in 1979 and1981 in a joint effort with Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI).In 1982, the Himalayan Club, Indian Army, ZSI and Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, in collaboration with KFD, organised an expedition from Lava to the uncharted western ridges.But no new records of mammalian species during these expeditions were reported.
During 11-18 April 1982, Dr. B. Biswas, R.K. Ghose and D.K. Ghosal of ZSI and K. Mukherjee of World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-I) surveyed Samsing (Neora and Murti river valleys), Mouchowki, Rangpo and Tarkhola as part of their project on the lesser cats.But due to heavy rains, they could record only 17 mammalian species (Biswas & Ghose 1982;Biswas et al. 1985).No lesser cat was, however, sighted by them, but the scat of an unidentified smaller cat was found on the bank of Neora River.Sharma (1990) recorded 45 species of mammals in NVNP.In an account of the mammalian fauna of West Bengal, based mainly on the collections of ZSI as well as those recorded in the literature, Saha et al. (1992) listed 36 species (three Primates, 22 Carnivora, one Proboscidae, three Artiodactyla, and seven Rodentia) in NVNP.
The Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal in collaboration with the Department of Forests, Government of West Bengal and North Eastern Society for the Preservation of Nature and Wildlife (NESPON), an NGO based at Siliguri, Darjeeling, again surveyed the upper reaches and interior forests of NVNP during summer (April, May and June) and early winter (October) in 1994-1996 and prepared a checklist of 32 mammalian species (9 Schedule I) belonging to 16 families, representing more than 17 per cent of the total mammalian diversity in West Bengal (Biswas et al. 1999).Singhal & Mukhopadhyay (1998) also reprinted the same checklist.Singhal (1999) added two new records of the mammals in NVNP.WWF-India, Eastern Region (1997) recorded 17 mammalian species in the Upper Neora and Lower Neora Forest Ranges of NVNP as well as Chel, Lulagaon and Lava Forest Ranges of KFD.A study on the birds in the Lava (altitude 2,100m)-Lulagaon (altitude 1,575m) region of upper Neora during 2000-2001 reported direct and indirect evidences of the mammalian species like the Tiger, Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Red Panda, Himalayan Yellow-throated Marten, Wild Dog, Barking Deer, Assamese Macaque, Wild Boar, Moupin Pika (Dipankar Ghose & Sujan Chatterjee pers. comm. 19 October 2009).Chakraborty et al. (2008a) enlisted 25 species of mammals in NVNP on the basis of both sighting and indirect evidences.But Chakraborty et al. (2008b) recorded 16 mammalian species in NVNP, including sighting of seven species, collection of the scats of five species, observation of other signs of two species plus other two prey species.Ghosh et al. (2008) referred to eight key species of mammals in this area.UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2009) cited 19 mammalian species in NVNP.Bahuguna & Mallick (2010) also mentioned 50 species of mammals in NVNP and surrounding areas.

Study area
This study was carried out during 2008-2009 in two administrative units in the Kalimpong subdivision (geographical area 1,056.5km 2 ) of Darjeeling District (see Images 1 and 2): (1) KFD (26 0 51'-27 0 12'N & 88 0 28'-88 0 56'E) under WBFDCL is bounded on the north by Sikkim (India) and Bhutan, on the east by Jaldhaka River(bordering Bhutan), on the south by the Jalpaiguri District (western duars) and on the west by Teesta River (bordering Sikkim).The land consists of numerous valleys with moderate to precipitous slopes.Here the forest was commercially exploited at random, causing loss of density and fragmentation.
(2) The only wildlife protected area in this region is NVNP (88km 2 ) having different altitudes (183m in the plains to 3,200m in the hills).It is one of the oldest reserve forests (1881) in India, located near the ecological trijunction of West Bengal, Sikkim (India) and Bhutan on the north and northeast, which is about 25km east of Kalimpong Town (26 0 52'03"-27 0 7'35"N & 88 0 45'-88 0 50'E).The highest point is Rechila Danda (peak) (3,170m).A tabletop with two very shallow ponds (Jorepokhri) in the middle is also located in Thosum block of East Nar.
Originally, the study area was under the Sikkim kingdom, and conquered by the king of Bhutan in 1706.Practically, the whole area was then under forest, but was subsequently degraded due to jhooming.In 1864, the British captured this region and a large tract of the forest was clearfelled for rapid development of the agriculture and introduction of the tea, cinchona and orange plantations.However, Neora Valley was put under protection and unworkable working circle.Hence, this park is still virgin in nature providing an undisturbed habitat for the wildlife.Small patches of meadow and intervening patches of grassy or naked plains or rocky slopes are found here.
The zoogeographical significance of the study area is noteworthy.In spite of being located in the Image 1. Kalimpong Forest Division and important sites within Kalimpong Hills" Oriental Region, NVNP has some floral and faunal similarities with the Palaearctic Region of the adjacent zoogeographic zone.Moreover, it has characteristics of all the three subregions, namely Himalayan Montane System, Indian Peninsular subregion and the Malayan subregion (Singhal & Mukhopadhyay 1998).Cowan (1929) and Anonymous (1968) described the forest resources of the KFD.The forest type in this study area corresponds to 3C/C3b-"East Himalayan moist mixed deciduous forest" (Champion & Seth 1968).It covers two biomes, namely Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest (Biome-7) from 1,800-3,600 m and
NVNP exhibits a rich variety of habitats, as the area comprises the catchment and watershed of Neora River with its tributaries.Four habitat types are recognized, namely (i) subtropical mixed broadleaf forest, (ii) lower temperate evergreen forest, (iii) upper temperate mixed broadleaf forest, and (iv) Rhododendron forest.The density of vegetation is generally >0.4 except at Rechila Chawk, which was deforested in 1879.Majumdar et al. (1984) enumerated 45 fern, 154 angiosperm and one gymnosperm species in the virgin Neora Valley.Rai & Das (2004) recognize 83 medicinal, 59 edible, 18 ornamental, 21 poisonous (irritants and lethal), and 11 plants having fascinating assorted ethnic uses.NVNP is the home to several endemic orchids (UNESCO World Heritage Centre 2009).It is also famous for medicinal plants (PRAGYA 2007), particularly the Jaributi area.Ninety four species of birds, 276 species of insects and 38 species of other invertebrates have been identified in NVNP (Mukhopadhyay 1996;Singhal & Mukhopadhyay 1998).
In terms of the biodiversity value, Neora Valley was urgently in need of conservation (Gadgil & Meher-Homji 1987).Hence, it was notified as a national park in April 1986 and finally gazetted in December 1992.It is now under the administrative control of Wildlife Division-II.In May 2009, NVNP was included in the shortlist of the World Heritage sites (UNESCO World Heritage Centre 2009; Mallick 2010a).

Ecological Corridors
NVNP along with its adjoining forests is considered as an important ecological corridor for movement of different species, such as the carnivores like the Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, Clouded Leopard, Wild Dog, etc. and herbivores like the Asian Elephant and Indian Gaur, ungulates as well as several large-bodied bird species.
The salt lick at Rongpo on the left bank of Nuxal Khola was a rendezvous for the herbivorous animals coming from adjoining Bhutan, the foothill forests of Kalimpong and the farthest end of the Tondu forests of Jalpaiguri District till extensive clear-felling along the game-paths (corridors) and establishment of a forest village close to this salt lick during World War-II (Gupta 1958).
For re-establishing natural connectivity of the protected areas in the Eastern Himalaya, Chettri et al. (2007b)  18"E) of Sikkim is also located close to NVNP.There is also connectivity from the river Jaldhaka (northeastern part of the study area) to Arunachal Pradesh in the east of Bhutan through Toorsa SNR (650.74km 2 ), Jigme Dorji NP (4,349km 2 ), Thrumshingla NP (768km 2 ) to Bomdeling NP (1,486.75km 2 ) (Wangchuk 2007).
The forests of Baikunthapur FD (26 0 46'48"N & 88 0 30'54"E), partly in Darjeeling and partly in Jalpaiguri districts, which has gradually developed a micro habitat for the herbivores and carnivores, is also linked with the forests of KFD as well as Mahananda WS and also serves as a corridor for the migrating wild Elephants and Gaurs in particular.

Data Collection Sites
The following 30 sites were surveyed April 2008 to March 2009 for sighting of the mammals and obtaining their indirect evidences (footmarks, scats, scrapes, calls, kills, droppings and remnants of floral food items and other field signs) as well as verifying the known facts or secondary data: (1) Algara (6km from Lava) ( 27 Besides, the field stations (camps) like Red Panda (Choudapheri); Mulkharga (on the way to Rhenock); Rechila and Alubari (at Rechila Chawk); Tiger; Orchid; Maple; Betula; Doley; Somani; PHE; Sakam; Mouchowki and Bhote Kharga (Thosum-1) were also visited for collection of data.

Methods
There were no watchtowers in NVNP when the study was undertaken.It was also very difficult to penetrate through the dense forest in any particular straight line or direction.Moreover, it was not possible to carry out surveys along fixed transects in the inaccessible terrain.Hence, transects of varying lengths were laid along the small kholas (streams) and existing forest trails (bridle paths and trekking routes), covering different habitats as far as possible.The entire length of each trail was trekked during the daytime (in between early morning and late afternoon).A few mammals were seen crossing these trails.While inspecting the trails thoroughly at an interval of about 500m, patches of size about 10x10 m were randomly checked for finding the indirect evidences of the mammals.In addition, suitable area of approximately 2km, lying on either side of the camp locations, was also searched for in the evening with battery-operated spotlights.
The forest floor in the remote areas being mostly rocky and covered with thick leaf litter, the pug marks, scats and animal signs were also searched for on the sandy or clayey beds of streams and rivers, open spaces and tree trunks.Caves, rock-crevices, burrows and other natural holes were also examined for this purpose.
There is no doubt that differentiating scats of carnivores based on their measurements, especially where many species co-exist, can be difficult (Johnson et al. 1984).To overcome the difficulties, presently Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) has been adopted for scat identification of different carnivore species (Major et al. 1980;Johnson et al. 1984;Athreya & Johnsingh 1995).Owing to lack of infrastructural facilities, identification of scats collected during the present study was carried out on the basis of diagnostic characters, such as the size, shape and odour, field experience of the forest staff and the traditional knowledge of the local people as was done by Chakraborty et al. (2008a,b).Hair samples of the scats were identified by comparing the materials present in ZSI.
As most of the mammals of NVNP and surrounding forests are shy, nocturnal and live in the dense canopy and thick undergrowth (visibility not more than 5-10 m and often less than 2m on either side), direct sighting of the mammalian species during daytime was very limited.So, the people living inside and fringe of the forests and departmental staff attached to the camps and engaged in regular monitoring in the study area (n=100) were also interviewed (semi-structured questionnaire survey) with colour photographs of the mammalian species for identification.

RESULTS
The mammalian species registered in the study area are described below.
This shrew is common in the montane coniferous and alpine forests as well as rhododendron forests and alpine meadows along the riverside at altitudes from 1,800-3,200 m.N.A. Baptista collected two females at Sangser.The fur in specimens from Darjeeling District was reported to be shorter and less dense than those in specimens from Sikkim.Since it is a nocturnal animal, its sighting is rare in the study area.It was not sighted during the recent surveys.
This nocturnal shrew of the temperate forests inhabits the damp areas in shrub lands in the outskirts of evergreen broad-leaved and coniferous forests at elevations from 1,219-1,800 m of the upper forest zone and naked rocky areas.Once upon a time it was a common species in the study area.This shrew was sighted at Jaributi and specimens were also trapped with baits in deep forest, near old fallen trees in the same area during the recent surveys.
This nocturnal shrew is commonly found in the forests as well as near the human settlements.Some of the species live in leaf litter or grass.Some have been recorded up to 2,825m.N.A. Baptista collected 15 males and 26 females from Kalimpong, two males from Nimbong, five males and five females from Pedong and one male from Sangser.H. Khajuria  This species is usually found in tropical and subtropical montane forest between 1,000-2,000 m and lives in leaf litter and rocky, gravelly areas.It is recorded as common in NVNP, but was not sighted during the recent survey, though some tunnels were observed in the forest edges and bamboo brakes.
This species was formerly included as a subspecies of Tupaia glis, until recent chromosomal studies.It represents a species complex with a distinct northern form in China (Han et al. 2008).
Presence of this diurnal tree-shrew was reportedly observed on the ground level, though individuals were occasionally sighted on tree branches of the understorey of the forest.N.A. Baptista collected two males from Nimbong.It is a rare tree-shrew and was found in Kalimpong during the recent surveys.Though earlier recorded in NVNP, it was not found there.
Order The fruit bats are common in the valleys and met with at lower elevation up to 1,698m.
In the past, these bats were very common in the study area.R.L. Choudhury and R.K. Ghose collected 11 males and eight females from Chunabhati (near Kalimpong) (in 1978 and 1980 respectively).R.K. Ghose also collected one male and one female from Gorubathan in 1981 and four males and seven females from Khumani in 1985.Though earlier recorded, this nocturnal bat was not seen during the recent surveys in NVNP or surrounding forests.
This fruit bat is found up to 2,100m altitude.It was reported to be very common in the past.R.K. Ghose collected two females from Gorubathan in 1981 and H. Khajuria collected one juvenile male and one female from Tarkhola in 1958.N.A. Baptista also collected one male and five juvenile females from Pedong.Though earlier recorded, this nocturnal bat was not sighted during the recent surveys in NVNP and surrounding forests.
N.A. Baptista collected two males and five females from Nimbong and two males from Sangser.It is also recorded from Kalimpong forests.However, this nocturnal bat was not sighted during the present survey.
In the past, this species was found at Nimbong.This nocturnal bat was not seen during the recent survey.
N.A. Baptista collected two females from Nimbong.This bat was not seen during the recent survey.
14. Hipposideros cineraceus micropus Peters, 1872: Least Ashy Leaf-nosed Bat (Bates & Harrison 1997;Molur et al. 2002;Das 2003) N.A. Baptista collected one male and one female from Nimbong and one male and one female from Sangser.But during the recent survey this species could not be traced.
15. Hipposideros fulvus fulvus Gray, 1838: Bicoloured or Gray Fulvous Leaf-nosed Bat (Wroughton 1917b) N.A. Baptista collected five males and 12 females from Nimbong and six males and nine females from Sangser.This species was not seen during the recent surveys.
It is common in NVNP.This bat was sighted in the evening at Rechila chawk during the current survey.
N.A. Baptista collected two males from Sangsar.This species was not seen during the recent surveys.
This taxon is recognized as a subspecies or synonym of P. javanicus (Wilson & Reeder 2005).R.L. Chowdhury collected one female from Paperkheti (ca.15km north of Gorubathan) in 1980.This bat was not seen during the recent survey.
N.A. Baptista collected two males and one female from Nimbong, 12 males and 26 females from Pedong, two males and one female from Kalimpong and two males from Sangser.R.L. Chowdhury also collected one male from Ranichera (c 9km south of Gorubathan) in 1980.It was not seen during the recent surveys.
26. Murina huttoni huttoni (Peters, 1872): Hutton's Tube-nosed Bat (Bates & Harrison 1997;Molur et al. 2002) A specimen from Sangser is kept in the museum of Bombay Natural History Society.This bat was not sighted during the recent survey.
29. Macaca assamensis pelops Hodgson, 1841: Western Assamese Macaque (Khajuria 1966;Khajuria & Ghose 1970;Fooden 1982;Biswas & Ghose 1982;Sharma 1990;Agrawal et al. 1992;Saha et al. 1992 These are dominant diurnal animals and fairly common in the study area.But it is practically absent above 2,500m altitude.During winters, they descend to the lower elevations.R.L. Fernandez collected one juvenile male and two females from Tarkhola in 1958.In both the female specimens collected from Tarkhola, a well-defined whorl on the vertex was present, which normally is not found in the Assamese Macaque (Agrawal et al. 1992).It was earlier recorded at Samsing, Mouchowki, Dalingkot and Sangser.In NVNP, a fairly good number was found at lower elevation during the recent surveys.These monkeys were also seen on the way to Suntalekhola and quite frequently in small numbers by the roadside at Lava and Zero Point.At Tarkhola, this macaque reportedly frequented villages surrounded by mainly Sal Shorea robusta and Teak Tectona grandis forest and fearlessly raided the maize fields.
S. hector was formerly recognized as a subspecies of S. entellus, but it is now considered a distinct species (Molur & Chhangani 2008).This langur was found scattered at lower elevations in the study area, as it is exceptionally susceptible to cold.In 1980, two troops consisting of three and 16 individuals of this diurnal langur were observed near the Coronation Bridge on the River Teesta at Sevok, which is the southern borderline of the study area.WWF-India, Eastern Region (1997)  The Golden Jackal is found both in the lower and higher elevations in the study area.N.A. Baptista collected one male and one female from Pedong.Specimens from the hilly areas are much darker than those of the plains.It is mainly a nocturnal animal.It was not sighted during the recent survey.Reportedly the jackals, at times, attack the rural dogs and the livestock.Its population has reportedly declined in this region, particularly due to retaliatory killings and annual tribal hunting.
33. Canis indica R.K. Aggarwal et al. 2007 (Research of the mtDNA) Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within cells that convert the energy from food into a form that cells can use of this species, formerly Canis lupus pallipes (it is now treated as a new species): Small Indian Wolf (Saha et al. 1992;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003) The Small Indian Wolf inhabits a wide variety of habitats including coniferous and deciduous forests, but has been extirpated from much of its former range in the study area and it is very rare now.This species was reportedly sighted at Thosum-4 compartment of NVNP (Management Plan).But this mainly nocturnal animal was not sighted during the recent survey.
The habitat of the Red Fox includes forest edges, meadows, slopes and the bank of the rivers.Although this nocturnal species was recorded during the 20 th century, no evidences of its presence were found during the recent surveys.
The Golden Cat's favourite haunt is the dense forests in the 'terai' and the hills up to an elevation of 1500m.It takes shelter in the rocks, crevices of boulders and on trees.This nocturnal animal is very rare in the study area.In the past, it was recorded from the Kalimpong Hills, Lish and Ghish areas.Sometimes Golden Cats were reported to stray around Mongpong on the lofty bank of the River Teesta (an ideal breeding place for the migratory birds).Description of a cat, sighted on the eastern bank of River Neora (altitude ca.305m), about 7km south of Samsing, by the villagers in 1982, appeared to be a Golden Cat, which was corroborated by the 'poster-survey'.None was seen or reported during the recent survey.
The Jungle Cat is a common carnivore in the study area and found in the drier and open parts of the forest nearer to grassland and scrubland as well as near the human habitations.N.A. Baptista collected one female at Nimbong and A. Linogreen collected one unsexed individual from Kalimpong in 1938.It is both nocturnal and diurnal in its activities.Sightings took place at upper Rechila Chawk and Jaributi during the recent survey.Footprints were also found there.One Jungle Cat was seen sitting in the middle of the road near the Mahakal trail (Lava) in the early morning.
It is a rare nocturnal animal in the study area.During the recent surveys, it was recorded on a number of occasions at Alubari and Jaributi of NVNP, particularly in or near the dense forest, scrub and grass swamps, close to the streams and other water bodies up to the elevations of 1,800m.Its footprints were also found there.
The Clouded Leopard is mainly a nocturnal animal.In 1982, a Clouded Leopard was recorded from Mouchowki (East Nar).But now it is very rare and restricted to a few areas.It was seen at Jaributi and upper NVNP during the current survey.The animal was mainly found in the lower Neora Valley and often outside the Park in the degraded zone near villages.Clouded Leopard was also reported by the villagers of Bhujelgaon at the cardamom plantation near Khasmahal at Mouchowki.Its den was located on the side of a cliff at the junction of Bhujelgaon and Khasmahal.The pugmarks were found near Tempola at East Nar-22 compartment.A female with cub(s) was earlier sighted in April-May in the evening and at night, but rarely in the morning and afternoon.The animal was also sighted at about 20.00hrs near Tukre Jhora (stream) of East Nar-17 compartment.It was recorded at East Nar-19, West Nar-3, 4 and 5 compartments and often in the degraded Khasmahal area beyond the boundary of the Park.It was reported to attack the poultry in the human settlements.
A Clouded Leopard (named Badal) was first reared in captivity at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP), Darjeeling.This male cub was rescued in May 1991 from a dense thicket at the edge of the forest of KFD close to NVNP.Its mother carried away one of the twins in her mouth, leaving the other one behind.But this captive animal ultimately died on 29 March 1993.
Genus: Panthera Oken, 1816: Roaring Cats 41.Panthera pardus fusca Meyer, 1794: Leopard or Panther (Anonymous 1964;Biswas & Ghose 1982;Sharma 1990;Saha et al. 1992;Mukhopadhyay 1996, Singhal & Mukhopadhyay 1998;Singhal 1999;Biswas et al. 1999;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003;Wright 2004;Yadav 2004;Chakraborty et al. 2008a;Chakraborty et al. 2008b;Ranganathan et al. 2008 The Leopard is a nocturnal big cat and reported to be common in KFD than NVNP.WWF-India, Eastern Region (1997) reported a few incidents of depredation and lifting of goats by leopards in Paparkheti, Algara and Pedong under Lava Range as well as Chotaphagu, Meenglass and Sylee TEs under Chel Range.However, high incidences of depredation were reported in the foothills under Chel Range and at fringe areas of Khumani, Mal basti (village) and Mongpong forest in KFD.The Leopard uses the TEs as nursery on several occasions and cases of killing of cubs by the garden labourers were reported.Cubs were rescued from Phagu, Sylee, Chilauni, Good Hope and Sonagachi TEs and released in the wild.Leopards also died due to poisoning in Targhera and Washabari TEs.
42. Panthera tigris tigris Linnaeus, 1758: Tiger (Anonymous 1964;Sharma 1990;Saha et al. 1992;Anonymous 1998;Singhal & Mukhopadhyay 1998;Singhal 1999;Biswas et al. 1999;Yadav 2001Yadav , 2004Yadav , 2005;;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003;Harding 2006;Nandy 2006b;Sanyal 2006;Ranganathan et al. 2008 The Tiger was earlier recorded from both the plains and higher altitudes of Kalimpong Hills.Roy Harding, in an account of his early school days during 1940s at St. Andrews Colonial Homes (Kalimpong), now known as Dr. Grahams School, wrote: "Kalimpong is a plateau and reasonably cool the year round.As such, during the hot season in the plains, tigers, usually female, would come up to Kalimpong.I would imagine that they went into the forest north of Laidlaw or beyond for obvious cover.During this time and until the tigers returned to the plains, we were never required to go out to collect firewood.On occasion, usually on a moonlit night, we would be woken from sleep to see a tigress and her cubs leisurely walking past our cottage." The studies conducted during the 1980s did not mention any resident tiger in NVNP.In fact, before the 1990s, the tiger was an occasional visitor to this Park.Shri P.K. Das, a forest officer, first recorded the tiger pugmarks during a trekking trip in late 1980s.Simultaneously, the entire tiger population (eight numbers recorded last in 1989) was found vanished from Gorumara NP.
Therefore, since the late 20 th century, NVNP is recognized as the new retreat of the tiger in northern Bengal.In May 1998, the field staff again traced a few pugmarks.The first tiger census was conducted during November-December and a population of 18 tigers (eight adult females, six adult males, one sub-adult male and three cubs) was recorded in East 21,22,23;2,3,4;6,9,12,13,14,15,16,4, 5 compartments.Kisor Chaudhuri, while surveying the area under WWF-I, Eastern Region-funded Gaur project in 1997, also confirmed presence of the tiger in NVNP.Movement of the tigers along the river Neora up to an altitude of 2,300m in Rechila Block during February-March was reported.These tigers were also reported to migrate to Sikkim through the forest of Lava during October-November and follow the same route back to Lava after about three months.
The census figures were recorded as 16 in 2001 and 11 in 2004.During 20-24 November 2008, another Tiger census was conducted and the population was estimated to be 20 in NVNP and 1 in adjoining KFD (<http://westbengalforest. gov.in/urls_all/bio_ diversity_census.html>downloaded on 10 November 2009).During the present survey, only eight pugmarks could be collected because of difficult terrain and huge accumulation of leaf-litter and six tigers could be identified-one at Rhenock, two at Rechila and three at East Nar.Besides, scats and scratches on tree trunks were also found in these three forest blocks.
A tiger was recently seen in the riverine grassland of Nathua forest under Jalpaiguri FD, which is close to Gorumara NP after almost 20 years and the forest officials reported that the animal might have come from the Neora Valley NP through Chapramari WLS and Bamondanga-Tondu TE.The first hints of this tiger's presence were visible in the last week of March 2008, following reports of cattle lifting from Mouchowki (1,170m) in the Bhujelgaon area of the Neora Valley lower range.This area is merely 12km from the boundary of Gorumara.
Genus: Pardofelis Severtzov, 1858: Marbled Cat 43.Pardofelis marmorata charltoni Gray, 1846: Marbled Cat (Anonymous 1964;Biswas & Ghose 1982;Sharma 1990;Saha et al. 1992;Mukhopadhyay 1996, Singhal & Mukhopadhyay 1998;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003;UNESCO World Heritage Centre 2009) This nocturnal and arboreal smaller cat is a very rare animal in the study area.In 1982, its occurrence at Mouchowki in NVNP and at higher elevations above Rangpo in KFD was confirmed after questionnaire and poster surveys.It was earlier reported from the dense forests of Jaributi and above.This wild cat was not sighted and the indirect evidences were not found during the recent survey.
Family The Crab-eating Mongoose is diurnal and noctural animal.It is rarely seen.This species was earlier recorded from the hills as well as plains of KFD, particularly near the streams.During the present survey it was not found.
Genus: Lutra Brünnich, 1771: Common Otters 48.Lutra lutra monticola Hodgson, 1839: Common Indian Hill Otter (Wroughton 1917b;Saha et al. 1992;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003) During summer, this otter migrates up the streams and torrents ascending to higher altitudes.During winter, it inhabits the lower elevations.It is both diurnal and noctural species.It was once common in the study area and N.A. Baptista collected one female from Pedong, but it was not observed during the recent survey.
This marten is found in the rocky parts of the hill forest and on the barren heights above the treeline.It takes shelter in the hollows of trees, underlogs, among the rocks and in ground burrows.Though recorded to be common, this marten was only once observed below 1,214m in NVNP, while feeding on a young Barking Deer (Ghose 1985).It was also sighted at Jaributi and upper Rechila chawk during the recent survey.
Genus: Mustela Linnaeus, 1758: True Weasels 53.Mustela altaica temon Hodgson, 1857: Alpine Pale Weasel (Saha et al. 1992) This weasel is active during both the day and night.In Bhutan, it is confined to 1, 500-5,200 m altitude (Abramov et al. 2008).Though it was recorded at NVNP in the past, no evidences of this species were found during the recent survey.
It is found in the temperate forest, open grassland and scrub jungles of upper Rechila chawk area.It is very rare in the study area and no evidences of this species were found during the current survey.
Family: Ailuropodidae: Pandas Subfamily: Ailurinae: Panda bears Genus: Ailurus F. Cuvier, 1825: Lesser panda 56.Ailurus fulgens fulgens F. Cuvier, 1825: Red Panda or Cat Bear (Biswas & Ghose 1982;Tikader 1983;Sharma 1990;Agrawal et al. 1992;Saha et al. 1992;Mukhopadhyay 1996, Singhal & Mukhopadhyay 1998;Singhal 1999;Choudhury 2001;Prince 2003;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003;Wright 2004;Ghose et al. 2007;Anonymous 2008 The Red Panda is a focal species for conservation in the Himalayan temperate forests and an umbrella species for the sub-alpine forests.The undisturbed forest of NVNP is the last remaining good habitat for the Red Panda.It occurs sporadically in NVNP (Tikader 1983;Saha & Singhal 1996).It is found in the high forests, particularly the deciduous and coniferous types, usually with an under-storey of bamboo above 1,524m.During the recent surveys, the higher elevation of temperate zone, namely Raschet, Rechila and Thosum, is found to be the abode of this species.Earlier, it was recorded from Mouchowki.It was also reported from Pankasari in KFD.But its sighting is very rare in the study area.
In March 2000, a sick Red Panda was rescued from NVNP.But it died on the way to PNHZP.An adult male was found dead at Pankhasari-1 compartment (Lava Range, KFD) (Sharma 1990;Saha et al. 1992;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003;Yadav 2004).
In the late 19 th and early 20 th century, the Sloth Bear was common in the foothills.Now, it is a rare species due to destruction of the habitat and poaching.Earlier, it was reported from Samsing and Mouchowki.Its pugmarks were also seen there.No evidences of this nocturnal species were found during the recent field survey.
In the summer, it inhabits in deciduous and mixed forests at the higher altitudes and in the winter it decends to the lower hills and valleys even down to about 1,524m  (Saha et al. 1992;Mukhopadhyay 1996, Singhal & Mukhopadhyay 1998;WWF-I Eastern Region 1997;Biswas et al. 1999;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003).
Masked Palm Civets are confined to the fragmented areas in both evergreen and deciduous forests in the mountains and hills.It takes shelter in the holes of trees.This nocturnal animal is reported to be rare in NVNP.Earlier, it was reported from Rechila chawk and surrounding forests.It was not sighted or reported during the recent survey.
It is a nocturnal animal and commonly found near the human habitations.Earlier, it was recorded from Samsing, Rechila Chawk and surrounding forests.But it was not sighted during the recent survey.
Genus: Prionodon Horsfield, 1822: Banded or Spotted Linsang or Tiger Civet 61.Prionodon pardicolor pardicolor Hodgson, 1842: Tiger Civet or Spotted Linsang (Sharma 1990) It is found in the tropical and subtropical forests up to the elevations of 2,100m, but very rare.This nocturnal species was recorded earlier in the study area but not sighted or reported during the recent survey.
It is a solitary animal living in the woods under bushes or in the heavy scrub jungle.This nocturnal species was common in the study area in the past.N.A. Baptista collected one female and one male from Nimbong.Its population is reportedly declined.Though not sighted, its scats were found at Rechila-13 compartment during the recent survey.
Genus: Viverricula Hodgson, 1838: Small Indian civets 63.Viverricula indica baptistae Pocock, 1933: Small Indian Civet (Saha et al. 1992;WWF-I Eastern Region 1997;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003) The Small Indian Civet is found at the edges of the lower-lying forest in long grass or scrub jungle at altitudes up to 1,200m.Though this nocturnal species was recorded earlier in the study area, it was not seen during the current survey.
Order Proboscidae Illiger, 1811: Elephants Family: Elephantidae Gray, 1821: Elephants Genus: Elephas Linnaeus, 1758: Asian elephant 64.Elephas maximus indicus F. Cuvier, 1798: Indian Elephant (Anonymous 1964;Sharma 1990;Dey 1991aDey , 1991b;;Saha et al. 1992;Raha 1996;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003;Yadav 2004 Prior to 1950's, the elephant population existed in small herds in scattered manner, particularly in the wet-mixed forests of KFD.Two herds were confined to the Kalimpong hills (O'Malley 1907): "One herd of wild elephants from the Tondu forest in Jalpaiguri usually goes as far as the Naksal Khar, a large salt lick on a tributary of the River Jaldhaka to the east of the Kalimpong hills, but they also go further into the hills reaching 200m), the highest peak of the Chola range, situated on the Sikkim and Bhutan border, and even roam about in the snow at that height.Another herd, about 20 in number, works fairly constantly between the Rivers Teesta and Jaldhaka, their headquarters being the Mal and East Nar forest blocks, though they also ascend the hills and graze in the higher tracts adjoining Bhutan."But since the Second World War, they suspended their visits to these areas.
In NVNP, Hathi Danda (peak) at about 3,000m was an elephant route till 1940 (Anonymous 2010).Prior to 1977, the elephants moved from the Titi reserve forest of Jaldapara WLS in the east (west of the River Torsa) to KFD in the west in June-July and returned in November-December.Now, these animals are occasionally seen in the 'terai'.The solitaries are reported to stray and invade the valley up to an altitude of about 914m, mostly during the crop-harvesting season on the hill slopes of Sakkam, Gorubathan, Targhera and adjoining areas.They also visit the lower reaches of the valley in lure of the wild banana.
Elephant depredation in the fringe areas, including TEs, of Gorubathan, Tashiding, Mongpong, Targhera, etc. is often reported.On 24 November 2008, one forest guard was injured by a member of a herd of 50 elephants in the Targhera forests.A few elephants also died due to road and train accidents, electrocution and poaching.
The Wild Boar is found in plenty in the study area.It is both nocturnal and diurnal in their activities.Earlier, it was recorded from Samsing, Rangpo and Tarkhola under KFD and Rechila Chawk and Jaributi under NVNP.Soil-excavations by this animal were also seen.In NVNP, the Wild Boars were sighted, their calls heard and tracks (about 5cm) found at East 23a,21;2,3,[4][5]10,11,12 compartments during the recent survey.Tracks with distinctive imprint of 2 "dew" claws were also noticed in plenty on the wet sandy patches in and around the River Neora, Ashalary khola, Sakam khola, Dhoula khola, etc.The fresh, dark brown scats, much larger and bulkier than the deer pellets, containing remains of the larger plant stems and roots, were also seen.Reportedly, the Wild Boars often raid the village crops and cause depredation.The estimated populations of 615 and 110 were recorded in NVNP and KFD respectively (<http://westbengalforest.gov.in/urls_all/bio_diversity_census.html>downloaded on 10 November 2009).
Family: Cervidae Goldfuss, 1820: Deer Subfamily: Cervinae Goldfuss, 1820: Old World (Plesiometacarpal) Deer Genus: Axis H. Smith, 1827: Axis deer 66. Axis axis axis Erxleben, 1777: Spotted Deer or Cheetal (Ghosh 1997;WWF-I Eastern Region 1997;Singhal 1999;Bahuguna & Mallick 2004) The terai forest was the habitat of the Spotted Deer in the study area.There are no current sighting records of this species.It seems to be locally extinct.Small population is, however, found in the pockets of the adjoining Baikunthapur forests resuscitated recently.
The Sambar is common in NVNP and found up to the elevations of 914-1,372 m.It is mainly a night forager.Earlier, it was recorded from Samsing.In KFD, this species was seen in the Lish, Churanthi and Ramthi blocks of Chel Range and from the Teesta Bridge to the Coronation Bridge of Kalimpong Range.Hoof-marks of the Sambar were found at East Nar-22, 23a; Thosum-1 and Rachila-7 compartments during the recent surveys.Its population in NVNP was estimated to be 286 (<http://westbengalforest.gov.in/urls_all/bio_diversity_census.html>downloaded on 10 November 2009).
The main range of Gaur is in the Gorumara-Chapramari-Diana forests in Jalpaiguri district.But, in the summer, when the temperature soars in the plains, the small splinter groups of Gaur (mostly bulls) often move further north up to the temperate NVNP through the riverbeds, then descend to Gorubathan and thereafter march towards the Apalchand forests of Baikunthapur FD in the west and go back to their original habitat.It was reported from Thosum area of NVNP during the present survey.The marauding adult bulls, which stray from the reserve forests to the adjacent TEs and human settlements, are often driven back by the wildlife squads, but sometimes the straying Gaurs died due to the capture myopathy and poaching.
This diurnal species is found in the inaccessible terrain, towering the cliffs, rocks, dense forest and scrub jungle at elevations from 914-2,743 m.The survey party of ZSI encountered small flocks in NVNP during early 1980s.It was reported from Rechila, Jorepokhri and Triangular point during the recent survey.Footprints and faecal pellets were also found at Thosum-1 and Rechila-7 compartments.The population in NVNP was estimated to be 32 (<http:// westbengalforest.gov.in/urls_all/bio_diversity_census.html>downloaded on 10 November 2009).
Gorals live on the rugged hillsides and on rocky grounds near the coniferous forest zone.They usually prefer the grassy patches of the middle slopes, migrating from the higher altitudes to the lower altitudes in winter and vice versa in summer.They are both diurnal and nocturnal in their activities.This species was reported from the north-eastern part of Rechila chawk.During the recent survey, this species was sighted at East Nar-19 compartment in NVNP.Pellets and hoof marks were also found there.The estimated population was 73 in NVNP and only three in KFD (<http://westbengalforest. gov.in /urls_all/bio_ diversity_census.html>downloaded on 10 November 2009).
The Indian Pangolin is found in the plains and lower slopes, living inside hollowed trees or burrows.Records of the sighting and indirect evidences of this nocturnal animal were not available during the recent survey.Its population has greatly reduced due to killing for the flesh and scales.
75.Manis pentadactyla aurita Hodgson, 1836: Chinese Pangolin (UNESCO World Heritage Centre 2009) The Chinese Pangolin is found in the undisturbed hill forests and grasslands.On 3 April 2008, a carcass was seized from the Piok basti (village) of Kalimpong.The sighting and indirect evidences of this nocturnal species were not recorded during the recent survey.
This diurnal giant squirrel is found in the tropical and subtropical montane evergreen and dry deciduous forests, particularly the tree hollows in mid-high canopy.It does not usually come to the ground.N.A. Baptista collected two males and one female from Sangser.One male and two females were also collected from Tarkhola by H. Khajuria in 1958.Once it was common in the study area, but due to anthropogenic pressure and consequent decline in the population, it has now become rare.A few squirrels were earlier recorded from Samsing, Rangpo and Mouchowki.This species was seen in small numbers at Lava, Samsing and Jaributi valley during the recent survey.
Genus: Tamiops J.This diurnal striped squirrel lives inside the treehollows in montane region up to 1,500m.During the recent survey, a few squirrels were seen in Lava, particularly along the Tiffindara trail.
This small flying squirrel lives in the tree-hollows of dense broad-leaved forest patches and also in rock crevices at 1,500-2,400 m altitude.It is reportedly common in the study area.A ZSI team observed this squirrel earlier at NVNP.But this nocturnal squirrel was not sighted during the recent survey.
This nocturnal species lives in the tree-hollows of the montane forests up to about 1,524m.Its sighting was reported in Rhenok earlier.It is rare in the study area.However, one was seen at Rashet during the recent survey.
This large flying squirrel is generally found on the tall trees, nesting in the tree-hollows, but also often seen in the rhododendron scrub and on the rock cliffs at high altitude.It is a nocturnal flying squirrel and was not sighted during the recent survey.The indirect evidences of its presence were also not found.
This nocturnal species prefers the dry deciduous to evergreen forests at higher altitudes (1,828-2,743 m).It usually roosts in a tree-hole, emerges from this shelter at dusk and retires before dawn.It was earlier recorded from Tarkhola of KFD.This large flying squirrel was often seen in NVNP, leaping up to 6-7 m from one tree to another, during the recent survey.Two dead juveniles were also found at East Nar-23a compartment and near Suntalekhola.
84. Petaurista nobilis singhei Saha, 1977: Himalayan Flying Squirrel (Anonymous 1964;Sharma 1990) The Himalayan Flying Squirrel is found in the pine and rhododendron forests, flying from one tree to another.It is common in NVNP and also recorded in KFD.But this nocturnal squirrel was not sighted during the recent surveys.
85. Petaurista petaurista Pallas, 1766: Elliot's Common Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Sharma 1990;Saha et al. 1992;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003) This species is found in the moist evergreen forests from 500-3,100 m.It lives in the hollows of old trees, often within the villages.Though earlier recorded in NVNP, this nocturnal large flying squirrel was not found during the recent surveys.
It is the dominant rodent species in the study area, mostly found in the vicinity of the human settlements.N.A. Baptista collected one male and six females from Kalimpong and five males and nine females from Nimbong.This nocturnal rat was sighted during the recent surveys.
It is very common in the study area and was collected mostly from the houses and occasionally from the fields in the foothills.N.A. Baptista collected six males and two females from Kalimpong, two males and one female from Nimbong, 12 males and 14 females from Pedong and one male and one female from Sangser.H. Khajuria also collected one male and four females from Tarkhola in 1958.This nocturnal mouse was sighted during the current survey in NVNP.
It is most common in and around the human habitations in the foothills.N.A. Baptista collected three males and three females from Kalimpong.It was sighted during the current surveys in NVNP.Thomas, 1916: Bush Rat or Gairdner's Shrewmouse (Wroughton 1917b;Sharma 1990;Mukhopadhyay 1996, Singhal & Mukhopadhyay 1998;Biswas et al. 1999;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003) This rat lives in the montane shrubs.N.A. Baptista collected one female (juvenile) from Pedong and one female from Sangser.It is a resident of NVNP.During the recent survey, this mouse was occasionally sighted at Thosum and Rechila at dusk.
This species lives in the coniferous and rhododendron forests and bamboo shrubs at high altitude.This nocturnal rat was not sighted during the current survey.
This nocturnal rat is found in the evergreen broadleaved forests, shrubs and rocks.N.A. Baptista collected two males and one female from Nimbong and one male and two females from Pedong.It is said to be common in the study area, but it was not sighted during the recent survey.
Genus: Rattus Fischer de Waldheim, 1803: Old World Rats 92.Rattus nitidus nitidus Hodgson, 1845: Hodgson's Grey-bellied or Himalayan Rat (Blyth, 1863;Wroughton 1917b;Agrawal et al. 1992; <http:// zsienvis.nic.in/biodiversity_wb/Fauna/43.%20Mammal.doc>downloaded on 20 October 2009) It is common in the foothills, particularly in the vicinity of houses and fields.N.A. Baptista collected one female from Kalimpong, six males and one female from Nimbong, one male and one female from Pedong and three males and three females from Sangser.This nocturnal rat was not found during the recent survey.
The house rat is quite common in the forests, fields, and residential complexes.N.A. Baptista collected two males and one female from Kalimpong, two males and two females from Nimbong, one male from Pedong, three males and one female from Sangser and H. Khajuria collected four sub-adult males from Tarkhola in 1958.This nocturnal rat was not found during the recent survey.
This species is very common in the forests as well as houses.N.A. Baptista collected three males and two females from Kalimpong, five males and one female from Nimbong, two males and four females from Pedong and one male from Sangser.This nocturnal rat was not found during the recent survey.
The Sikkim Rat is a terrestral and arboreal animal and widespread across the Eastern Himalayas region.It is found in cultivated fields and adjacent forests up to an altitude of 2,000m.There were no previous records of this species in the study area.Only Molur et al. (2005) recorded this species in Kalimpong.It was not found during the current survey.
Genus: Vandeleuria Gray, 1842: Long-tailed Climbing Mouse 95.Vandeleuria oleracea dumeticola Hodgson, 1845: Indian Long-tailed or Hodgson's Tree-mouse (Wroughton 1917b;Ellerman 1947) This long-tailed tree mouse is found in the foothills.N.A. Baptista collected one male from Kalimpong.This nocturnal mouse was not found during the current survey.
The Himalayan Crestless Porcupine lives in various forest habitats and in the scrubby, open areas close to forest.It forages at night.Though earlier it was found in large numbers in the study area, it is now rare.During recent survey, this species was seen at Alubari area and its den or hole was observed near the moist hill forest and its quills were also collected.The population was decimated due to annual tribal hunting expeditions.
The crested porcupine lives in the forests and open areas from the foothills to an elevation of about 2,400m.It prefers the rocky hillsides.This nocturnal animal was not sighted and the indirect evidences were also not observed during the recent survey.
The crepuscular Moupin Pika occurs in the bamboo and rhododendron forests at higher altitudes.It is reported from Lachung (2,622m) and Lachne (2,865m) in North Sikkim (Ghose 1990) as well as Sandakphu, Darjeeling hills (Khajuria & Ghose 1970).But there were no previous records of this species in the study area.Sighting of this species on the northern slope of the Neora top was reported by a birding team.The Moupin Pika was observed near its burrow during the morning hours.It has become endangered due to the destruction of the habitat, particularly rhododendron vegetation (Smith & Boyer 2008).
Family: Leporidae Fischer, 1817: Hares and Rabbits Genus: Lepus Linnaeus, 1758: Common Hares or Jackrabbits 99.Lepus nigricollis ruficaudatus I. Geoffroy, 1826: Indian Rufous-tailed or Black-naped Hare (Biswas & Ghose 1982;WWF-I Eastern Region 1997;Chaudhuri & Sarkar 2003;Chakraborty et al. 2008b).This species is found at elevations up to 2,400m.Its preferred habitat is the depressions at the base of hills.It is a fairly common species in the study area.It was earlier recorded from Samsing and Tarkhola.Sighting of this diurnal hare was recorded during the current survey in NVNP.Its population is decimated due to annual tribal hunting expeditions.
Some anthropogenic threats also pervade the study area.For example, the population of Darjeeling District was only 1,900 in the year 1850 and 2,200 in 1869, which scaled up to 16,05,900 in 2001, the share of hill population being over 8.5 lakhs.The largescale emigration for the mushrooming tea industry, terrace cultivation and political reasons contributed to this rapid growth.Much of the natural forests, except those on the difficult terrains, were converted for settlement and commercial use, leading to soil erosion, landslides and loss of wildlife habitat and habitants.Decline in forest cover was observed in the Chel and Jaldhaka catchments of KFD.Infrastructural development works have recently been started in the pristine NVNP for expansion of eco-tourism.Threats are often caused by illegal cattle grazing, felling of timber, collection of fuelwood, fodder and Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), retaliatory killings, the annual tribal hunting and poaching in the fragmented forests of KFD.As human habitations in and around NVNP are comparatively less in number combined with the physical constraints like inaccessibility and difficult terrain, biotic pressures are, however, not very acute in this area.This anthropogenic syndrome in KFD must be curbed for sustenance of the variegated wild denizens and restoration of the biodiversity values.
There is further scope for research on the sitespecific occurrence of the mammalian species in the study area with special emphasis on the smaller species like the chiropterans and rodents, preferably in the context of the known diversity in contiguous forests of the Eastern Himalaya in West Bengal, Sikkim, northeastern states in India, Bhutan and Nepal.
Subfamily: Murininae Miller, 1907: Murine or Tube-nosed Insectivorous Bat Genus: Murina Gray, 1842: Tube-nosed Insectivorous Bats 25.Murina cyclotis cyclotis Dobson, 1872: Roundeared Tube-nosed Bat recorded this species as very rare at Lava.No other records of this species in the study area are available.It is also not sighted during the present survey.
a pack of Wild Dogs in Lava.Till the end of the 20 th century, the Wild Dog was fairly common in NVNP.Almost the entire NVNP, from high altitudes of Rechila on the north to the low altitudes of Sakam on the south, is the recorded movement-zone of this species.Gradual slope and relatively less undergrowth and patches of open areas are their preferred habitats.The Wild Dogs do not occupy any particular area for a long time, but exhibit a great territorial movement covering different altitudes of NVNP and outside.During the winter, most of them are usually confined to the central or southern part, while in the pre-and post-monsoon period they mainly occupy the northern part.Periodical migration of the population of Wild Dogs from NVNP to contiguous parts of Bhutan and Sikkim and vice versa is also reported.During 1980During  -2006, 48 , 48sightings and 19 kills of the Wild Dog are recorded in this Park.Considering the frequency of sighting and kill records, 14,  15, 10compartments of NVNP may be regarded as the hot spots for them.The pack size varied from 2-9 individuals.Sighting of the loner is frequent in recent times.The population has, reportedly, declined during the 21 st century.
on 11 May 2008.Presence of the Red Pandas in NVNP was confirmed in WWF-I, Eastern Region-funded survey report.From the evidences gathered during the first systematic survey of the Red Panda in NVNP [Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE) team in 2006 (Anon 2008)], 28-32 Red Pandas were estimated for the upper NVNP.Photograph of one was taken at Rhenock 4b and another was sighted at Rechila-2 in December 2008.It was also reported that in 2009 eleven sightings were recorded in five out of (Subba 2000) summer, they are commonly sighted at Lava areas.Mostly the solitaries were sighted.It was encountered at Mouchowki.Quite often the villagers are mauled on sudden encounters when they enter the forest to collect fodders and fuelwood.The villagers are, therefore, scared of the Himalayan Black Bear.These bears are reported to cause damage to the maize crop and livestock in the fringe villages like Mulkharg, Kolbong and Lingasay.In 1995, two cubs were rescued from the medicinal flora farm at Khumani Village.The Himalayan Black Bear is often poached for its bile.In Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas 30 to 40 percent bears are killed while hibernating inside the hollow of the trees, for illegal trade(Subba 2000).