Estimating Wild Tiger (Panthera tigris Linnaeus) Abundance and Density using a Spatially-explicit Capture-recapture Model in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan

Thinley, Phuntsho; Dorji, Tshering; Leki, Leki; Phuntsho, Sonam; Dorji, Namgay; Phuntshok, Phuntshok; Dorji, Pema; Lassoie, James P.; Morreale, Stephen J.; Curtis, Paul D.

doi:10.17102/cnr.2015.01

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Bhutan's tigers and tiger habitat are relatively well-protected compared to many parts of the range, with little overall change in landscape area over the last 20 years (Figure 5A). The apparent increase in TCL area from 2001 to 2020 is large at 274%, but that change reflects a relatively weak-observational base prior to the full country-wide survey in 2015 (Thinley and Curtis, 2015). Bhutan's TCL area subsequently slightly declined (-1.8%) and, as of 2020 stands at 26,762 km 2 .…”

Section: South Asia (India Nepal Bhutan Bangladesh)mentioning

confidence: 96%

Range-wide trends in tiger conservation landscapes, 2001 - 2020

Sanderson,

Miquelle,

Fisher

et al. 2023

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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Of all the ways human beings have modified the planet over the last 10,000 years, habitat loss is the most important for other species. To address this most critical threat to biodiversity, governments, non-governmental actors, and the public need to know, in near real-time, where and when habitat loss is occurring. Here we present an integrated habitat modelling system at the range-wide scale for the tiger (Panthera tigris) to measure and monitor changes in tiger habitat at range-wide, national, biome, and landscape scales, as often as the underlying inputs change. We find that after nearly 150 years of decline, effective potential habitat for the tiger seems to have stabilized at around 16% of its indigenous extent (1.817 million km2). As of the 1st of January 2020, there were 63 Tiger Conservation Landscapes in the world, covering 911,920 km2 shared across ten of the 30 modern countries which once harbored tiger populations. Over the last 20 years, the total area of Tiger Conservation Landscapes (TCLs) declined from 1.025 million km2 in 2001, a range-wide loss of 11%, with the greatest losses in Southeast Asia and southern China. Meanwhile, we documented expansions of modelled TCL area in India, Nepal, Bhutan, northern China, and southeastern Russia. We find significant potential for restoring tigers to existing habitats, identified here in 226 Restoration Landscapes. If these habitats had sufficient prey and were tigers able to find them, the occupied land base for tigers might increase by 50%. Our analytical system, incorporating Earth observations, in situ biological data, and a conservation-oriented modelling framework, provides the information the countries need to protect tigers and enhance habitat, including dynamic, spatially explicit maps and results, updated as often as the underlying data change. Our work builds on nearly 30 years of tiger conservation research and provides an accessible way for countries to measure progress and report outcomes. This work serves as a model for objective, range-wide, habitat monitoring as countries work to achieve the goals laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals, the 30×30 Agenda, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

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Section: South Asia (India Nepal Bhutan Bangladesh)mentioning

confidence: 96%

Range-wide trends in tiger conservation landscapes, 2001 - 2020

Sanderson,

Miquelle,

Fisher

et al. 2023

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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“…The results of field research projects gathered from widely separated sites, and utilizing more sophisticated technologies and statistical analyses (e.g. spatially explicit recapture models in camera-trapping, faecal genotyping, satellite collaring, and occupancy modelling) have generated more precise estimates of snow leopard density (Li, 2012; Shrestha et al, 2013; Jumabay-Uulu et al, 2014; Kachel, 2014; Sharma et al, 2014; Thinley, 2014; Alexander et al, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A downlist is not a demotion: Red List status and reality

Mallon

Jackson²

2017

Oryx

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Assessments of biodiversity status are needed to track trends, and the IUCN Red List has become the accepted global standard for documenting the extinction risk of species. Obtaining robust data on population size is an essential component of any assessment of a species' status, including assessments for the IUCN Red List. Obtaining such estimates is complicated by methodological and logistical issues, which are more pronounced in the case of cryptic species, such as the snow leopard Panthera uncia. Estimates of the total population size of this species have, to date, been based on little more than guesstimates, but a comprehensive summary of recent field research indicates that the conservation status of the snow leopard may be less dire than previously thought. A revised categorization, from Endangered to Vulnerable, on the IUCN Red List was proposed but met some opposition, as did a recent, similar recategorization of the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca. Possible factors motivating such attitudes are discussed. Downlisting on the IUCN Red List indicates that the species concerned is further from extinction, and is always to be welcomed, whether resulting from successful conservation intervention or improved knowledge of status and trends. Celebrating success is important to reinforce the message that conservation works, and to incentivize donors.

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