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Understanding the distribution and diet of carnivore is important to consider ecological role of species. As food is a critical resource for carnivore predators and its partitioning among sympatric species is crucial for their coexistence. The current study aimed at exploring distribution, diet composition, and diet breadth, niche overlap among two sympatric mongoose species occurring in Murree Kahuta Kotli Sattian National Park (MKKNP). 82 fecal samples were collected from 23 sites and recognized to species inside field based on morphology, odor, and extra signs. Presence signs of both species recorded from 23 survey sites. However, field diagnosis of small Indian Mongoose and Indian grey mongoose indicated presence at 12 and 14 sites, respectively. Fourteen dietary items were recovered in diet of small Indian mongoose i.e rodents, plant matter, insects and reptiles. The diet of Indian grey mongoose also comprised of (15) dietary items. Among both sympatric carnivores overall dietary breadth of Indian grey mongoose is narrow (BA = 0.5). as compared to small Indian mongoose (BA = 0.6). Moderate overlap was found between both mongoose species (0.62). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the distribution and diet of carnivore is important to consider ecological role of species. As food is a critical resource for carnivore predators and its partitioning among sympatric species is crucial for their coexistence. The current study aimed at exploring distribution, diet composition, and diet breadth, niche overlap among two sympatric mongoose species occurring in Murree Kahuta Kotli Sattian National Park (MKKNP). 82 fecal samples were collected from 23 sites and recognized to species inside field based on morphology, odor, and extra signs. Presence signs of both species recorded from 23 survey sites. However, field diagnosis of small Indian Mongoose and Indian grey mongoose indicated presence at 12 and 14 sites, respectively. Fourteen dietary items were recovered in diet of small Indian mongoose i.e rodents, plant matter, insects and reptiles. The diet of Indian grey mongoose also comprised of (15) dietary items. Among both sympatric carnivores overall dietary breadth of Indian grey mongoose is narrow (BA = 0.5). as compared to small Indian mongoose (BA = 0.6). Moderate overlap was found between both mongoose species (0.62). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barking deer is a small-sized cervid mammal and in Pakistan its population are limited to outer Himalayan foothill forests of Punjab Pakistan. They are usually associated with low but dense thorn scrub of Acacia modesta, Olea ferruginea and Zizyphus nummularia. Occupancy modelling was used to assess how environmental factors influence occurrence probabilities. The population parameters of barking deer were examined in Murree, Kotli-Sattian and Kahuta National Parks through direct visual observations and indirect signs of animal from 2015-2017. To estimate population density, distance sampling of the line transect data was employed. Mean population density was 0.27 individuals/km2. The range of encounter rates in each study site was 0.04 to 0.43 per km of transect. Population density in summer was higher (0.43/km2) than in winter (0.36/km2), possibly due to the addition of new-borns in May. The barking deer is basically a solitary animal. This species is endangered in Pakistan and its population are declining. Conservation efforts with focus on protection of disturbance-free habitat for barking deer are recommended in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]