Third and smallest Porcupine: A new find in Bhutan

Royal Manas National Park (RMNP) is known for having a rich diversity of mammal species, with 58 species noted to date, including tigers, Asiatic elephants, clouded leopards, Golden langurs, and many more.
In 2010 and 2011, the park initiated an extensive tiger survey by placing 176 camera traps in three park ranges, namely Umling, Manas and Gomphu with fund support from WWF Bhutan. When examining the survey results, among the many images captured, four images revealed the presence of Asiatic Bush-tailed Porcupines (Atherurus macrourus).
This is a new find in Bhutan resulting in a new scientific record for the country.
The Asiatic bush-tailed porcupine is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family. The other two species are Indian Porcupine and Himalayan Crestless Porcupine. Atherurus macrourus is the smallest and rarest among the three.

The images captured in Gomphu range and Umling range revealed that these animals prefer to live near water sources, as camera stations were placed very close to water. The highest altitude recorded was 1408 meters above sea level at Tshochen in Gomphu range.

It is most likely that the species also lives in Pemagatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar districts, as they share a similar ecosystem. Further assessment of the species will have to be done to place the species under protection categories as per the Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan.

This find proves that with proper research and study, Bhutan’s rich deep forests may yet reveal many undiscovered treasures.

SPECIES-RELATED INFORMATION:
Characteristics, Habitat, Ecology and Threats: Bush-tailed porcupines have long bodies and look somewhat rat-like. Their bodies are covered with short quills which are not prominently visible, as seen in the genus Hystrix. They have a tail similar to a rat but with a prominent tuft on the tip, which leads to their common name “bush-tailed”.

Bush-tailed porcupines feed on forest fruits, roots, and carrion. They weigh about 1.5 to 4 kg.
Their major threats are habitat loss due to shifting cultivation, developmental activities, and accidental mortality. They are also hunted as food in some range countries.

Geographic Range Distribution: The animal is a strictly nocturnal and fossorial (adapted to digging and living underground) species found in subtropical and warm broadleaf forests, especially in hilly areas like Northeastern South Asia in south China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. We can now confidently add Bhutan to this list.

http://www.wwfbhutan.org.bt/?201313/Third-and-smallest-Porcupine--A-new-find-in-Bhutan

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