Caught on Camera: Insights Into Mizoram's Mammalian Diversity Through a Camera-Trap-Based Distance Sampling Approach

Assessing species distribution and associated threats is crucial for effective conservation. Many species including mammals face extinction due to habitat loss, hunting, and illegal trade, with their populations largely confined to protected areas. Mizoram, situated within the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, is increasingly threatened by illegal wildlife trade and lacks comprehensive faunal studies, necessitating urgent scientific research and conservation interventions. We conducted a camera-trap-based density estimation in selected protected areas of Mizoram to understand the population status of mammal species, evaluate the density of ungulates, and the relative abundance of major predator and ungulate species. Barking deer (Muntiacus vaginalis), sambar (Rusa unicolor), wild pig (Sus scrofa), red serow (Capricornis rubidus), and gaur (Bos gaurus) were the major ungulates photo-captured from the region. Clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) and dhole (Cuon alpinus) were the major predators detected from camera trapping. The relative abundance of clouded leopard (1.82 ± 0.93) and dhole (1.73 ± 1.10) was highest in Dampa Tiger Reserve relative to other protected areas of northeast India. However, the relative abundances and densities of ungulates were noticeably lower relative to the estimates from other protected areas in India. Illegal hunting may be one of the causes of low species abundance and density. Although hunting has frequently been singled out and emphasised as the primary factor contributing to the declining wildlife populations, understanding the connection between hunting and the people is a crucial step towards conservation.