Seasonal variation in habitat preference of the Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus) in Langtang National Park, Nepal: Implications for conservation

The Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus), Nepal’s national bird, is a protected species facing significant conservation challenges. Understanding the distribution and habitat preferences of the Himalayan monal (HM) is crucial for its conservation. This study was conducted in the Langtang National Park (LNP), Nepal using the route census method during both winter (November/December 2022) and summer (June 2023) seasons to examine the seasonal variation in HM’s elevational distribution and habitat preference. Further, we assessed their conservation threats by conducting a semi-structured questionnaire survey with the local residents. During the winter period, the HMs preferred grassland habitats, while in the summer, their preference shifted to shrubland and barren area. HM abundance was negatively associated with the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the shortest distance from the survey trails in the winter. The HMs actively avoided areas with high anthropogenic pressure. In the summer, they showed a wider elevational range up to 4400 m above sea level (a.s.l.), with a higher sighting frequency between 3600 and 3900 m a.s.l. The questionnaire survey of the local residents revealed that anthropogenic pressure such as poaching and free-ranging livestock grazing are the major threats to the species in the study area. This study provides valuable insight into the complex habitat preferences and critical threats faced by the HMs in LNP and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation action.