Current Distribution and Suitable Habitats for Asiatic golden cat (Catopumma teminckii) using MaxEnt model under Bumthang Territorial Division
Abstract
Asiatic golden cat Catopumma teminckii is currently classified as Near Threatened category on IUCN Red List and is listed in Schedule II of the Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 2023. It is one of the least studied species across Asia particularly in Bhutan. A total of sixty-seven pairs of camera traps were strategically deployed within a grid measuring 5 km by 5 km between 1st October 2021 and 30th December 2021. The probability distribution and suitable habitat were generated based on thirty one presence-only points and thirteen environmental variables using MaxEnt. Our study showed 56.14% (87,453 ha) as an unsuitable area, 35.18% (54,800 ha) as a moderately suitable area and only 8.68% (13,511 ha) as a highly suitable area. The main environmental factors affecting the distribution were distance to the road with (26.1%) followed by elevation (21.8%) and slope (15.4%).The study indicated that the most preferred habitat by the Asiatic golden cat was broad-leaved forests followed by mixed-conifer forests. The findings underscore the importance of preserving landscapes beyond designated protected areas in order to safeguard critical wildlife species and its habitats.
