Vertebrate Zoology & Environment of Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir is one of the world's most beautiful regions and incredibly biodiverse. If you show a scenery of Kashmir to a layman, they immediately assume it is from Switzerland. The Kashmir region is also incredibly biodiverse as it is a part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.



WARNING!

This section is about a complex geopolitical conflict. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! If you're passionate about this subject and are from one of the 3 countries that are in conflict over it, please read this post before engaging in this thread.

Notes about the Kashmir conflict

That being said, Kashmir is among the world's most militarized zones. The Kashmir conflict is among the world's oldest and ongoing conflicts. The roots of the conflict go back to the era of British colonial rule over the Indian subcontinent. India and Pakistan have fought 3 wars (1947, 1965 and 1999) and multiple confrontations over this region. The Kashmir conflict is linked to global terrorism, Indo-Pak conflict & rivalry, religious extremism (Hindu & Muslim) and nuclear war. In fact, India and Pakistan came close to nuclear war (or at least a full-scale deadly conventional war) in 1999, 2002 and 2019.

The wishes of the Kashmiri people regarding the conflict is as follows:
1. Pro-Pakistan (merge Kashmir with Pakistan)
2. Pro-Independence (those who wish to see Kashmir as a separate state (religious or secular))
3. Pro-India (merge Kashmir with India) (People are in this category regardless of religion)

From the Uppsala Conflict Data Program of Uppsala University

SUMMARY [India: Kashmir]

The territorial conflict in Kashmir has been one of the most protracted and most serious regional problems confronting India during the last decades, with many of the conflict years having reached the intensity of war. The conflict pits a large number of insurgent groups, commonly referred to as Kashmir insurgents, against the Indian government. The aim of the insurgents is the Kashmir’s secession from India, a demand firmly rejected by India. The conflict has been closely tied to Indian-Pakistani relations, and India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of fueling the insurgency.

Though the conflict intensity has not reached the level of war since 2005, it steadily increased from 2015 and reached its peak in 2018. This trend was interrupted in 2019 with a drop in the number of battle-related deaths. The conflict intensity decreased to an all-time low in 2023 as the number of battle-related deaths dropped to almost half that of 2022. While the conflict intensity continued to decrease, violence remained prevalent throughout Jammu and Kashmir state. The government of India remained focused on a mainly military solution to the Kashmir issue, and there has been continued criticism against the violence from security forces and human rights abuses in the region. In 2023, the groups within the actor Kashmir insurgents most active in the conflict were Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), followed by Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).



For a hyper-complex and historic and ongoing conflict like Kashmir, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of it so one does not fall into propaganda. Here is a list of literature regarding Kashmir, so the reader can have a comprehensive understanding of it and do not fall into the propaganda and lies (of any side).

Asymmetric Warfare in South Asia The Causes and Consequences of the Kargil Conflict

*This image is copyright of its original author

This book is essential as it gives objective look at the conflict compared to hypernationalistic ones written by Indian & Pakistani army officials. The book also heavily relies on primary sources and information from government and army officials directly involved in the conflict. All the planners of Kargil one of the key planners of the Kargil conflict. Images of the Pakistani generals that concocted the Kargil plan.



More books & resources (the books include both Pakistani, Indian and pro-independence (explained before) perspectives)

1. India, Pakistan, and the Kashmir dispute : on regional conflict and its resolution LINK
2. Shadow War: The Untold Story of Jihad in Kashmir LINK
3. My Kashmir: The Dying of the Light LINK
4. The Kashmir Problem: A Historical Survey LINK
5. Kashmir: A Disputed Legacy 1846-1990 LINK
6. Free Kashmir - Amanullah Khan (founder of the JKLF) LINK
7. By the Banks of the Wular - Syed Ali Shah Geelani (hardcore Pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatist and the father of the Kashmiri insurgency) LINK
8. Kargil: From Surprise to Victory - General V.P Malik (Army Chief of India during the Kargil conflict of 1999) LINK
   

Advise for those who want to post in this thread:

• DO NOT bring up historical or contemporary conflicts over the region unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary and is relevant to the topic. e.g If you find information on how wars and insurgency have effected the environment of the region, feel free to post it.
• Post reliable information or media related to the subject of this thread
• Enjoy!
  

CLARIFICATIONS

As of 2024, the region is ruled by 3 countries. Pakistan [Gilgit-Baltistan (formerly Northern Areas) and Azad Kashmir], China [Aksai Chin] and the rest is ruled by India.



The aims of this thread:

1. To collect information about the vertebrate fauna of the Kashmir
2. Raise awareness about the conservation status of the endangered species of the region
3. To collect information about the environment and geology of the region (paleontology included)
4. To post information about how human activities have affected the environment and biodiversity
   

An Introduction to Biodiversity of the Himalaya: Jammu and Kashmir State [Edited by Ghulam Hassan Dar & Anzar A. Khuroo]



Scientific literature on the vertebrate fauna of Kashmir:

• Distribution of Common Leopard (Panthera pardus) and Human-common Leopard Conflict in Lachhrat Forest Range, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan LINK
• An assessment of reptilian diversity and their distribution in Jammu and Kashmir state from Jammu city in northern India: A case study LINK
• Studies on Avian Diversity and Breeding Biology of Mallard Anas Platyrhynchos Platyrhynchos in the Wetlands of Kashmir (PhD Thesis) LINK
• First photographic record of the snow leopard Panthera uncia in Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, India LINK
  

Camera trap images of snow leopards in Jammu and Kashmir (Indian-administered). Source.

620 cm 1800 kgs Croatia


Unknown also Croatia

In relation to claws of large felids, 

• Does anyone know available data on the size and shape variation of the claws of one single individual cat? 
• Are dew claws always the largest ones? This is clear in the puma and the cheetah (just in case, in the Bone Clones sample picture [https://paoloviscardi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/claws.jpg] the labels for Cheetah's dew and front claws are wrongly reversed, but corrected in other versions of the add). 
• Do jaguar, lion or tiger also show larger dew claws as in puma? 
• Is it possible to identify by shape and size the position of an isolated claw (attached to its bone), as coming from the front or hind paw, # I, II, III, IV or V; and from the right or left side? 
  

Thanks a lot, I  appreciate all your help.

Hey everyone,

I’ve always been fascinated by wildlife and have been reading about how animal behavior changes in response to environmental shifts—like climate change, urban expansion, and even human technology (surprisingly!). I recently came across a few documentaries and studies. but they left me with more questions than answers.

I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions on resources that go deeper into this topic. How do you think tech, like drones or data tracking, has impacted animal studies? And how are animals adapting (or not) to our increasingly tech-driven world? Any recommended reading, podcasts, or documentaries would be awesome!

Looking forward to hearing your insights! ?

We had a flying squirrel in our house and a local wildlife removal company concluded that we have flying squirrels in our attic (we do hear noises) and that we may have bats (we had been told a year ago that we had bats at the time but the noises stopped).  It is important to us to hire a humane company so we went with a local humane wildlife removal company that seems to be a brand new company with no reviews online.  They stated they would install a one way flying squirrel excluder as well as a bat cone and seal any potential access points.  About a week after the initial installation, we noticed there is still animal noise coming from the attic/ceiling.  Does anyone have any experience with this sort of this who can let me know if this device they installed is a bat cone or flying squirrel excluder, or potentially a makeshift device intended for one or both of these?  We also noticed that they didn't fix or cover several potential entry points I had pointed out during the initial inspection.  I am including photos of those as well - a 3/4 to 1 inch gap in the roofing and a hole in the bricks on the side of the house.  I assume flying squirrels and bats could enter through these locations... Can anyone confirm this and let me know any more information about what type of device they installed? We paid about $1400 for this job, which included cleaning what they left in the attic.  Does this sound like a fair price for this kind of service?  Please let me know if you have any kind of experience with these sorts of things before! Thank you!

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Hi, I am currently working on a design project on animal conservation, more specifically around creating a product to help places such as national parks and reserves monitor their land. Hopefully this will be able to better allow them to protect the animals and ecosystem. I need to decide between going forward with either a fixed tree camera or a fixed-wing drone, and I want to make sure that one I pick will be the most useful one. I would massively appreciate it if you could fill in this form I made: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_xnIqYHm2seWPm3rS4ZsjqiXZlFgvpvmZVf3N8K5MtKC6-w/viewform?usp=sf_link. I would love to answer any questions you might have, and I would love any feedback or advice even more. Thank you!

The zoo is located in the Mexican town of Reynosa, which lies on the northern Mexican Border with the US, so authorities on both sides are looking out for the cat.

https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk...d/1179426/

Hello
I am trying to upload large images to a thread on the Wildfact forum; but I am facing  an error message that says 'File size exceeds the limit.'  

Hello,
 

Hey Everyone,
I hope you're all doing well! As a community that cherishes wildlife and the incredible creatures we share this planet with, I think it's time we dive into a topic that's close to all our hearts: Climate Change.
You might have heard about climate change in the news or seen its effects in our own backyards. But how is it impacting the wildlife we love so much? And more importantly, what can we do about it?

Why Climate Change Matters
Climate change is more than just a buzzword; it's a reality that's affecting ecosystems around the globe. From melting ice caps to rising sea levels, and from extreme weather events to changing habitats – the effects are wide-ranging and profound.
For the animals, this means disrupted habitats, altered food sources, and sometimes, the struggle for survival. Polar bears are losing their icy homes, coral reefs are bleaching and dying, and migratory patterns of birds are shifting unpredictably. Every species, big or small, is feeling the heat (quite literally).

Our Role as a Community
As people who deeply care about wildlife, we have a unique role to play. Here's how we can contribute:

1. Stay Informed: Knowledge is power. Let’s share articles, documentaries, and resources about climate change and its effects on wildlife.
2. Eco-Friendly Choices: Small changes in our daily lives can make a big difference. From reducing plastic use to conserving water and energy – every bit helps.
3. Support Conservation Efforts: Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or spreading the word, supporting organizations that work on wildlife conservation and climate action is crucial.
4. Advocate for Change: Use your voice to advocate for policies and practices that protect our environment. Write to your local representatives, join climate marches, and support sustainable practices.
   

Let's Get Talking!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. How have you seen climate change affecting wildlife in your area? What steps are you taking to make a difference? Share your stories, tips, and ideas. Together, we can make a positive impact!
Looking forward to a lively and inspiring discussion.