Using distance sampling with camera traps to estimate the density of group-living and solitary mountain ungulates

Abstract Throughout the Himalaya, mountain ungulates are threatened by hunting for meat and body parts, habitat loss, competition with livestock. Accurate population estimates important conservation management but most of available methods to estimate ungulate densities difficult implement in mountainous terrain. Here, we tested efficacy recent extension point transect method, using camera traps estimating density two ungulates: group-living Himalayan blue sheep or bharal Pseudois nayaur solitary musk deer Moschus leucogaster . We deployed 2017–2018 (summer: 21 locations; winter: 25) trans-Himalayan region (3,000–5,000 m) 2018–2019 30 28) subalpine habitats (2,500–3,500 Upper Bhagirathi basin, Uttarakhand, India. Using distance sampling traps, estimated be 0.51 ± SE 0.1 individuals/km 2 (CV = 0.31) summer 0.64 0.2 0.37) winter. For deer, was 0.4 0.34) 0.05 0.48) The high variability these is probably a result topography landscape biology species. discuss potential application remote rugged terrain, limitations this method.