Unveiling the Hidden Diet of the Indian Crested Porcupine: A Fecal Pellet Study from the Lesser Himalayan Region of Azad Jammu And Kashmir, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20097996Keywords:
Fecal pellets, Himalayan Region, Indian Crested Porcupine, micro-histological analysisAbstract
The Indian crested porcupine creates conflicts with farmers by damaging crops and orchards within its range. Therefore, understanding the porcupine's diet and its composition is vital for knowing its ecological role, habitat adaptations, and foraging approaches. Diet analysis was conducted through micro-histological examination of 336 fecal pellet groups collected across three districts: 132 samples from Muzaffarabad (67 in summer, 65 in winter), 87 from Hattian Bala (47 in summer, 40 in winter), and 117 from Neelum (62 in summer, 55 in winter). The results indicated notable variation in dietary diversity across districts, with Hattian Bala exhibiting the highest number of dietary items, i.e., 34 species of plants, followed by Muzaffarabad, i.e., 30 species, and Neelum, i.e., 23 species. Cultivated crops and commercially important herbs, such as Zea mays, Cannabis sativa, Solanum tuberosum, and Pisum sativum, are grazed more in warmer months and utilized less in winter months.
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