Wildlife biologists have identified that Mammal Species in Uttarakhand may shift to higher elevations from the state’s northwest to east by 2050 as a result of climate change. These species include those on the IUCN Red List, such as the endangered Musk Deer, which lives at elevations ranging from 8,000 to 13,000 feet. Other threatened species are the Himalayan Serow, Himalayan Tahr, and endangered woolly flying squirrels.

High-altitude Protected Areas and Landscape Connectivity Critical to Buffering Climate Change

“High-altitude protected areas could help buffer the impact of climate change, but areas outside of these protected zones also have the potential to serve as climate refugia,” said Vineet Dubey, a project scientist with the Wildlife Institute of India’s National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE). During his talk at WII’s 35th Annual Research Seminar, he emphasised the importance of landscape connectivity and the need for more protected areas to protect animals from the effects of climate change. “The shift in species distribution could result in a dramatic reorganisation of biodiversity,” Dubey said.

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Mammal Species in Uttarakhand May Shift to Higher Elevations Due to Climate Changes

Dubey emphasised the necessity for animals to adapt to shifting environments caused by climate change. For example, Himalayan Gorals generally reside in a range between 1,000 and 3,500 meters and may rise in elevation but most likely not exceed 4,000 meters. Similarly, Himalayan Tahrs may migrate uphill, although they are unlikely to find acceptable climate niches over 4,500 meters. The Musk Deer has a bleak future because its habitat range is already restricted, leaving little possibility for further migration. The distribution of the species is likely to diminish, as is that of Himalayan Serows and Blue Sheeps.

Uttarakhand’s mid-elevation zones are affluent in wildlife diversity, but experts warn of potential losses. Dubey forecasts that 12 to 15 species will perish from the region, whereas specific climate refugia in eastern Uttarakhand may support 6 to 9 species. To mitigate these concerns, extending protected areas could preserve these habitats from the combined effects of climate change and human activity.

S. Sathyakumar, the project’s head and senior scientist, stated that while prediction models provide useful insights, they are restricted by the fluctuation of climate data. “It takes decades for species movement to occur, and while the overall outlook for Uttarakhand remains stable, there will be shifts within the state,” Sathyakumar said, implying that species may eventually adjust to the new environmental conditions.

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