The Uttarakhand forest department recently conducted its inaugural study on weasels, aiming to unravel the distribution, habitats, threats, and conservation strategies concerning various weasel species in the region.
Identifying three distinct species – the Pale or Mountain Weasel (Mustela altaica), Siberian or Himalayan Weasel (Mustela sibirica), and Stoat Weasel (Mustela ermine) – the study shed light on their prevalence and habitats.
Among these, the Siberian Weasel emerged as the most frequently encountered, while the Himalayan Weasel and Stoat Weasel were found to be more localized, notably in areas such as Mana and Badrinath.
Assistant researcher Manoj Singh highlighted primary concerns for the Pale or Mountain Weasel, citing tourism and anthropogenic activities in the Mana site as potential threats.
These agile predators, typically inhabiting altitudes between 3,000 and 3,200 meters, face challenges due to human encroachment, particularly in habitats around Mana village and Gangotri National Park.
Similarly, the larger-sized Siberian Weasel roams the high Himalayan terrain between 1,500 to 5,000 meters, with no identified threats discovered during the study. Folklore attributes mystical significance to them in Chinese culture.
Regarding the Stoat Weasel, potential threats from tourism and anthropogenic activities in Badrinath were highlighted. Despite its circumpolar distribution, it is categorised as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjiv Chaturvedi stressed the ecological significance of weasels in regulating small mammal populations.
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