Large carnivore surveys in the North Karakorum Mountains, Pakistan

Few surveys of wildlife have been conducted in the remote and rugged North Karakorum Mountains of Pakistan. The objectives of this study were to deter mine the presence of large carnivores and to obtain information on their wi nter diets. Surveys were conducted in four major river drainages using sign (presence of scrapes, seats, tracks) transects. Seats were collected for g eneral analysis of food items. Presence of snow leopard (Uncia uncia Schreb er) was confirmed in the Pamir, Braldu, and Batura drainages. Presence of w olf (Canis lupis chanco Gray) was confirmed in the Pamir and Braldu drainag es. Fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) occurred in the Batura, ShimshaI, Pamir, and Bra ldu drainages. Seats of snow leopard and wolf mainly contained ungulates, s mall mammals, and snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis G.R. Gray). Fox seats contained mostly hawthorn (Crataegus L. spp.) fruits and small mammals.