Abstract
We report the first record of Pallas's cat Otocolobus manul, from Nepal. The discovery occurred in Manang valley of Annapurna Conservation Area in Midwestern Nepal during the course of snow leopard Panthera uncia monitoring using remote camera traps.
This is the first documented record in the country and produced 14 images (11 full and 3 partial images) in three capture events at two camera locations, Thorkya (4,200 m) and Angumila Lapche (4,650 m). The chance discovery of this small cat has sparked a wave of interest among Nepalese conservationists to undertake status survey and conservation initiatives in the entire Annapurna Conservation Area, the largest community-based conservation undertaking of the National Trust for Nature Conservation.