Biology of Bhutanitis ludlowi Gabriel, 1942 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan

It was in 1933–34 that the first discovery of Bhutanitis ludlowi was made by plant explorer Frank Ludlow and George Sheriff at Tobrang, upper part of Trashiyangtse valley, Bhutan. It was rediscovered after a lapse of 76 years in 2009 by Bhutanese forester Karma Wangdi. Bhutanitis ludlowi is native to Trashiyangtse and occurs in few pockets of areas in northeastern part of Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS). There has been no report which described complete life cycle of Bhutanitis ludlowi till date. Listed in CITES appendix II, the endemic species is also the first butterfly species to be included under Schedule I of FNCRR of Bhutan, making it a totally protected species in Bhutan. For the first time a complete life cycle stages of Bhutanitis ludlowi was recorded at BWS on the host plant Aristolochia griffithii Hook.f. & Thomson ex Duch in ex situ environment. A greenhouse with dimensions of 12 X 5 X 3 m was constructed and a thriving habitat was created artificially through establishment of Aristolochia griffithii nursery inside the greenhouse. The eggs were brought down to the new environment at an elevation of 1,752 m from their natural habitat (elevation of 2,200 m). The eggs were incubated in the greenhouse with host plants in ex-situ conditions. Eggs incubated inside the greenhouse were examined at eight hour intervals daily (twice a day: 0900 h and 1700 h) to record physical changes in eggs such as colours. Bhutanitis ludlowi is univoltine brood where the life cycle completes in 365–367 days with egg hatching (Average = 16 days; SD = 2), larva (Avg. of 174 days SD 3), pupa (174 days, SD 1.53)) and adults emerged after 366 days. Predators of Bhutanitis ludlowi include spider, wasps, praying mantis, snails, and ants. Bhutanitis ludlowi protects themselves by avoiding predators through mechanisms like odour, camouflaged colorations, and excretion of poisons. Advocacy programs on its conservation importance and formation of community conservation support groups to protect its habitats is seen as one of the priority activities in the identified range of Bhutanitis ludlowi.

Endemic Primula xanthopa Balf.f. & R.E. Cooper: rediscovery after 88 years from Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan

During recent floristic exploration Primula xanthopa Balf.f. & R.E.Cooper was rediscovered from south-west of Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan on 5 August 2021 at an elevation of 3,785 m. The plant is recorded for the first time after initial discovery by R.E. Cooper in 1915. Identification and morphological description of P. xanthopa was done through Flora of Bhutan manual. It was found thriving in a small population in a fir forest among grazing and anthropogenic activities. A detailed description, distribution, habitat, conservation status, and photographic illustrations are provided.

Rediscovery of the Bhutan Primrose Primula jigmediana W.W. Smith (Angiosperms: Primulaceae) after 87 years in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan

Primula jigmediana W.W. Smith named in honour of His Majesty the 2nd King of Bhutan was confined to Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan until recent record from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Primula jigmediana has been rediscovered from same region after the lapse of 87 years in Bhutan. The paper shows the morphological descriptions and distributional records of the species in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. The species was found growing along the humid sides of streams and lakes at narrower elevation of 4,300–4,600 m in isolated patches. Yaks and Ophiocordyceps sinensis collectors were observed as the prime anthropogenic threat to the species. Hence, instant conservation measures to protect this rare species is deemed necessary. 

Understanding Human–Canid Conflict and Coexistence: Socioeconomic Correlates Underlying Local Attitude and Support Toward the Endangered Dhole (Cuon alpinus) in Bhutan

Understanding human–canid conflict and coexistence must focus on documenting human–canid interactions and identifying the underlying drivers of reciprocal human attitude which enables appropriate strategies to minimize conflict and forge coexistence. The dhole (Cuon alpinus), Asia's most widely distributed wild canid, is highly threatened by human persecution and anthropogenic activities. Despite its “endangered” status, its ecological role as an apex predator, negative interactions with humans, and dhole-specific attitude studies are limited, thus hindering the development of a comprehensive dhole-conservation strategy. Here, we investigate the influence of socioeconomic factors of age, gender, income, residency inside/outside a protected area (PA), and other variables (cultural beliefs, livestock loss, and quantity of livestock loss) on the attitudes of local people and support for dhole conservation in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. We conducted a semi-structured questionnaire survey of 1,444 households located within the PA and non-PA from four representative regions in the country. Using R programming, we ran Pearson's chi-square test of independence to test the overall difference in the attitude and support for dhole conservation, followed by recursive partitioning through a conditional inference regression tree to identify its significant covariates with the highest explanatory power. Majority (79.1%) of respondents (χ2 = 488.6; df = 1; p < 0.001) disliked the dhole over those who liked it. More than half (57.7%) (χ2 = 412.7; df = 2; p < 0.001) opposed dhole conservation over those who either supported or remained neutral. Experience of livestock loss to dholes was the primary ( p < 0.001) factor influencing the negative attitude and opposition to dhole conservation, despite an acknowledgment of the ecological role of the dhole in controlling agricultural crop predators. Our study, which is the first-ever survey in Bhutan, solely focused on investigating human attitudes and perceptions toward the dhole, indicating that livestock loss to dholes transcends all positive attitudes to the species and drives a predominant dislike and opposition to its conservation. To improve the attitude and support toward the dhole and to foster dhole–human coexistence, livestock predation by dholes needs alleviation by improving the existing animal husbandry, in conjunction with promoting conservation awareness on this species.

Epidemiological and histopathological characteristics of head and neck cancers in Bhutan from 2011 to 2017: a retrospective descriptive study

BACKGROUND

Head and neck cancers are among the commonest cancers in the developing world. Personal habits, such as the use of tobacco, betel nut and alcohol are strongly associated with the development of head and neck cancers at certain sites. Therefore, they are among the preventable cancers. In Bhutan, there has not yet been a study conducted on head and neck cancers.

OBJECTIVE

To describe baseline epidemiological and histopathological characteristics of head and neck cancers in Bhutan.

METHODS

This is a 7-year descriptive study of all cases of head and neck cancers presented at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital from 2011 to 2017. The data were collected from the hospital's medical records section, histopathology records, patient referral unit and some treatment centres in India. Prior approval was sought from the Research and Ethics Board for Health, the Ministry of Health and the hospital management.

RESULTS

There were a total of 515 cases of head and neck cancers from 2011 to 2017. The crude incidence rate was 10 per 100,000 and the overall age adjusted rate was 12.3 (95% CI 9.5-15.1) per 100,000 population. The prevalence during this 7-year period was 69.1 per 100,000 population. The commonest cancers are thyroid, oral cavity, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal and nasopharyngeal cancer in decreasing order. Head and neck cancers are more common in males than females in the majority of sites except thyroid, salivary gland and sinonasal malignancies. Thyroid cancers and nasopharyngeal cancers are found to affect younger age groups. Tashigang (48) followed by Paro (43) recorded the highest number of cases. Squamous cell carcinoma is the commonest histopathology type in almost all the cases, while papillary carcinoma is the commonest among thyroid cancers. Personal habits, such as smoking, chewing tobacco, betel nut and alcohol consumption, were found to be more common among patients suffering from oral cavity, laryngeal, hypopharyngeal and oropharyngeal cancers.

CONCLUSION

Head and neck cancers are the third most common cancer in Bhutan after stomach cancer and cervical cancer. Thyroid, oral cavity and hypopharynx are the top three anatomical sites for head and neck cancers in Bhutan. The current epidemiological and histopathological profile of head and neck cancers will form a baseline of information and basis for further research on head and neck cancers in Bhutan.

The burden and treatment outcomes of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in Bhutan

SETTING

All tuberculosis (TB) registration sites in Bhutan.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study involving a retrospective review of TB registers and TB treatment cards.

OBJECTIVES

To determine: 1) the number and proportion of all TB cases registered as extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) from 2001 to 2010, 2) the age and sex of the patients and the categories and types of EPTB registered in 2010, and 3) their treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

The proportion of all TB cases registered as EPTB over a period of 10 years varied from 30% to 40%. In 2010, 505 patients were registered with EPTB, of whom 50% were male, 21% were children, and 96% were new EPTB cases. TB lymph node enlargement and pleural effusion were the two most common types of EPTB, accounting for 67%, followed by abdominal TB and spinal/bone/kidney disease. The overall treatment success rate was 90%, and was generally similar with respect to sex, age and different types of EPTB.

CONCLUSION

Bhutan has a high proportion of patients registered as having EPTB, for whom treatment outcomes are satisfactory. Further work is needed to better understand how EPTB is diagnosed throughout the country.

Childhood tuberculosis in Bhutan: profile and treatment outcomes

SETTING

All hospitals and health centres under the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP) in Bhutan.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the number and proportion of childhood tuberculosis (TB) cases registered under the NTCP in 2010, their demographic and clinical characteristics and any associations with treatment outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study involving a review of TB treatment cards and registers.

RESULTS

Of 1332 TB cases registered, 187 (14%) were children aged <15 years, 75 (40%) were aged <5 years, and 180 (96%) were new cases; nearly half were extra-pulmonary TB, with lymphadenitis being the most common form. The overall treatment success rate was 93%, and none of the demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with treatment outcomes. A few recording deficiencies were identified.

CONCLUSION

TB in children is well recognised in Bhutan, and their treatment outcomes were excellent.