Yellow-bellied Weasel Mustela kathiah records from Mizoram, India

Yellow-bellied Weasel Mustela kathiah records from Mizoram, India 

Abstract 

Introduction 

The Yellow-bellied Weasel Mustela kathiah has a relatively wide 

Asian range, occurring from northern India east through the 

Himalaya, much of southern China and northern South-east Asia 

(Corbet & Hill 1992). A hill-dwelling species, it is found between 

1,000 m and 2,000 m elevation; in winter it may come down to 

lower than 1,000 m (Choudhury 1997, 1999). Very little is known 

about its biology and ecology (Hussain 1999). Small mustelids 

investigated to date show high habitat plasticity, but the habitat requirements 

of tropical Mustela populations remain effectively unknown, 

and it may be rash to extrapolate conservation needs from 

those of primarily Holarctic species (Abramov et al. in press). Apparently 

no Mustela species has ever been studied in South-east 

Asia and Yellow-bellied Weasel’s habitat use remains little known 

in that region (Duckworth & Robichaud 2005). Hence, this note 

places on record its occurrence in an area far from other recent 

detailed records. 

North-eastern India, comprising the states of Assam, Arunachal 

Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and 

Tripura, forms part of a rich biogeographic unit and is among 

the biodiversity “hotspots” of the world (Choudhury 1999, Myers 

et al. 2000). The Yellow-bellied Weasel is known by very few 

records in north-eastern India historically: Sangrachu and Mokokchaung 

in the Naga Hills were the only localities known to Pocock 

(1941). It has been recorded from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, 

Meghalaya, Assam and Manipur (Choudhury 1999), and there is 

one historical specimen from Mizoram: a skin and skull of a female 

collected in the Lushai Hills, Sangao, on 16 February 1953 

by W N Koelz, and held in the Field Museum, Chicago, USA; 

specimen n° 75807 (Choudhury 2001; L. R. Heaney in litt. 2008). 

Elsewhere in north-east India, a fresh skin was seen with a local 

in Sape village, Sarli circle in Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal 

Pradesh (Kumar 1999), and a killed specimen was on sale at Kohima 

market, Nagaland, as food in 1997 (Choudhury 2000); its 

current status in Assam is unclear (Choudhury 1997). Beyond Indian 

political boundaries too, to the east of Mizoram, it has been 

recently recorded in Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar (e.g. Duck- 

Nimesh VED and S. LALRAMNUNA 

This note presents two records of Yellow-bellied Weasel Mustela kathiah from Mizoram, North-east India. These appear to be the only 

confirmed recent reports of this mustelid in the state. 

Key words: Yellow-bellied Weasel, Mustelidae, Saiha, North-east India 

Mizoram India atanga Yellow-bellied Weasel Mustela kathiah hmuhchhuah chhinchhiahna 

Chanchin Tlangpui 

He thuziak tawi hian India hmarchhak a awm, Mizoram atanga hmuhchhuah Yellow-bellied Weasel Mustela kathiah chhinchhiahna 

pahnih chungchang a sawi a ni. Hei hi, he state-a hetiang mustelid chungchang sawina nemngheh neih hnaivai awmchhun niin a lang. 

Thumal Pawimawh: Yellow-bellied Weasel, Mustelidae, Saiha, North-east India 

35 

worth & Robichaud 2005, Than Zaw et al. 2008). 

Mizoram (21°57′–24º30′N, 92°15′–93º29′E) is located in the 

extreme southern part of north-eastern India, and has a geographical 

area of 21,081 km² (0.6% of India’s geographical area). Mizoram 

has three major forest types, Tropical Wet Evergreen, Tropical 

Moist Deciduous and Subtropical Pine Forests, and is rich in 

wild flora and fauna, both in variety and abundance. A perusal 

of secondary literature and consultations with biologists, forest 

department personnel and others in the state familiar with its conservation 

values revealed that while in general the biological and 

conservation values were relatively poorly researched throughout 

the state, south Mizoram was particularly in the proverbial rain 

shadow of conservation attention. A total of 42 species of mammals 

were recorded from recent wildlife surveys. Of these, 34 species 

were detected directly during the survey, while the other eight 

were recorded through interviews with hunters and examination 

of trophies, animal remains and pets (Datta-Roy et al. 2007). The 

survey does not mention the Yellow-bellied Weasel. 

We work towards designing and implementing a conservation 

education and awareness programme in Saiha region in South 

Mizoram in partnership with the forest department of Mara Autonomous 

District Council. 

Records 

We saw a freshly dead Yellow-bellied Weasel at Tuipang (22º 

31′33″ N, 93º 02′40″ E; the headquarters of Tuipang block in Saiha 

district; about 1,250–1,300 m asl) on 17 June 2008. The weasel 

had been caught in a trap set in the jhum (shifting cultivation) 

fields earlier during the day and was dead before we saw it. These 

non-baited traps, known as ‘mangkhawng’, are made using small 

logs and placed on the edge of crop fields. This particular trap that 

caught the weasel was about 2.0–2.5 km from the town in a mosaic 

of old, new, and current shifting cultivation plots with some 

village supply and safety reserves. The animal was recognised by 

the people and is locally referred to as ‘sarivaithun’ or ‘zuhri’. It 

is an aggressive animal and stays in tree holes (Pu P. Sangkhuma 

verbally July 2008). It eats rats and is not eaten by the local com- 

Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 39: 35–36, October 2008

Ved and Lalramnuna 

munity on account of its pungent smell, so is instead thrown away 

(Pu Lambu and Pu J. Biakmawia verbally June 2008). It is therefore 

a by-catch in the traps primarily set for catching squirrels, 

rats, and civets. These traps are laid for procuring meat and at the 

same time get rid of crop pests. We were able to take close photographs 

of the weasel body, which was wet with rain (Fig. 1). The 

specimen however remained unsexed. 

In Aizawl (capital of Mizoram) we saw a preserved specimen 

of the Yellow-bellied Weasel at the Mizoram State Museum 

on 18 July 2008. This stuffed specimen (serial number 419) was 

referred to as ‘sarivaithun’. With permission from the museum curator 

we were able to take photographs of the specimen. According 

to the museum authorities the specimen was taken from ‘Chite 

lui’ (23º 45′N, 92º 43′E), a river (lui in Mizo) near Aizawl city, in 

August 1993. 

Fig. 1. Recently trapped Yellow-bellied Weasel Mustela kathiah, 

Tuipang, Mizoram, 17 June 2008. 

Concluding remarks 

The Yellow-bellied Weasels in the trap and the museum, and the 

awareness of the locals pertaining to the species, including local 

names, confirm the presence of this mustelid as resident in the 

state. 

Hunting is culturally sanctioned and widely practiced in 

Saiha region. It impacts wildlife including weasels in a negative 

fashion. Select myths and beliefs that exist in the local society exacerbate 

the pressure on wildlife. We therefore believe that regular 

communications focusing on natural values occurring in region 

are pertinent towards wildlife conservation in these remote forested 

lands. These communications need to be sensitive to local 

cultural values and mores and undertaken with students in schools 

and also locally relevant institutions like youth associations and 

village council members that form an integral part of these societies. 

Acknowledgements 

We are indebted to Kashmira Kakati, Larry Heaney, Will Duckworth, and 

Aparajita Datta for their guidance in writing this note, help with species 

identification and sharing of papers and records. We are thankful for the 

support provided by the forest department of Mara Autonomous District 

Council. Special acknowledgements are due to Pu Thaly Azyu, Pu Vabeikhaihmo 

Solo and Pu V. Laihlao for sharing their vast knowledge of 

Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 39, October 2008 

36 

the region, its wildlife, and helping with our visits. We are thankful to 

Pu Laltlanhlua Zathang at Mizoram State Forest Department Aizawl for 

sharing his knowledge on wildlife of the state. We thank the curator of the 

Mizoram State Museum at Aizawl, Pu P. Sangkhuma for the permission 

to take pictures of the exhibits and sharing valuable details on the exhibit. 

We thank Pu Lambu and Pu J. Biakmawia for helping with local names 

and practices. We thank Anirban Dutta Roy and Arpan Sharma for sharing 

their experiences in the region. Sincere gratitude is due to the donors 

who have supported Samrakshan’s efforts in Mizoram till date: Primate 

Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund, Columbus Zoo, and 

Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation. 

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Samrakshan Trust, House No: 153, New Saiha West, Saiha 

796901, Mizoram, India 

Email:Nimesh.ved@gmail.com

Yellow-bellied Weasel Mustela kathiah records from Mizoram, India

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