Human Food in Royle’s Pika (Ochotona roylei) Diets: A Side Effect of Tourism in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India

A shift in the dietary habits of Royle’s pika (Ochotona roylei) due to tourism-related human food availability has been observed in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India. This small herbivorous mammal was found incorporating processed foods such as instant noodles, cooked rice, and chips into its diet, deviating from natural foraging patterns. The study highlights how increasing ecotourism, while economically beneficial, introduces unintended ecological consequences, including altered nutritional balance for the pika and habitat degradation. Research involved field observations to document dietary changes and assess their implications for wildlife and ecosystem health. These findings emphasize the need for sustainable tourism practices that mitigate negative impacts on biodiversity.

Maurya, V., Talreja, A., & Singh, A. A. (2025). Human Food in Royle’s Pika (Ochotona roylei) Diets: A Side Effect of Tourism in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India. Ecology, Environment and Conservation, 31(2), 464–468. https://doi.org/10.53550/eec.2025.v31i02.012