In Nepal, the Tibetan argali Ovis ammon hodgsoni was documented from the Mustang and Humla districts until 2013. In 2016, we observed a young ram in the Dolpa district, providing the third locality record. We compiled historical data and our own observation data from 2013 to 2016 to discuss the present distribution of the Tibetan argali in Nepal. We suggest reassessing the National Red List to reclassify it as either “endangered” or “vulnerable”. We recommend management of livestock numbers, promotion of traditional practice of rotational grazing and raising conservation awareness, especially among herders visiting the argali habitat, for long-term conservation of the species in Nepal.

Wild yak

The leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, large Indian civet Viverra zibetha and yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula are widely distributed through much of South and Southeast Asia, but their ecology remains poorly understood. We recorded these small carnivores during a camera trapping survey in the eastern mid-hills of the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. This protected area is the largest in the country and represents Himalayan mountain ecosystems. Our study area comprised an elevation range of 1550 – 2950 m in upper subtropical to upper temperate bioclimatic zones. During a sample effort of 370 trap days, leopard cat was the most commonly recorded carnivore, followed by large Indian civet and yellow-throated marten. We obtained the highest altitudinal record of a large Indian civet in Nepal at an altitude of 2420 m. Capture rates for small carnivores were broadly similar across bioclimatic zones. The level of human activity was low in the temperate bioclimatic zone during the late winter season when the study was conducted.

Human-sloth bear conflict is common throughout most areas where sloth bears coexist with humans. Though similar reports are available from different parts of Nepal’s lowlands, comprehensive studies that can inform human safety and conflict mitigation are highly lacking. We used data from questionnaire-based interviews with conflict-affected people and witnesses to provide detailed information about human-sloth bear conflict (1990-2021) in the Trijuga forest, an important but unprotected area for sloth bear conservation in Nepal. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and regression analysis. For the time period, 66 conflict incidents involving 69 human individuals were recorded, with an annual average of 2.06 (SD = 1.48) incidents and 1.80 (SD = 1.32) attacks. The attacks injured 59 people with a fatality rate of 8.47% among those that were injured. Conflicts primarily impacted people from minority ethnic groups and mostly affected men. Victims were generally of working age group (25 – 55), engaged in farming, and frequented the forest regularly for resources. Conflicts typically occurred between 0900 and 1500, inside forests, and in places of poor land cover visibility. Poor visibility was also a significant positive determinant of bear attacks on humans. Despite statistically insignificant variation in conflicts across seasons or months, they tended to be more prevalent during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Victims of bear attacks frequently had serious injuries, especially to the head and neck area of the body. Serious injuries were more likely to occur to lone individuals than to people who were in groups of two or more. Taking into account sloth bear ecology and the socio-demographic profile of the conflict victims, we discuss measures that can promote coexistence between humans and sloth bears in light of the findings.