Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) in eastern Terai of Nepal is believed to hold a relatively healthy population of vulnerable fishing cats but has remained unexplored. We conducted camera trapping and questionnaire survey in KTWR and its buffer zone in the winter of 2016 and 2017 to estimate the population status and threats to fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus. Camera trapping was conducted in 2016 on fish farms in the eastern buffer zone where we found a minimum of nine fishing cat individuals visiting the surveyed fish ponds. The frequency of their visits to fish ponds varied 0–5 (average 2) nights during seven active camera trap nights. A survey in the second year (2017) covered the entire reserve. Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture models estimated a population of 20 fishing cats with density of 8.4/100 km2 in KTWR and the eastern buffer zone. We interviewed 50 fish farmers to understand the people’s perceptions towards fishing cats. More than 40% of the respondents reported fishing cats consuming fish from their farm. Retaliation and road kills were documented as major threats of fishing cats in the study area. The population of the fishing cat is found dependent partially on fish ponds, indicating the possibility of conflict with fish farmers. We recommend the detailed study on the movement of fishing cats between the reserve and fish farming area in the buffer zone.
Jungle cat (Felis chaus) is one of the widely distributed but less studied species in Nepal. We studied jungle cat distribution and their activity pattern in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), Nepal. Photographs of the jungle cats obtained during camera trapping survey targeted to fishing cats in the winter season of two consecutive years (2016 and 2017) were used for this study. With an effort of 525 trap days from 69 stations, we obtained a total of 234 images/videos of jungle cats on 37 occasions from 15 stations. We recorded jungle cats distributed in the eastern buffer zone of the KTWR. All the jungle cat photographs were obtained in the night with peak activity within a couple of hours following the sunset. We suggest to carry out focused study specific to jungle cats to understand their distribution, status and diet.
The present research was conducted to study seasonal limnological parameters and record composition pattern of aquatic macro-invertebrates of the Rampur Ghol. GRS-BIOS/ASPT index was used to calculate the water quality class, Shannon Weiner diversity index (H') and Piélou evenness index (e) were used to determine taxa richness of the macroinvertebrates. Altogether 281 individuals of 14 families and 313 individuals of 18 families were recorded in dry season and rainy season, respectively. Similarly, diversity index and evenness index values were recorded 0.98 and 0.85 in dry season; 1.075 and 0.86 in rainy season. On the basis of different aquatic macro-invertebrates, GRS-BIOS/ASPT Index value of four sampling sites fall in class II (moderately polluted), four sampling sites belong to water quality class II-III (critically polluted) and remaining two sampling sites belong to water quality class III (heavily polluted). Similarly, in rainy season seven sites fall in water quality class II (moderately polluted) and three sampling sites belong to water quality class II-III (critically polluted).
This paper is based on the study of wetland plant resources of Rampur Ghol conducted from 2012 to 2014. This paper documents 117 plant species belonging to 39 families and 92 genera in the area. Dicot species (60 spp.) dominated over the monocots (53 spp.) and pteridophytes (4 spp.). The dominant family was the Poaceae (21 spp.) followed by Cyperaceae (14 spp.), Asteraceae (10 spp.), Scrophulariaceae (8 spp.), Polygonaceae (5 spp.)and Acanthaceae (4 spp.). By life form, emergent species were highest (86%) compared to submerged (6%), rooted fl oating leaved plants (6%) and free fl oating plants (2%). These plants had use value of medicine, food (for human, domestic animals, and fi sh), fuel energy, artifacts, etc. Realizing its contribution along with useful plants, Rampur Ghol area should be conserved for learning and recreation purposes.
The present study was carried out on Rampur Ghol in three seasons viz., monsoon, post-monsoon and pre-monsoon from September, 2012 to April, 2013 to assess the seasonal variation in physico-chemical parameters of water and fish diversity. The analysis of various physico-chemical parameters showed significant seasonal fluctuation in the water quality. However, the Ghol water was found to be suitable for fish fauna. Similarly, fish diversity analysis showed that Rampur Ghol is rich in fish fauna with 22 species belonging to 13 families and five orders. The study showed significant decline of fish species as well as their abundance from past studies.
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