The birds and mammals are nature gifted gene banks which differ greatly with variation in altitudes, climates, landscapes, vegetation and availability of food and water. The altitudinal variation in Nepal is 60 m to 8,848 m which affects climatic conditions and habitat types within short distance that influence species diversity of wild animals. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to reveal species richness, behaviors and luring factors for birds and mammals to attract to an urban area of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, the South-central lowland of Nepal. The methods applied to record species diversity of birds and mammals were made from a home point (a point of study made at the Northwest corner of verandah in first floor of my home) located in Bharatpur-9, Saradpur, Sitalpath, in the coordinates of 27˚39'55"N and 84˚26'08"E. The animal species were observed thrice daily (at 7 AM, 10 AM and 2 PM) for 2 months beginning from 24 March to 23 May 2020 during the period of lockdown of COVID-19 and were listed in "Observation Data Sheet". The photographs and/or videos were taken except one of the species of bats (i.e. Myotis formosus) and six species of birds which were flying swiftly over the sky in 70 m in diameter (i.e. 7,436 square meters or 22 kattha in area) of the home point. The results obtained from my study were; 83 species, 53 genera and 37 families of wild birds; and 6 species, 5 genera and 3 families of wild mammals. Among birds, Dicrurus and Ploceus were recorded the highest 7.54% (4/53); followed by Acridotheres, Megalaima, Merops, Oriolus, Psittacula and Streptopelia with 5.66% (3/53), and remaining twelve genera were found 3.77% (2/53), and thirty three genera were 1.88% (1/53). Similarly, 33.33% (2/6) of Herpestes; and 16.66% (1/6) of each Canis, Vulpes, Pipistrellus and Myotis were recorded among mammals. Conclusively, I found that the species of birds and mammals were lured to human settlement area due to availability of food (i.e. small in/vertebrates, kitchen garbage etc.
The study of diversity of mammals was accomplished in the urban areas of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, a prime location of Nepal and confined in 433 km2; consists tropical climate and harbor variety of wildlife since the location is connected with Narayani River, community forests and Chitwan National Park. During data collection by direct observation, hearing sound calls and land marks left, the study was conducted from January to July 2016 for six months. Altogether, 12 families with 28 species of mammals were recorded in which 53.75% (15/28) were Temporary Living (TL) and 46.42% (13/28) were Permanent Living (PL). Out of 12 families; Soricidae had the highest, 21.43% (6/28) of species; followed by Cercopithecidae, Cervidae and Vespertilionidae, 10.71% (3/28); Canidae, Felidae, Herpestidae, Muridae, and Viverridae, 7.14% (2/28); and Mustelidae, Rhinocerotidae, and Suidae with 3.57% (1/28) each. Total Five different IUCN categories; Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU), Near Threatened (NT), Data Deficient (DD) and Least Concerned (LC) were closely observed. Among them, LC had the highest, 64.29% (18/28) of species followed by VU, 21.43% (6/28); EN, 7.14% (2/28); and CR, DD equally with 3.57% (1/28). Paradoxurus hermaphroditus pallasi, is an Asian Palm Civet, which is reported for the first time from Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. The possible factors responsible to attract wildlife in urban areas were availability of seasonal cultivated crops, fruiting and flowering plants; and household organic wastes. But; the increasing traffics stray dogs, and lack of hidings led to threat to wild mammals. The cutting down of trees in the private areas and frequent road killings also amplify risk of small wild mammals.
Civets are alluring nocturnal carnivores having variant external features with different coat colors, stripes and spots, carpal and metatarsal pads, closed or open peri-anal scent glands in both sexes which have great taxonomic value and make these animals acclimatize in a wide range of geographical landscapes from hilly areas to patchy gardens and thin forests of the low land (Terai) located in or near the human settlement areas. The range of Head Body Length (HBL) and Tail Length (TL) in Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp. distinguishes civets from felids. The study of civets was carried out by direct observation and videos and/or photographs were taken in the sighted places with the record of geological coordinates as evidence. For the record of civets, four wards (i.e. 7, 10, 11 and 12) were selected from Bharatpur Metropolitan City by lottery methods from the purposively selected 15 wards out of 29. These selected wards were visited randomly once or upon call in a month riding on a motorbike at the speed of 10 to 20 kilometer per hour in average speed and was crossed 2400 kilometers during four years beginning from January, 2016 to December, 2019. As a result, 11 civets of three Species, six Subspecies and two genera (i.e. Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp.
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