As part of a landscape-scale programme for conserving tigers Panthera tigris the Khata corridor was established between Bardia National Park in Nepal and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India in early 2000. We examined its functionality by comparing the status of tigers and prey in the corridor and in the adjacent National Park, using camera trapping, transect sampling and diet analysis of scats. Tiger movement was inferred from the photographs, and tiger–human conflict was assessed by means of questionnaires and interviews. The corridor harboured transient individuals as well as resident, breeding tigers. Tigers with core areas in the corridor were also recorded in the two protected areas, and vice versa. Wild prey was 3–4 times more abundant in the area of the National Park bordering the corridor than in the corridor itself, and domestic livestock constituted 12–15% of the tigers’ food in the corridor. Livestock losses and human fatalities or injuries were relatively low compared to within the buffer zones of the National Parks. Despite such problems and restrictions on grazing and extraction of natural resources, local residents were generally positive towards tigers and the corridor. The successful establishment of the corridor and the positive attitudes of local people were attributable to community development programmes initiated to compensate for the imposed restrictions, financed by the government and national and international organizations. By linking Bardia National Park and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary via the Khata corridor, a protected tiger landscape of c. 3,000 km2 was established in west-central Nepal and northern India.
An increasing intensity of camera traps recorded the presence of poorly known and globally Endangered Asiatic Wild Dogs Cuon alpinus from different locations in recent years in Nepal. After 18 years since the previous report, we recorded 29 photos and a video of Dholes in four independent detections with an effort of 4,035 trap-nights during camera trap surveys targeted at tigers in the winter of 2016/2017. Solitary dholes were camera-trapped from four locations within 27.45km2 area in Bardia National Park. The evidence of a dead Dhole probably killed in retaliation shows the threat to the species. Dholes co-exist in Bardia with sympatric carnivores like Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard Panthera pardus, and Jackal Canis aureus.
Nepal is rich in avian diversity and records more than 886 bird species with 23 orders and 97 families. The study was carried out to assess the species diversity of birds, types of habitats used and presence of birds in different habitats in the summer season in Khata and Karnali corridor forest of Bardia and Kailali districts respectively. This study aims to update avian diversity of Khata and Karnali corridor of Bardia National Park, Nepal, which is an important birds and biodiversity area of Nepal. Riverine Sissoo-Khair Forest, moist mixed forest and riverine grassland are prominent habitats in the study area. Index of diversity and species evenness indicate the high species diversity of birds in Khata corridor forest rather than Karnali corridor. By mobilizing volunteers, we monitored 79 transects (24 in Khata and 55 in Karnali) each with one km long in summer seasons of 2022. A total of 1,455 individuals of birds belonging to 153 species were recorded. 153 species of birds belonging to 12 orders and 40 families from the Khata and Karnali Corridor are recorded; out of which 137 species were recorded in Khata and 86 species in Karnali with 1,048 and 407 individuals respectively. Species richness and diversity of all birds was high in Khata corriodr rather than Karnali and showed significant variation along protected forest in Khata than unmanged Karnali. The globally threatened bird, Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus) and White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) were recorded in Karnali and Khata corridors respectively. Similarly, one Nepal protected bird; Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) was recorded in Khata corridor. Altogether 14 recorded bird species are included in CITES Appendices in which Oriental Pied-Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is recorded in Appendix I and rest are in Appendix II.
The Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus is a 'Near Threatened' small felid native to South Asia. It was believed to occur only in India and Sri Lanka, but recent studies confirmed its presence in the Bardia National Park (BNP) and Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. Here we add evidence of the species in the Banke National Park (BaNP) in 2013 and Bardia National Park (BNP) in 2017. A pair of motion sensor cameras was installed either side of the game trail, forest road or stream bed, maximizing the possibility of tiger capture. Cameras were active for a minimum of 15 days in each sampling location. Camera trap photos were systematically sorted specieswise. A photograph of a single individual rusty-spotted cat was obtained in BaNP in the hot dry season (April-May) of 2013. The camera trap location in BaNP lies in drydeciduous Sal Shoresa robusta forest at a distance of approximately 4.3 km from the nearest settlements. Additional photographs of rusty-spotted cat were obtained in BNP during the camera trap survey conducted in the dry season (January-April) of 2017. Importantly, the BNP detections confirm the presence of rusty-spotted cats in community forests outside protected areas. These findings reinforce mounting evidence of the value of observations of elusive species made as by-catch from camera-trapping studies focused on tigers or other large charismatic fauna, especially in the context of extending information on poorly known geographical ranges.
Diverse physiography and topography have made the landscape of Nepal fragile and highly vulnerable to climate change. Bamboo is likely to be highly able to stock carbon due to its rapid and easy growth. Here we explore the potentiality of bamboo to combat climate change impacts and biodiversity conservation through mitigation. The mitigation potentiality is studied through biomass and biomass carbon estimation along with soil carbon estimation. Data collected through participatory resource mapping, direct field observation and biophysical measurements were analyzed for biomass estimation and carbon stocking in the biomass and soil of bamboo stand, using Statistical analysis. The study revealed that Melocanna baccifera yielded the highest potential biomass carbon density of 109.41 tons C/plot, followed by Bambusa Nepalensis and Himalayacalamus Fimbriatus of 85.10 tonsC/plot and 64.58 tons C/plot, respectively. However, the soil under Himalayacalamus fimbriatus yielded the highest potential soil organic carbon of 49.24 tons C/plot, followed by the soil under Bambusa Nepalensis and Melocana Bacifera of 38.69 tons C/plot and 27.91 tons C/plot, respectively. Unsustainable extraction of bamboo was highly threatening, therefore, conservation education is recommended to aware local people of the importance of bamboo having the potential to fight against climate change and bringing harmony between biodiversity conservation and traditional culture is recommended.
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