Habitat use and conservation threats to Wild Water Buffalo Bubalus arnee (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Abstract

Wild Water Buffalo (WWB) Bubalus arnee is an endangered species and a protected animal in Nepal. The remaining WWB population is located in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), and it appears to have low viability under prevailing conditions. We assessed the habitat use and conservation threats to wild water buffalo in KTWR. For habitat analysis the quadrant method was used. Eighty-four quadrants of 25 m2 for trees, 168 quadrants of 10m2 for shrubs and 336 quadrants of 1 m2 for herbs were laid out in the study area. Ivlev’s electivity index (IV) was calculated to assess the use of different habitat components. The important Value Index (IVI) was used for vegetation assessment. A relative threat ranking method was used to assess conservation threats for wild buffalo and their habitats. Wild buffalo mostly preferred habitats with distance to water resources less than 500 m (IV= 0.4), less than 25 % crown coverage (IV= 0.39) and more than 75 % ground coverage (IV= 0.42). The trees species Phyllanthus emblica, Acacia catechu, shrub species Mimosa pudica and the herb species Brachiaria distachya, Vetiveria zizanioides, Imperata cylindrica, and Saccharum spontaneum were preferred by WWB in the study area. Among the different plant categories, we found that Acacia catechu was the most preferred tree species (IVI= 156.95), Mimosa pudica the most preferred shrub species (IVI= 58.68), and Imperata cylindrica the most preferred herb species (IVI= 64.73). Major conservation threats perceived by local stakeholders for wild buffaloes were overgrazing by cattle and genetic swamping through crossbreeding with domestic buffalo. Therefore, conservation of grass species through control of grazing, and prevention of cross breeding are measures supported by this study. Additionally, site-specific conservation strategies should be adopted, based on identified threats in the study area.

Commentary: A Look at the Wild Buffalo (Bubalus Arnee) Translocation Project in Nepal, and Why it Likely Failed

“…His studies were the most extensive and involved aspects of demography [13], habitat use [14] and genetics [15]. Throughout this period, the population grew despite the many threats in Koshi Tappu including conflicts with local villagers, vehicle strikes, and poaching [16]. Since Koshi Tappu is located entirely within a major floodplain, buffalo must leave the reserve during peak monsoonal floods and flooding has been documented as a major mortality source in the population [11].…”

“…In the mid-2010s, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a major multi-million conservation initiative for Nepal: The Haryo Ban (Green Forest) Project, to be administered by WWF, the MoFS and the DNPWC. Translocations of several species were proposed, and it was widely accepted that buffalo were a very high priority for several reasons [16,18]: The population in Koshi Tappu is globally important and not viable, and the species was known to occur in Chitwan National Park as recently as the 1950s and in Bardia National Park historically. Both parks are much larger than Koshi Tappu, have an abundance of preferred riverine habitats as well as upland forests to serve as flood refugia, and are better protected.…”

Predicting suitable habitat of swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) across the Western Terai Arc Landscape of Nepal

“…Escalating anthropogenic activities such as poaching for trophies and food assumption [ [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] ], deforestation and forest fire [ 42 , 43 ], change in river dynamics, increase in siltation [ 44 ], habitat fragmentation [ 45 ], infrastructure development [ 46 ], disease [ 29 , 36 , 40 , 41 ], human-wildlife conflict [ 47 , 48 ], and food deficiency due to agricultural expansion [ 49 ] have become a major threat to biodiversity conservation globally. These activities are especially likely to endanger the existence of habitat specialist species like swamp deer, which are already threatened with extinction [ 50 ].…”

Reproductive Behavior of Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Chitwan National Park, Nepal

“…Males, on the other hand, reach sexual maturity at 3 years old and usually leave the female group to join bachelor groups [7,[17][18][19][20]. Male water bufaloes only invest efort in mating and show no further parental involvement after impregnating females [21]. Females, on the other hand, exhibit all parental care for the young, including nursing from 6 to 9 months and protecting their calves, sometimes displaying aggression [22].…”