Coexistence of Sympatric Large Carnivores: Spatio-Temporal Interactions Between Tigers and Leopards in Parsa National Park, Nepal.

Understanding interspecific interactions between tigers () and leopards () is crucial for effective conservation planning. However, most studies have been conducted only in well-known protected areas, leaving knowledge gaps in other parts of their overlapping range. This study investigates the spatial-temporal interactions between sympatric carnivores (tigers and leopards) in Parsa National Park (PNP), Nepal.

Cats in farms: ranging behavior of the Fishing Cat () in a human-dominated landscape.

Home range studies provide valuable insights into animal ecology and behavior, informing conservation efforts and management strategies. Although the Fishing Cat () is a globally threatened habitat specialist species, only a few studies have been conducted on their home range and social organization, especially in response to human influence. In this study, we tracked 11 fishing cats with satellite GPS collars to investigate their home range size and habitat use in and around Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal.

Phylogenomic analyses revealed a new lineage of house mouse (Mus musculus) in Gyirong Basin of Xizang Autonomous Region, China.

In the present study, we collected 20 individuals and 12 individuals of wild mice from the Gyirong Basin of Xizang Autonomous Region in China and Sudurpashchim in Nepal. Phylogeny and genetic structure inferred from different types of genomic markers suggest that these samples all belong to Mus musculus, among which individuals from Gyirong Basin represent a new genomic lineage (named as M. m.

Ecological Factors at Fine Spatial Scale Associated With Habitat Use by Tigers in Western Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal.

Conservation of designated source sites is a fundamental strategy for global tiger recovery. Reliable estimates of tiger habitat use within these source sites are crucial for informing effective management strategies. In this study, we assessed tiger habitat use within the Bardia-Banke Complex, one of the 42 global source sites, situated in the western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) of Nepal.

Tigers, Terrain, and Human Settlement Influence the Occupancy of Leopards () in Southwestern Tarai, Nepal.

Maintaining a healthy population of common leopards, a highly adaptive felid, requires updated information on their spatial occurrence. In Nepal's Tarai region, leopards coexist with tigers, which are well-studied felid throughout its range. However, knowledge is very scarce on the patterns of leopard occupancy.

Predicting the potential habitat of bears under a changing climate in Nepal.

In Nepal, the distributions of three bear species vary: sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) in the lowlands, Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in the mid-hills, and brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the high Himalayas. We utilized 179 occurrence points for sloth bears, 199 for Asiatic black bears, and 41 points for brown bears to construct a habitat model incorporating climate and topographic variables. Employing various species distribution modeling algorithms in BIOMOD2, the model predicts suitable habitats spanning 10,971.

Phylogenetic analysis linked fatal neurologic disease in leopards (Panthera pardus) to Asia-5 lineage of canine distemper virus in Nepal.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is responsible for a highly contagious and often fatal neurological disease that affects various carnivores, including domestic dogs. In Nepal, recent reports of CDV exposure and illness in leopards (Panthera pardus) have raised concerns about the transmission of the virus among domestic dogs and wild carnivores. To investigate the genetic lineage and spread of CDV, our study utilized archived post-mortem samples from four leopards that exhibited clinical signs suggestive of canine distemper infection.

Dynamic occupancy modelling of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) reveals increasing landscape use in Nepal.

Large mammals with general habitat needs can persist throughout mixed used landscapes, however, human-wildlife conflict frequently leads to their restriction to protected areas. Conservation efforts, especially for reducing conflicts with humans, can enhance tolerance of humans towards species like Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in human-dominated landscapes. Here, we examine how elephant use in the Chure Terai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) covering the entire elephant range of Nepal changed between 2012 and 2020 in relationship to protection status and environmental conditions.

Integration of the landscape of fear concept in grassland management: An experimental study on subtropical monsoon grasslands in Bardia National Park, Nepal.

The 'landscape of fear' concept offers valuable insights into wildlife behaviour, yet its practical integration into habitat management for conservation remains underexplored. In this study, conducted in the subtropical monsoon grasslands of Bardia National Park, Nepal, we aimed to bridge this gap through a multi-year, landscape-scale experimental investigation in Bardia National Park, Nepal. The park has the highest density of tigers (with an estimated density of ~7 individuals per 100 km) in Nepal, allowing us to understand the effect of habitat management on predation risk and resource availability especially for three cervid species: chital (), swamp deer () and hog deer ().

Epidemiology and molecular characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis including a drug-resistant strain associated with mortality of Asian elephants in Nepal 2019-2022.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an emerging threat to the survival of elephants in Nepal. We investigated the lung tissue samples from nine elephants that died from 2019 to 2022 in Nepal using culture, conventional PCR, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and then performed genotyping of five PCR-positive isolates to understand the possible transmission dynamics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Results showed that two-thirds (6/9) of elephants were confirmed to be infected from Mtb by LAMP, 5/9 by PCR, and 4/9 by culture.

Canine Distemper Virus in Tigers and Leopards in Nepal.

From wild dogs in the Serengeti to tigers ) in the Russian Far East, canine distemper virus (CDV) has been repeatedly identified as a threat to wild carnivores. Between 2020 and 2022, six Indian leopards ) presented to Nepali authorities with fatal neurological disease, consistent with CDV. Here, we report the findings of a serosurvey of wild felids from Nepal.

Rapid behavioral responses of endangered tigers to major roads during COVID-19 lockdown.

Roads pose a major, and growing, challenge for the conservation of endangered species. However, very little is known about how endangered species behaviorally respond to roads and what that means for road mitigation strategies. We used the nation-wide lockdown in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment to investigate how dramatic reductions in traffic volume along the national highway affected movements of two GPS-collared tigers ()-a globally endangered species.

Fishing cat distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal.

The fishing cat is a wetland specialist species endemic to South and Southeast Asia. Nepal represents the northern limit of its biogeographic range, but comprehensive information on fishing cat distribution in Nepal is lacking. To assess their distribution, we compiled fishing cat occurrence records ( = 154) from Nepal, available in published literature and unpublished data (2009-2020).

Fire and forage quality: Postfire regrowth quality and pyric herbivory in subtropical grasslands of Nepal.

Fire is rampant throughout subtropical South and Southeast Asian grasslands. However, very little is known about the role of fire and pyric herbivory on the functioning of highly productive subtropical monsoon grasslands lying within the Cwa climatic region. We assessed the temporal effect of fire on postfire regrowth quality and associated pyric-herbivory in the subtropical monsoon grasslands of Bardia National Park, Nepal.

Habitat occupancy of sloth bear in Chitwan National Park, Nepal.

Mammals have experienced a massive decline in their populations and geographic ranges worldwide. The sloth bear, (Shaw, 1791), is one of many species facing conservation threats. Despite being endangered in Nepal, decades of inattention to the situation have hindered their conservation and management.

Leopard () occupancy in the Chure range of Nepal.

Conservation of large carnivores such as leopards requires large and interconnected habitats. Despite the wide geographic range of the leopard globally, only 17% of their habitat is within protected areas. Leopards are widely distributed in Nepal, but their population status and occupancy are poorly understood.

Tracking forest loss and fragmentation between 1930 and 2020 in Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) range in Nepal.

Forest cover is the primary determinant of elephant distribution, thus, understanding forest loss and fragmentation is crucial for elephant conservation. We assessed deforestation and patterns of forest fragmentation between 1930 and 2020 in Chure Terai Madhesh Lanscape (CTML) which covers the entire elephant range in Nepal. Forest cover maps and fragmentation matrices were generated using multi-source data (Topographic maps and Landsat satellite images of 1930, 1975, 2000, and 2020) and spatiotemporal change was quantified.

Patterns and determinants of elephant attacks on humans in Nepal.

Attacks on humans by Asian elephant () is an extreme form of human-elephant conflict. It is a serious issue in southern lowland Nepal where elephant-related human fatalities are higher than other wildlife. Detailed understanding of elephant attacks on humans in Nepal is still lacking, hindering to devising appropriate strategies for human-elephant conflict mitigation.

Author Correction: Projected distribution and climate refugia of endangered Kashmir musk deer Moschus cupreus in greater Himalaya, South Asia.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Projected distribution and climate refugia of endangered Kashmir musk deer Moschus cupreus in greater Himalaya, South Asia.

Kashmir musk deer Moschus cupreus (KMD) are the least studied species of musk deer. We compiled genetically validated occurrence records of KMD to construct species distribution models using Maximum Entropy. We show that the distribution of KMD is limited between central Nepal on the east and north-east Afghanistan on the west and is primarily determined by precipitation of driest quarter, annual mean temperature, water vapor, and precipitation during the coldest quarter.

Dry season diet composition of four-horned antelope in tropical dry deciduous forests, Nepal.

It is essential to assess the feeding strategies of threatened species during resource-scarce seasons to understand their dietary niche breadth and inform appropriate habitat management measures. In this study, we examined the diet composition of four-horned antelope (FHA) and , one of the least studied ungulate species, in Banke National Park, Nepal. A total of 53 fresh pellet groups were collected between December 2015 and January 2016 and analyzed using micro-histological fecal analysis technique.

Spatio-temporal patterns of attacks on human and economic losses from wildlife in Chitwan National Park, Nepal.

Wildlife attacks on humans and economic losses often result in reduced support of local communities for wildlife conservation. Information on spatial and temporal patterns of such losses in the highly affected areas contribute in designing and implementing effective mitigation measures. We analyzed the loss of humans, livestock and property caused by wildlife during 1998 to 2016, using victim family's reports to Chitwan National Park authorities and Buffer Zone User Committees.

New record of the Oriental house rat, , in Nepal inferred from mitochondrial gene sequences.

This study determines the presence of . from in Nepal using morphological and molecular analyses. Morphologically, it is indistinguishable with owing to similar fur colour and morphometric data.