scholarly journals When, where and whom: assessing wildlife attacks on people in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Oryx ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thakur Silwal ◽  
Jaromir Kolejka ◽  
Bharat P. Bhatta ◽  
Santosh Rayamajhi ◽  
Ram P. Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Time Activity ◽  
Emergency Rescue ◽  
The People ◽  
Rhinoceros Unicornis ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Questionnaire Surveys ◽  
Melursus Ursinus

AbstractWildlife attacks on people in and around protected areas have become one of the main challenges for wildlife management authorities. We assessed all correlates of wildlife attacks during 2003–2013 in the vicinity of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. We used data from various sources (discussion with stakeholders, field observations, questionnaire surveys). Wildlife attacks were significantly correlated to factors such as site, season and time, activity, gender and awareness. Moreover, 89% of recorded attacks occurred outside the Park. The number of attacks fluctuated widely and patterns of attacks were significantly uneven across seasons and months. Of the 87% of attacks that occurred during the day, 63% occurred in the morning. Most victims were male and c. 45% of attacks occurred when people were collecting forest resources or working on croplands. Attacks were carried out predominantly by rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis (38%), tigers Panthera tigris (21%), sloth bears Melursus ursinus (18%), elephants Elephas maximus (9%) and wild boar Sus scrofa (8%). The people attacked lived close to the Park, depended on farming for their livelihoods, and had little knowledge of animal behaviour. Attacks can be mitigated through proper management of habitats inside the Park and raising awareness of wildlife behaviour among local people. We recommend establishing a participatory emergency rescue team to deal with problematic animals in high-risk areas.

scholarly journals Nutrient Analysis of Grass Species Consumed by Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Unicornis) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Thakur ◽  
C.R. Upreti ◽  
K. Jha
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Slight Variation ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Nutrient Analysis ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Rhinoceros Unicornis ◽  
Chitwan National Park

The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found almost exclusively in Nepal and North-Eastern India. There have beenonly a few studies made on the food and the nutrient compositions of fodder species preferred by The Greater One- horned Rhinoceros. Thepresent study identifies the nutrient content of the fodder species consumed by One-horned rhinoceros which would be helpful to develop proper strategies for rhinoceros food management. For this altogether 8 grass species which were most preferred by rhinoceros were collected from Chitwan National Park. Systematic sampling was applied for sample collection and collected samples were taken to the Animal Nutrition Laboratory, Khumaltar for nutrient analysis. Among all the collected species the highest OM% was seen in Faank (93.98 ± 0.88) while Ash% and CP% was found to be highest in Eragrastic Tenella (13.67 ± 2.92) and Phragmatic karka (11.94 ± 2.26) respectively. Lowest NDF% was again seen in Eragrastic tenella (76.76 ± 2.93) and lowest ADF% and ADL% were found in Mala dubo with mean values (43.50 ± 6.86) and (6.41 ± 2.16) respectively showing high digestibility of these grasses. There were only slight variation in the EE% of the grass species withhighest mean value of (3.702 ± 1.73) of Imperata cylindrical to lowest mean value of (1.722 ± 0.11) of Eragrastic tenella. Highest energy was found in Faank (4181.90 ±1.10) and Calcium content was seen highest in Cynodon dactylon (1.30 ± 0.83).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i4.11119 Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(4): 402-408 

scholarly journals Fine-scale spatio-temporal variation in tiger Panthera tigris diet: effect of study duration and extent on estimates of tiger diet in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Kapfer ◽  
Henry M. Streby ◽  
Bhim Gurung ◽  
Achara Simcharoen ◽  
Charles C. McDougal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variation ◽  
National Park ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Study Duration ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Sharing schistosomes: the elephant schistosome Bivitellobilharzia nairi also infects the greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Devkota ◽  
S.V. Brant ◽  
A. Thapa ◽  
E.S. Loker
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Digenetic Trematode ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Rhinoceros Unicornis ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Distinct Genus ◽  
Freshwater Habitats ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
First Time

AbstractBecause the digenetic trematode fauna of Nepal is poorly known, we began to search for schistosomes in and around Chitwan National Park (CNP) of southern Nepal. Both domestic and wild Indian elephants (Elephus maximus) are present, and we found one of two dung samples from wild elephants and 1 of 22 (4.5%) dung samples from domestic elephants to be positive for schistosome eggs. The morphology of the eggs and both cox1 and 28S sequences derived from the eggs/miracidia were consistent with Bivitellobilharzia nairi, reported here for the first time from Nepal. Also, 7 of 14 faecal samples from the Asian or greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) contained viable eggs indistinguishable from those of B. nairi. This identification was confirmed by comparison with both cox1 and 28S sequences from B. nairi eggs/miracidia derived from Nepalese and Sri Lankan elephants. This represents the first sequence-verified identification of a schistosome from any species of rhinoceros, and the first verified occurrence of a representative of Bivitellobilharzia (a genus of ‘elephant schistosomes’) in mammals other than elephants. Our work suggests that elephants and rhinos share B. nairi in CNP, even though these two members of the ‘charismatic megafauna’ belong to unrelated mammalian families. Their shared life style of extensive contact with freshwater habitats likely plays a role, although the snail intermediate host and mode of definitive host infection for B. nairi have yet to be documented. This report also supports Bivitellobilharzia as a monophyletic group and its status as a distinct genus within Schistosomatidae.

scholarly journals Prey selection by Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris tigris (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) of Chitwan National Park, Nepal

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 8081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saneer Lamichhane ◽  
Bibhuti Ranjan Jha
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
National Park ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Prey Composition ◽  
The Status ◽  
Panthera Tigris Tigris ◽  
Chitwan National Park

<p>Prey selection by tiger in Chitwan National Park, Nepal was studied from 77 tiger scats that contained the remains of principal prey species.  The scats were collected from January to March 2010.  Government reports on herbivore population in Chitwan provided the base data on density of principal prey species.  In order to understand prey selectivity, the observed proportion of prey species in the scats were compared with the expected proportion derived from density estimates.  The observed scat frequency of Sambar, Hog Deer and Wild Boar was found to be greater than the estimated frequency, and the reverse was true for Chital and Muntjac.  The average weight of the principal prey species killed was 84 kg. According to our results, Chital and Sambar constituted the bulk (82.07%), and Hog Deer, Wild Boar, and Muntjac constituted 17.93% of the tiger diet.  Sambar contributed the largest bulk (43.75%) of prey composition, but Chital constituted the relatively most killed (50.36%) prey species.  The present study makes a contribution to an understanding of the status of prey composition in tiger scat in Chitwan during the year 2010.  The study also highlights that both large and medium sized prey are important for the conservation of tiger in Chitwan National Park.</p><div> </div>

scholarly journals Diet of Bengal Tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivish Bhandari ◽  
Mukesh Kumar Chalise ◽  
Chiranjibi Prasad Pokharel
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Small Component ◽  
Axis Axis ◽  
Panthera Tigris Tigris ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Muntiacus Muntjak ◽  
Cervus Unicolor ◽  
Wild Pig

AbstractWe studied the diet of the Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, by identifying 109 prey items from 85 tiger scats. Tigers in this region fed upon eight different mammal species. Chital (Axis axis) was the major prey with a frequency of 45% of the Tigers’ diet. The occurrence of other prey species included sambar (Cervus unicolor, 23%), wild pig (Sus scrofa, 15%), hog deer (Axis porcinus, 9%), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak, 4%), and gaur (Bos gaurus, 2%). Tigers also hunted livestock, but this prey comprised a small component of the relative biomass (buffalo 5% and cow 2%). Our study suggests that the tiger depends mostly upon wild prey for its subsistence in the Chitwan National Park, but will also sporadically hunt livestock.

scholarly journals Living with tigers Panthera tigris: patterns, correlates, and contexts of human–tiger conflict in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajendra Dhungana ◽  
Tommaso Savini ◽  
Jhamak Bahadur Karki ◽  
Maheshwar Dhakal ◽  
Babu Ram Lamichhane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Livestock Depredation ◽  
Development Committee ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Village Development Committee ◽  
Spatio Temporal

AbstractHuman–tiger conflict arises when tigers Panthera tigris attack people or their livestock, and poses a significant threat to both tigers and people. To gain a greater understanding of such conflict we examined spatio-temporal patterns, correlates, causes and contexts of conflict in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, and its buffer zone, during 2007–2014. Data, mostly from compensation applications, were collected from the Park office. Fifty-four human casualties (32 fatalities, 22 injuries) and 351 incidents of livestock depredation were recorded, clustered in defined areas, with 75.9% of human casualties occurring in the buffer zone and 66.7% within 1 km of the Park boundary. A linear model indicated there was a significant increase in human casualties during 2007–2014. Livestock were killed in proportion to their relative availability, with goats suffering the highest depredation (55%). There was a positive correlation between livestock depredation and National Park frontage (the length of Village Development Committee/municipality boundary abutting the National Park), but not human population, livestock population, forest area in the buffer zone, rainfall or temperature. There was no relationship between tiger attacks on people and any of the correlates examined. Wild prey density was not correlated with conflict. Of the tigers removed because of conflict, 73.3% were male. The majority of attacks on people occurred during accidental meetings (77.8%), mostly while people were collecting fodder or fuelwood (53.7%), and almost half (48.2%) occurred in the buffer zone forests. We recommend the use of the conflict map developed here in the prioritization of preventive measures, and that strategies to reduce conflict should include zoning enforcement, improvement of livestock husbandry, participatory tiger monitoring, an insurance scheme, and community awareness.

scholarly journals Population status, structure and distribution of the greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis in Nepal

Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naresh Subedi ◽  
Shant Raj Jnawali ◽  
Maheshwar Dhakal ◽  
Narendra M.B. Pradhan ◽  
Babu Ram Lamichhane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Null Model ◽  
Closed Population ◽  
Rhinoceros Unicornis ◽  
Detection Probabilities ◽  
Potential Habitats ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Wildlife Reserve ◽  
Abundance And Distribution

AbstractWe assessed the abundance and distribution of the greater one-horned or Indian rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis in all its potential habitats in Nepal, using block counts. In April 2011 5,497 km were searched in 3,548 elephant-hours over 23 days. The validity of the block count was assessed by comparing it with counts obtained from long-term monitoring using photographic identification of individual rhinoceroses (ID-based), and estimates obtained by closed population sighting–mark–resighting in the 214 km2 of Chitwan National Park. A total of 534 rhinoceroses were found during the census, with 503 in Chitwan National Park (density 1 km−2), 24 in Bardia National Park (0.28 km−2) and seven in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (0.1 km−2). In Chitwan 66% were adults, 12% subadults and 22% calves, with a female : male ratio of 1.24. The population estimate from sighting–mark–resighting was 72 (95% CI 71–78). The model with different detection probabilities for males and females had better support than the null model. In the Sauraha area of Chitwan estimates of the population obtained by block count (77) and ID-based monitoring (72) were within the 95% confidence interval of the estimate from sighting–mark–resighting. We recommend a country-wide block count for rhinoceroses every 3 years and annual ID-based monitoring in a sighting–mark–resighting framework within selected subpopulations. The sighting–mark–resighting technique provides the statistical rigour required for population estimates of the rhinoceros in Nepal and elsewhere.

scholarly journals Sex-Specific Habitat Suitability Modeling for Panthera tigris in Chitwan National Park, Nepal: Broader Conservation Implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 13885
Author(s):  
Li An ◽  
Eve Bohnett ◽  
Curtis Battle ◽  
Jie Dai ◽  
Rebecca Lewison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
National Park ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Habitat Suitability Modeling ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Males And Females

Although research on wildlife species across taxa has shown that males and females may differentially select habitat, sex-specific habitat suitability models for endangered species are uncommon. We developed sex-specific models for Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris) based on camera trapping data collected from 20 January to 22 March 2010 within Chitwan National Park, Nepal, and its buffer zone. We compared these to a sex-indiscriminate habitat suitability model to assess the benefits of a sex-specific approach to habitat suitability modeling. Our sex-specific models produced more informative and detailed habitat suitability maps and highlighted vital differences in the spatial distribution of suitable habitats for males and females, specific associations with different vegetation types, and habitat use near human settlements. Improving and refining habitat models for this and other critically endangered species provides the necessary information to meet established conservation goals and population recovery targets.

scholarly journals Invasive mikania in Chitwan National Park, Nepal: the threat to the greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis and factors driving the invasion

Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean T. Murphy ◽  
Naresh Subedi ◽  
Shant Raj Jnawali ◽  
Babu Ram Lamichhane ◽  
Gopal Prasad Upadhyay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Tall Grass ◽  
Native Flora ◽  
Rhinoceros Unicornis ◽  
Chitwan National Park

AbstractAs part of a census of the Indian rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis a survey was conducted to measure the extent of invasion by the neotropical plant mikania Mikania micrantha across major habitats of Chitwan National Park important for the conservation of the rhinoceros. Previous work has demonstrated that this fire-adapted plant can smother and kill native flora such as grasses and sapling trees, several of which are important fodder plants of the rhinoceros. Here, additional studies were conducted on the risks of anthropogenic factors (natural resource collection and grassland burning) contributing to the spread and growth of the plant. Mikania is currently found across 44% of habitats sampled and almost 15% of these have a high infestation (> 50% coverage). Highest densities were recorded from riverine forest, tall grass and wetland habitats and this is where the highest numbers of rhinoceroses were recorded in the habitats surveyed during the census. Local community dependence on natural resources in the core area of the Park is high. The range and volume of resources (e.g. fodder) collected and the distances travelled all pose a high risk of the spread of mikania. Of greater significance is the annual burning of the grasslands in the Park by local communities, estimated at 25–50% of the total area. It is imperative, therefore, that core elements of a management plan for mikania incorporate actions to control burning, reduce spread and raise awareness about best practice for local resource management by local communities.

scholarly journals Past, present and future conservation of the greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis in Nepal

Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanchan Thapa ◽  
Santosh Nepal ◽  
Gokarna Thapa ◽  
Shiv Raj Bhatta ◽  
Eric Wikramanayake
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Civil Strife ◽  
North West ◽  
Rhinoceros Unicornis ◽  
Dramatic Decline ◽  
Founder Populations ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Wildlife Reserve

AbstractUntil the early 1980s the only surviving population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis in Nepal was in Chitwan National Park. Between 1986 and 2003 87 rhinoceroses from Chitwan were translocated into Bardia National Park and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in the western terai region to establish founder populations and reduce the threat of local extinction from natural catastrophic events, disease and/or poaching. The founder populations increased in number through births but a rise in poaching during the period of civil strife in Nepal during 1996–2006 resulted in a dramatic decline in the populations, including in Chitwan. In 2001 the Terai Arc Landscape programme was initiated to connect 11 protected areas in Nepal and north-west India and facilitate dispersal of megafauna and manage them as metapopulations. Corridors that were restored under the programme and that connect Bardia and Suklaphanta with protected areas in India are now used by the greater one-horned rhinoceros. The successes and failures of the last 2 decades indicate that new paradigms for protecting rhinoceroses within and outside protected areas are needed, especially with reference to managing this species at a landscape scale.

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