scholarly journals Factors Affecting Population Composition and Social Organization of Wild Ungulates in the Chitwan National Park, Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai ◽  
Pavel Kindlmann

We investigated the factors affecting group sizes and population composition of chital (Axis axis), sambar (Rusa unicolor), hog deer (Axis porcinus), northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and gaur (Bos gaurus) in the Chitwan National Park in southern Nepal. The study revealed that mean group sizes were the largest for chital (winter: 13.76 and summer: 11.01), followed by wild boar (winter: 6.89 and summer: 8.51), hog deer (winter: 5.52 and summer: 6.66), gaur (winter: 4.36 and summer: 5.81), sambar (winter: 1.86 and summer: 2.45) and muntjac (winter: 1.44 and summer: 1.46). The age and sex ratio of ungulates were biased towards females in all species. This study found the highest proportion of young individuals in wild boar and the lowest in gaur. Habitat structure, presence of predators and human disturbances strongly affected group size of ungulates in this area. Larger groups of ungulates were found in less disturbed open areas with high predatory pressure, while smaller groups and solitary individuals were found in highly disturbed forest areas. We recommend that management of human disturbances inside the park and regular monitoring of the changes in the demography of ungulate populations will improve long-term conservation strategies in this park. Journal of Institute of Science and TechnologyVolume 22, Issue 2, January 2018, Page: 156-167

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Lal Rajbhandari ◽  
Paras Mani Acharya

This study was carried out to investigate the habitats and abundance of the Gharials in Narayani river of Chitwan National Park from 2012 to 2013. A total of 38 Gharials including 3 hatchlings, 8 juveniles, 12 sub-adults and 15 adults were recorded during the study period. Only one breeding male was observed reflecting the critical condition for the breeding in the wild within Chitwan National Park. The abundance of the gharial was restricted in 2 areas, namely Khoria muhan and Velaunji due to suitability of the habitat conditions and minimum human disturbances. The Basking activities in relation to depth showed that > 80 % of the Gharials selected sandy banks. Among the 2 populations, the gharials in Khoria muhan preferred shallow to moderate depth of water because of presence of braided channels in the area. In contrast, the Gharials in Velaunji select deep water course of the main channel. The park management must adopt conservation measures such as ban of fishing and regular monitoring of habitats and population to maintain long term conservation of gharials in Narayani river.J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 27, 2013: 1-11


Author(s):  
Brian Miller ◽  
Hank Harlow

Our objective is to establish a long-term monitoring project that will assess the abundance and densities of selected species of mammals at sites representing five defined vegetation types found in Grand Teton National Park. The term monitoring implies data collection over multiple years. Taking long term estimations of population composition before, during, and after biotic and abiotic changes provides needed information to assess the impacts of such changes and furnish useful options for management decisions. This standardized monitoring plan will provide information on small and medium-sized mammals that will (1) assess species use of habitat, (2) monitor changes in species composition as a result of environmental change, such as precipitation and temperature, (3) produce predictive models of small and medium-sized mammal distribution based on vegetation type, and (4) analyze the impact of wolf colonization on the mammal (and plant) community.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 8081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saneer Lamichhane ◽  
Bibhuti Ranjan Jha

<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>


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-60
Author(s):  
Bed Bahadur Khadka ◽  
Babu Ram Lamichhane

In riverine forest of Chitwan National Park, Nepal, Bhellar or trewia (Trewia nudiflora) is one of the most abundant tree species. Similarly, chital (Axis axis) is the most abundant and widely distributed deer species. We documented the potential role of chital in seed dispersal of trewia tree in Chitwan. We observed the trewia seeds regurgitated by chital at the Gharial Conservation and Breeding Center (GCBC), Kasara, Chitwan. The trewia seeds were recorded the following morning of the chital sheltering the GCBC. A detailed study is suggested to understand trewia the seed germination success and trewia-chital relationship.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-127
Author(s):  
E.J.T. Van Gils ◽  
V.J. Ingram ◽  
D. Midoko Iponga ◽  
K. Abernethy

Traditional, forest resource-dependent livelihoods face multiple challenges. In Gabon, bushmeat provides food and income for rural communities. This study investigates how villagers believe livelihood practices and dependence on bushmeat changed over the last decade and if alternative income and food generating strategies can be sustainable. Our results show that remote villages near Moukalaba Doudou National Park hardly changed practices. Less remote villages near Tchibanga experienced declining hunting revenues and are switching to alternatives. Villages near Libreville almost completely changed strategies, and are no longer dependent on forest resources. Changes in livelihood practices were driven either by resource depletion or urbanization. The ability to change depended on proximity to facilities and infrastructure. Although most respondents were able to change, not all alternative strategies are sustainable. The results highlight the need to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of alternative poverty reduction and nature conservation strategies in a context of urbanization and food security. There is a need to reduce bushmeat demand, making supply more sustainable through effective resource governance and creating a conducive institutional and policy environment.


1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Bubela ◽  
Robert Bartell ◽  
Warren Müller

The factors that affect the trappability of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) in alpine and subalpine New South Wales were examined by means of treadle snares. Trapping (1) on animal tracks without the use of a bait or lure, and (2) by setting snares around a bait, led to the capture of individuals of both sexes and all age-classes. A greater number of foxes was captured per number of snares set in winter than in other seasons because of the commensal foraging patterns of foxes at this time. Foxes were more likely to be caught within 100 m of their home-range boundaries during snow-free months and outside their home ranges while foraging at ski resorts in winter. Snares were found to be difficult to set, and foxes were captured in only 50% of sprung snares. Treadle snares caused no apparent long-term injuries to 40 red foxes that were radio- tracked and observed for 1–24 months after capture.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivish Bhandari ◽  
Mukesh Kumar Chalise ◽  
Chiranjibi Prasad Pokharel

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.


Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naresh Subedi ◽  
Shant Raj Jnawali ◽  
Maheshwar Dhakal ◽  
Narendra M.B. Pradhan ◽  
Babu Ram Lamichhane ◽  
...  

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol x (x) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Aman KC ◽  
Tri Dev Acharya ◽  
Nimisha Wagle ◽  
Dong Ha Lee

2014 ◽  
Vol 174 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J. Cano-Manuel ◽  
Jorge López-Olvera ◽  
Paulino Fandos ◽  
Ramón C. Soriguer ◽  
Jesús M. Pérez ◽  
...  

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