Publications

Population and conservation threats to the vulnerable Sarus crane Grus antigone in Nepal

Globally, biodiversity is declining due to habitat loss and degradation, over-exploitation, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and infrastructure development. These threats affect the populations of large waterbird species, such as Sarus crane (Grus antigone), which inhabits agricultural–wetland ecosystems. Despite the burgeoning built-up areas and diminishing agricultural and wetland spaces, scant...

Occurrence and temporal overlap of sympatric jungle cats and leopard cats in Parsa‒Koshi Complex, Nepal

Co-occurrence and spatial and temporal overlap of sympatric jungle and leopard cats are influenced by habitat preferences, and interspecific competition. Understanding these factors influence is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies. We conducted a camera survey in Parsa‒Koshi Complex (PKC), Nepal during December 2022–March 2023 to investigate factors influencing occupancy...

Factors influencing Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) burrow selection in the Chandragiri-Champadevi hills of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) confronts challenges from illegal hunting, trading, and habitat degradation. Therefore, it is imperative to establish and implement effective conservation strategies at both local and regional levels. However, there is limited information, particularly within the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, underscoring the significance of local-level habitat characterization...

Knowledge, attitudes, and conservation challenges for the Lesser Adjutant in Nepal

The knowledge and attitudes of local communities are essential for understanding the distribution, ecology, and pertinent threats to bird species, particularly those existing beyond protected areas. Despite the reliance of large waterbirds like storks on human-dominated landscapes, research in this domain is limited across its range. To address this knowledge gap,...

Factors affecting the occupancy of sloth bear and its detection probability in Parsa–Koshi Complex, Nepal

Understanding factors associated with coexistence of human and wildlife in human-dominated landscapes is crucial for effective species conservation. Among the wildlife species, the sloth bears Melursus ursinus are found both inside and outside the protected areas of Nepal, and with increasing cases of human and bear conflicts in both areas. This highlights...

Effects of anthropogenic and ecological factors on Himalayan goral in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal

The Himalayan goral (Naemorhedus goral) is facing threats, such as habitat degradation and human disturbances, which are increasing. To aid their conservation, it is crucial to understand the anthropogenic and ecological factors that influence Himalayan goral occurrence. We conducted a study in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal using remote cameras to detect...

Effects of invasive water hyacinth on fish diversity and abundance in the Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley, Nepal

Water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) invasion is a growing global issue which poses a threat to aquatic life. As in the global context, the water hyacinth invasion is increasing rapidly in the lakes of Pokhara valley which is listed in Ramsar sites. Its effect on aquatic life is little known. This study...

Analyzing White-rumped Vulture breeding behavior using Markovian modeling

Understanding wildlife behavior, including accurate identification, processing, and interpretation of activities or cues, is important to behavioral biology and corresponding conservation strategies. We characterized the breeding activities of the critically endangered White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis following a sequential pattern from courtship to fledging. We recorded 4,160 visual observations of 20 behaviors of eight...

Drivers of power line collisions and electrocutions of birds in Nepal

Among the several anthropogenic factors, power lines are increasingly regarded as one of the most significant hazards to bird species, primarily owing to collisions and electrocutions. Nepal has comparatively fewer studies on the impact of power line collisions and electrocution on birds compared with developed nations. From November 2021 to...