Conservation and Ecology of Critically Endangered Dark Sitana (Sitana fusca) in Nepal

by Up coming Project

Nepal is home to three species of sitana lizards, namely Shuklaphanta sitana (Sitana schleichi), Sivalik sitana (Sitana sivalensis) and the Dark sitana (Sitana fusca) belonging to family Agamidae. Among these three species, the Dark sitana is an endemic lizard listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. In Nepal, Dark sitana is known only from Madhesh Province; and the type specimen was found in Bardibas, in Madhesh Province. The Bardibas area is growing rapidly as a transit point, connecting Madhesh province to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. The ongoing expansion and urban development of the Bardibas area is a major conservation challenge for the species. Moreover, ecological information (such as abundance, distribution, and threats) and the natural history of this lizard are poorly understood. Very few conservation organizations are working in the area and even fewer are aware of the existence of the species and its critical conservation status.

This project will generate ecological data including distribution, abundance, habitat characteristics and identification of key threats. This information will set a baseline for long term monitoring and inform the development of a conservation strategy. In addition, a conservation outreach component of the project will raise the profile of this species among key stakeholders and local communities, improving conservation outcomes for Dark sitana. Key outputs will include occurrence maps showing conservation sensitive zones and site-specific conservation measures. Conservation outreach activities will raise awareness of and develop support for Dark sitana conservation. This will drive behaviour change to reduce activities which impact Dark sitana, including the use of intentional fire in Dark sitana habitat.

Supported by : The Rufford Foundation, UK

The potential distribution of yellow monitor, Varanus flavescens (Hardwick & Gray) under multiple climate, land cover and dispersal scenarios

by Scientific_Papers

Authors: Suraj Baral, Amar Kunwar, Dipendra Adhikari, Kanti Kandel, Dev Narayan Mandal, Arjun Thapa, Dinesh Neupane and Tej Bahadur Thapa

Abstract: Context. Human-induced changes in climate and land cover have altered the distribution of fauna around the globe. Some reptiles have been found to be vulnerable to these changes; therefore, studies to identify the impact of the changes on other groups of reptiles are necessary. Aims. We aimed to study the impact of climate and land cover change on the yellow monitor (Varanus flavescens) in Nepal. We also aimed to identify the current distribution range and predict the potential distribution under multiple climate change, corresponding land cover change, and dispersion scenarios in the near-and mid-future. Methods. We used available presence locations with a candidate set of the least-correlated environmental variables and an Ensemble of Small Models (ESM), a Species Distribution Model (SDM) approach suitable for species with small sample size. Additionally, dispersal scenarios of 1 km, 5 km, and 10 km were added to the model to determine the future distribution under the dispersal scenarios. Key results. We found soil particle size, distance to forest, precipitation of wettest quarter, bulk density, and elevation were the five most important variables contributing to the distribution of the species. The Terai lowland and wide valleys in Outer Himalayas are currently suitable but are expected to experience a substantial decrease under most future climate projections and dispersal scenarios. Conclusions. The distribution is mostly dependent on soil-related variables; however, climatic variables might have a greater impact on future suitability. Implications. Limiting emissions contributing to climatic changes, conserving the soil outside the protected areas, and the potential areas where the species will not experience habitat loss might contribute to the conservation of the species.

Paper link:

Hyna (कुचिकार )

by News

हेलामा परेको प्रकृतिको कुचिकार ‘हाइना’

काठमाडौँ – अमेरिकाको विस्कन्सिन-म्याडिसन विश्वविद्यालयबाट बाघबारे अध्ययन गर्न आएकी सामन्था हेलेले दाङ र बाँकेको राप्ती नदीको छेउछाउ तथा जंगल नजिकका बस्तीमा ३२ वटा क्यामेरा राखिन्। बाघका लागि राखिएको क्यामेरामा उनले नसोचेको हाइना पनि देखिए। अनि उनले आफ्नो इन्ष्टाग्राममा हाइनाको तस्बिर राख्दै लेखिन्:

हाइनाज्? नेपालमा? हो !

 

हामीले हाम्रो क्यामेरामा स्ट्राइप भएका बाघहरू मात्र  कैद गरेका छैनौँ।

स्ट्राइप हाइना ‘धारीदार हाइना’ (ह्याना हाइना) नेपालमा अत्यन्त दुर्लभ र लोपोन्मुख छन्। यो अनुमान गरिएको छ कि देशभरि १०० भन्दा कम हाइनाहरु छन्।

यी जनावरहरूलाई क्यामेरामा कैद गर्नु एकदमै गज्जबको खुसी हो!

‘म हाइनाबारे जानकार होइन तर मैले बाघका लागि राखेका अधिकांश क्यामेरामा हाइना परेको छ,’ उनले भनिन्, ‘मैले पूर्ण रुपमा क्यामेरा अध्ययन त गरेको छैन तर १२ वटा जति हाइना मेरो क्यामेरा पेरका छन्।’

बाघमा विद्यावारिधि गरिरहेकी हेले करिब ५ महिनादेखि नेपालमा छिन् र चितवन, नवलपरासी, दाङ, बाँकेलगायतका क्षेत्रलाई आधार बनाएर बाघको आनीबानी अध्ययन गरिरहेकी छन्।

नेपालमा स्ट्राइप हाइनाको संख्या यति नै छ भन्ने तथ्याङ्क त छैन तर बढेको अनुमान गरिएको छ। पछिल्लो समय विभिन्न ठाउँमा हाइनाको मुभमेन्ट देखिने गरेको छ, जसको पुष्टि सामन्था हेलेले राखेका क्यामेरामा परेको संख्याले गरेको छ।

नेपालमा कहाँ–कहाँ भेटिएका छन्?

 

Source : https://deshsanchar.com/

Chilapata rain-pool frog

by News

Chilapata rain-pool frog spotted for the first time from Nepal

NCRC’s team members have recorded a new frog species for Nepal from Morang district and Barandabhar corridor forest, Chitwan, Nepal. The frog known as Chilapata rain-pool frog (Minervarya chilapata), the name Chilapata rain-pool frog has been given to this species because it was described from Chilapata Reserve Forest of West Bengal, India.

Chilapata rain-pool frog

Chilapata rain-pool frog from Morang, Nepal. Photo: Bivek Gautam

The physical appearance and characters on the body of the frog with brown backed body with golden whitish mid dorsal line, upper lip of the frog with white line and belly part whitish and side part of body with black stripe made this frog different from other known Minervaryan frogs from Nepal. On closer look, the whitish vocal sac also differed from all other known species.   After careful observation, physical and measurement of the body parts and call analysis of the male frogs, it turned to be a new species record for Nepal and confirmed to be Chilapata rain-pool frog.  Recently, the observation of this frog has been published in the journal Herpetozoa by the team members Bivek Gautam (BRCS) and Santosh Bhattarai. For full paper, click on the (Link)

Media coverage about the Chilapata rain-pool frog (In Nepali)

Softshell_Turtle

by News

A success story: Eggs hatching and release into the wild of an Endangered Narrow-headed softshell turtle from Chitwan, Nepal.

Chitwan National Park is famous for rhinos and tigers, hold second largest population of Greater one-horned rhino in the world and known as ‘rhino land’ as this park hosts highest number of Greater one-horned rhinos and tigers in Nepal. The occurrence of highly charismatic species such as rhinos and tigers have received conservation attentions by park authorities and other conservation agencies. The conservation interventions only for these charismatic species have kept other species such as turtle into “shadow”. A recent study on “Notes on sucessful Nest Relocation of Chitra indica (Gray, 1831) from Chitwan National Park, Nepal” by Bed Bahadur Khada, Saneer Lamichhane and NCRC team member Santosh Bhattarai highlights the conservation actions needed for and Endangered turtle species, Narrow-headed softshell turtle.

Chitwan National Park experiences irregular floods every year. The construction of dyke on the bank of the river towards village side to save buffer zone villages of the park and excavation of riverbed materials (such as sand, gravel, stone etc) have changed the habitat of aquatic animals such as turtles and crocodiles and has limited the safer nesting grounds for such aquatic animals. The team observed three nests of Narrow-headed softshell turtle in flood prone inundation zone in the Rapti river of Chitwan National Park.

Figure 1. Nest of Narrow-headed softshell turtle in Rapti river, Chitwan National Park. Photo: Bed Khadka

The team relocated safely collected 496 eggs from three nests from the riverbank and relocated to the safer site with same size and dimension nests. The eggs incubated and hatched in seminatural condition and hatchlings emerged in 54 ( averaged days for three nests).

Figure 2. Hatchlings from relocated nest. Photo: Bed Khadka

Out of 496 eggs, 375 hatchlings were safely released in the wild in the Rapti river of Chitwan National Park. The successful eggs collection, hatching in safer site and release into the wild is a success story of and Endangered turtle species to send back the hatchlings in their original home. However, its is and indicative that there is many actions awaiting to safeguard the nesting and breeding habitat of turtles and other aquatic habitat. Park authorities and tiger and rhino centric conservation agencies should implement integrated conservation steps.

Figure 3. Hatchlings of Narrow-headed softshell turtle after release into the wild in Rapti river. Photo: Bed Khakda

Media Coverage

Rare turtles hatch from eggs rescued from flood-prone Nepal riverbank

A new lizard for Nepal spotted

by News

A new lizard for Nepal spotted from Nepal’s “FORGOTTON TIGER LAND”

NCRC’s team members have recorded a new lizard species for Nepal from Chure hills of Morang district, Nepal. The lizard known as Sikkim grass lizard (Takydromus sikkimensis), the name Sikkim has been given to this species because it was discovered from Sikkim in 1888. The researchers are worried for its conservation because it is already categorized as Endangered by IUCN.

Figure 1. Sikkim Grass lizard from Miklajung Morang. Photo: Bivek Gautam

During biodiversity survey in Chure range of Miklajung Morang, a team of researchers from Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society and Nepal Conservation and Research Center spotted a lizard which was not previously encountered by them. The physical appearance of the lizard with brown upper body parts and greenish coloration on mouth and underparts stroke in mind of the team “this is something which never been reported before from Nepal”. On close observation and after measuring the body parts and counting the physical characters of the body, the lizard turned to be a new species record for Nepal and known as Sikkim grass lizard (Takydromus sikkimensis); previously thought to be found only in the state of Sikkim, India (hence the species name is named as sikkimensis). Recently, the observation of this lizard has been published in the journal Herpetozoa by the team members Bivek Gautam, Santosh Bhattarai and Ram Chandra Kandel ( link).

The lizard is a diurnal species which becomes active during the daytime. The lizard was first spotted from upper Chure region of Miklajung Mornag from Schima-Castonopis mixed forest. Although the new record has been published from Miklajung Morang, “We later spotted this species from Panchthar and Ilam districts during our other herpetofauna expeditions” Said Bivek Gautam. The lizard has already been listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List due to human induced survival threats to the species.

The lizard was spotted approximately 100 km west from its previously reported location in Sikkim, India. “The habitat we recorded in Nepal is also facing same grave threat for the survival of the lizards, the Chure hills in Nepal is most vulnerable landscape in Nepal with unregulated resource extraction” said Santosh Bhattarai, herpetologist from Nepal Conservation and Research Center. Bhattarai also added “Even Nepal’s tiger centric conservation efforts by the Government of Nepal and conservation organizations have overlooked the conservation potential of Chure/Sivalik hill ranges. Therefore, this hill range is also sometimes termed as “Forgotten tiger land” by the tiger experts of Nepal”. The efforts should be made for regular monitoring of the biodiversity of the Chure hills of Nepal and biodiversity rich areas should be taken into account for conservation and management.

Some media coverage about the Sikkim Grass Lizard (In English)

An elusive lizard thought to live only in India makes an appearance in Nepal

Some media coverage about the Sikkim Grass Lizard (In Nepali)

नेपालमा भेटियो ‘सिक्किम छेपारो’

नेपालमा भेटियो छेपारोको नयाँ प्रजाति

नेपालमा भेटियो छेपारोको नयाँ प्रजाति

Nayapatrikadaily.com

Ekantipur.com

Himalkhabar.com

Nepalipatra.com

Lokaantar.com

Nepalsamaya.com

Himalayan Salamander Conservation Project

by Up coming Project

Project Highlight

Name: Salamander Conservation Project

Location: Eastern Nepal

Target: Salamander, Local communities

Team: Bivek   & Santosh

Himalayan Salamander (Tylototriton himalayanus) is a lizard like amphibian species found only in eastern Nepal and Darjeeling region of India. The Himalayan Salamander is the only species of Salamander found in Nepal. Although it appears like lizard, it lacks scales on its body. The occurrence of Himalayan salamander outside of Protected Area Network where conservation actions for lesser-known species such as Himalayan salamander is a major survival challenge.

Himalayan Salamander in eastern Nepal is facing multiple threats such as introduction of exotic fishes on its habitats (i.e., natural ponds), modification of its habitat into picnic spots or
recreation sites are some visible threats among many others. Due to very few conservation interventions in eastern Nepal; many people are ignorant about the ecological, biological and survival importance of Himalayan salamander. The local extirpation of Himalayan salamander will make us lose an amphibian order from Nepal. Realizing the immediate conservation need of Himalayan Salamander; Nepal conservation and Research Center (NCRC) and Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society (BRCS) have initiated community-based Himalayan salamander conservation project in Nepal. The project aims to outreach various levels of stakeholders such as women; local leaders, farmers and school/college students and help them understand the ecological significance of the only caudate found in Nepal. The project will also gather ecological information of Himalayan salamander in Nepal. Nepal Conservation and Research Center.

Himalayan Salamander (Tylototriton himalayanus) (Photo: Santosh Bhattarai)

Biodiversity Resource Inventory

by Up coming Project

Project Highlight

Name: Biodiversity Resource Inventory

Location: Dhankuta

Target: Herpetofauna, Orchids , Medicinal   & aromatic Plants (MAPs)

Team: Bivek , Rijan  & Santosh

Biodiversity is the totality of life forms in an area with specified time. The biodiversity in Nepal continues to decline at alarming rate specially outside of the Protected Area systems. Biodiversity inventory and documentation are mostly confined to Protected Area Networks and focused on large charismatic mammalian species. The Biodiversity Resource Inventory (BRI) is a collaborative project between Nepal Conservation and Research Center (NCRC) and Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society (BRCS) Nepal. The BRI project will be implemented at Chaubise Rural Municipality, Dhankuta, Nepal and will assess lesser prioritized taxa of fauna and flora. The BRI will focus on cataloguing herpetofauna, orchids and medicinal plants as pilot project. It will provide baseline information of amphibians and reptiles as well as orchids and medicinal plants of Chaubise Rural Municipality area. The findings from BRI will help making future management decisions, identify research and management needs and resolve taxonomic impediment. Nepal Conservation and Research Center.

 


 

Musalee (Murdannia spirata) Photo: Rijan Ojha