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Once believed to be regionally extinct in Nepal, the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa, was recorded in 1989 and again in recent years with two new photographic evidence from Annapurna Conservation Area and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park in 2011 and 2012. This year we recorded photographs of three individual clouded leopards from two locations in...
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... locations fall within the Siwalik hill range, the Himalayan foothills, with dense coverage of mixed hardwood forest. The de- tails of the trap location, nearest distance to settlement and the nearest distance to the tiger and leopard captured location are presented in Table 1. Unlike the clouded leopards reported by Dinerstein & Mehta (1989) which were found on degraded habitats with frequent interac- tion with humans, both the locations where clouded leopards were trapped during this study fall deep inside the core area of the park with minimum human disturbance. ...Similar publications
Seven species of wild cats were camera trapped in Royal Manas National Park
making it one of theSeven species of wild cats were camera trapped in Royal Manas National Park
making it one of the parks with the highest diversity of wildcats in the world and
hence rightly the title, ‘hotspot of felid diversity’. The camera trapped species were
tige...
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To date, the Jungle Cat Felis chaus has been recorded in the lowlands and mid-hills in Nepal. Photographic evidence, however, is scarce, particularly in alpine habitat. Here we present the first photographic records of the Jungle Cat in an alpine habitat in Lower Mustang of the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. It was recorded by camera traps at...
Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa was pictured during a camera trap study in
Sikles-Bhujung landscape in lower Annapurna Conservation Area from January–
March 2017. Two other species of felids common leopard Panthera pardus and leopard
cat Prionailurus bengalensis were found to be coexisting with clouded leopard.
Human disturbance in the study area...
Citations
... In Nepal, the clouded leopard is believed to be distributed along the mid-hills eastwards of the Annapurna Conservation Area (Ghimirey, Acharya, Adhikary, Werhahn, & Appel, 2013;Jnawali et al., 2011;Pandey, 2012), Chitwan National Park (Jnawali et al., 2011;Lamichhane, Dhakal, Subedi, & Pokheral, 2014), Parsa National Park (Poudel et al., 2019), Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (Ghimirey & Acharya, 2018;Jnawali et al., 2011), Langtang National Park (Borradaile, Green, Moon, Robinson, & Tait, 1977;Can et al., 2020); Makalu Barun National Park (Jnawali et al., 2011), Rara National Park (Jnawali et al., 2011), Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (Pandey, 2012. Outside protected areas, it has been recorded in several habitats in the eastern part of Nepal, namely the Sunsari (Ghimirey & Acharya, 2018;Jnawali et al., 2011) and Ilam (Jnawali et al., 2011) districts through Janakpur (the middle part of lowland Nepal) (Dinerstein & Mehta, 1989) to Kaski, Kailali, and Mugu (Jnawali et al., 2011) in the western part of Nepal. ...
Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN red list and is a protected species in Nepal. However, there is limited information on its status and distribution, which is a critical first step in conservation planning and management. To address this knowledge gap, this study attempts to: (a) predict the potential suitable habitat for the clouded leopard in Nepal with available occurrence point, (b) determine important variables (bioclimatic and environmental) responsible for its distribution and range limits, and (c) evaluate coverage of existing protected areas (PAs) in Nepal using MaxEnt modeling. The current model with a high discriminative ability (AUC = 0.945, TSS = 0.780) predicts 11,794 km² suitable habitat for clouded leopard in Nepal, of which 72% of the area is distributed outside the current protected areas network of Nepal. Most of these habitats lie in the Middle mountain and Hilly regions, distributed from the Pachthar Ilam Taplejung corridor in the east to Annapurna Conservation Area in the mid-central part of Nepal. The most important variables responsible for its distribution were the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Isothermality, and the precipitation of the coldest quarter associated with the forest cover landscape and climate. Deforestation and fragmentation of habitat and climate change in the Middle mountain and Hilly region, and occasional poaching are significant concerns, and may pose threats for the long-term conservation of this species. We recommend establishing community-based conservation areas in the Middle mountain and Hilly regions and investigating species distribution, status, and ecology, including its prey and habitat, across the Nepalese landscape. Identification of habitats and conservation opportunities is crucial for species' long-term conservation. Hence, the map produced here can serve as a reference for future investigations into clouded leopard distribution and could be a significant tool for formulating and implementing conservation strategies in Nepal.
... The subal- pine conifer forest in the area could be serving as potential habitat for this species. Clouded leopards are known to co-exist with other felids (Lamichhane et al. 2014). Therefore, it is highly possible that this species has been sharing the subalpine habitat with other felids such as snow leopard, common leopard and leopard cat which are confirmed in the area. ...
A pelt of clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa was discovered in a settlement of Tokpegola at an altitude of 3,751 m in Taplejung district lying in the north-east region
of Nepal. The key informant revealed that the pelt was extracted from a clouded
leopard killed in the forest adjacent to the village. The discovery of this pelt from this
village, previous records of pelts from adjacent areas and the tradition of organizing
yearly trade festivals suggests that this area is under high risk of wildlife trade.
... Each camera was checked on alternate days to ensure its functionality. The cameras were left for 15 nights in each grid (Karanth & Nicholas 2002;Pokheral 2002;Wang & MacDonald 2009;Thapa 2013;Lamichhane et al. 2014) with a sampling effort of 1,320 trap nights. The monitoring was conducted in two consecutive years, i.e., from March to April 2015 and from January to February 2016. ...
The systematic study in 2015 and 2016 documented the first camera trap image of the Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestes urva in Barandabhar Corridor Forest in Chitwan, Nepal. The corridor was divided into 88 grids, each of 1km by 1km. A pair of cameras was placed for 15 nights in each grid and the total camera trap night effort was 2,640. There were two separate events capturing three independent images and five separate events capturing seven independent images of the Crab-eating Mongoose in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Photo capture rate in camera traps were 0.01 and 0.03 respectively in 2015 and 2016. The presence of this species opens new scope for wildlife professionals and scientific communities to take further steps for its conservation.
... Prey occurs in relatively high densities in CNP and Table 2 Estimates of tiger and leopards density (animals 100 km −2 ) and abundance (N) for Chitwan National Park, Nepal obtained from Bayesian spatially explicit capture-recapture (B-SCR) implemented in SPACECAP (Gopalaswamy et al. 2012) the buffer zone (73 prey animals/km 2 ; Dhakal et al. 2014) but density is very low in the forests outside these areas due to high anthropogenic pressure and possibly hunting (Shrestha 2004;NTNC unpublished data). Increasing wild prey density in these forests is important to sustain the high density of tigers/leopards and reduce livestock depredation especially from dispersing (or pushed out) large cats Kolipaka 2018). Livestock contributed to only a small portion of the big cats' diets in Chitwna NP; lower than the previously reported by Bhattarai and Kindlmann (2012b). ...
We investigated the factors facilitating co-occurrence of two large carnivores, tigers (Panthera tigris) and common leopards (Panthera pardus), within a human-dominated landscape. We estimated their density and population size using camera-trap photographs and examined spatial segregation of habitats, temporal activity pattern, and diets in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. A Bayesian spatially-explicit capture-recapture model estimated densities of 3.2–4.6 (3.94 ± 0.37) tigers and 2.6–4.1 (3.31 ± 0.4) leopards per 100 km ² with abundance of 70–102 tigers and 66–105 leopards. Tigers occupied the prime habitats (grasslands and riverine forests) in alluvial floodplains of the Park whereas leopards appeared in Sal forests and marginal areas where livestock are present. Both tigers and leopards showed crepuscular activity patterns with a high overlap but tigers were less active during the day compared to leopards. Leopards’ activity in the day increased in the presence of tigers. Tiger and leopard diet overlapped considerably (90%). Compared to leopards, tigers consumed a higher proportion of the large prey and a smaller proportion of livestock. Our study demonstrates that sympatric large carnivores can coexist in high densities in prey rich areas that contain a mosaics of habitats. To increase the resilience and size of the Chitwan carnivore population, strategies are needed to increase prey biomass and prevent livestock depredation in adjacent forests. Long-term monitoring is also required to obtain a detailed understanding of the interaction between the large carnivores and their effects on local communities living in forest fringes within the landscape.
... Among the cat species, Clouded Leopard receives less attention from the conservation community in Nepal and is threatened by illegal wildlife trade and degrading habitat (Ghimirey & Acharya 2018). Though Hodgson (1853) reported its presence in Nepal already in the mid-18 th Century, it was recorded in different parts of the country only since the late 1980s (Dinerstein & Mehta 1989), such as in Dhanusa, Nawalparasi, and Kaski districts (Dinerstein & Mehta 1989), Annapurna Conservation Area (Appel et al. 2012;Ghimire et al. 2019), Shivapuri Nagarjun NP (Pandey 2012), and Chitwan NP (Ghimirey et al. 2014;Lamichhane et al. 2014). In recent years, Fishing Cat was recorded in Chitwan NP (Dahal & Dahal 2011;Mishra et al. 2018), Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (Taylor et al. 2016), Bardia NP (Yadav et al. 2018), Shuklaphanta NP (NTNC survey records, unpublished), and Jagadishpur Reservoir in Kapilvastu area of southwestern Nepal (Dahal 2016). ...
... Borah et al. (2014) reported frequent captures of the Clouded Leopard by camera traps set up on paths and animal trails in Manas NP. Also, Lamichhane et al. (2014) reported records of the species on the forest floor in Chitwan NP. The camera locations in Parsa NP were selected after an intensive search for signs such as scratch marks to maximize the probability of capturing the tiger. ...
Twelve cat species were recorded in Nepal including the largest, Tiger Panthera tigris, and the smallest, Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus. There is more research on the Panthera species than on small wild cats; consequently, the conservation status, distribution, and ecology of small cat species are poorly known. In this article, we report on the first photographic evidence of Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa and Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus in Parsa National Park in southern central Nepal during a camera trap survey targeted at the tiger between 2014 and 2016. There were only single detections of each species; this does not give enough information to establish distribution or conservation status of either of the species in Parsa National Park. Further targeted surveys are needed to establish the significance of this protected area for the conservation of these two species.
... The nearest confirmed record to Nepal is from Khangchengdzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim, India and further south in the Manas National Park, in Assam, India. Despite many extensive cameratrapping surveys in Chitwan National Park and other parts of Nepal, there have been no records of the live marbled cat (Dahal and Dahal 2017;Lamichhane et al. 2014;Lamichhane et al. 2016;Yadav et al. 2018). One skin of the species was collected by B. H. Hodgson and presented to the British Museum and labelled as 'Nepal' (Pocock 1939). ...
The marbled cat Pardofelismarmorata is a Near Threatened small felid. The cat’s presence in Nepal is based on an anecdote. A camera trap-based study to access diversity and abundance of terrestrial mammals in eastern Nepal accumulated 3,014 camera trap days and resulted in 5,176 photographs of 17 medium-large sized mammal species. Amongst them, a marbled cat was captured at a single camera trap station in January 2018. The camera trap-capturing the marbled cat was located in the secondary forest at an altitude of 2,750 m a.s.l., dominated by free-ranging cattle close to a permanent human settlement (1.4 km) and a temporary cattle herding camp (0.4 km). This is the first photographic evidence of a marbled cat in Nepal. In this survey, we also recorded three other felid species: common leopard Pantherapardus , Asiatic golden-cat Catopumatemminckii and leopard cat Prionailurusbengalensis . We recommend detailed year-round camera trap surveys in the mid-hills of eastern Nepal along with research on adaptation of the small felids to human-dominated areas and assessment of immediate threats for preparing sound conservation management plans of the marbled cat and its sympatric species. Initiation of conservation programmes engaging local dokpa (herders) is necessary.
... 2014), Thailand: Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (Simcharoen et al. 2014) Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary (Tantipisanuh et al. 2014), Lao PDR: Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area (Coudrat et al. 2014a), Nepal: Chitwan National Park (Lamichhane et al. 2014), Makalu-Barun National Park (Ghimirey and Ghimire 2010), India: Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary (Punjabi et al. 2014), Rajaji National Park (Saxena and Rajvanshi 2014), Bhutan: Royal Manas National Park (Tempa et al. 2013), China: Wanglang National Nature Reserve (Yu 2010), Russia: Zov Tigra National Park (Kerley and Borisenko 2013). ...
We used opportunistic photographic record of Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestes urva from camera trap set for tiger count to determine the distribution and activity pattern of Crab-eating Mongoose in Bardia National Park during 2013 and 2016/2017. A total of 257 grid cells of 2*2 sq. km were surveyed for total 3855 trap nights during winter season. The species were photographed from 17 different locations with a total of 122 photographs having 30 independent detections of Crab-eating Mongoose within an effective trapping area of 148.45 sq km. They were found nearer to the rivers flowing through the national park. H. urva were found active during the day time with most movements during the afternoon time. The species preferred the mixed forest and hilly terrain over other types of forests and soil surface respectively. Camera trapping survey focusing on specific species should be done extensively in Nepal in order to exaggerate the information on their distribution, ecology and threats of the species.
Clouded leopards are a bitypic genus (Neofelis) of medium-sized felid that share a common ancestor with the world’s pantherine “big cats.” They largely inhabit primary and secondary evergreen and mixed deciduous forests across tropical and subtropical Asia, from northeast India and the Nepalese Himalayan foothills, east through Indo-Burma to Vietnam, and south through the Indo-Malayan archipelago. Well-adapted for climbing and moving in trees, little is known about the ecology of clouded leopards relative to larger felids. They are believed to prey primarily on ungulates, primates, and smaller forest mammals, and occur at local population densities comparable to tigers and leopards, felids that are three to nine times their weight. Although predominantly nocturnal and crepuscular, clouded leopards are also active during daylight hours, and their movements may in part be influenced by both larger predators and potential prey. Populations of both the Indochinese clouded leopard (N. nebulosa) and Sunda clouded leopard (N. diardi) are declining and increasingly isolated due to large-scale habitat loss and deforestation for agricultural and infrastructural development, as well as indiscriminate hunting for their skins and parts, and a live pet trade. Broad-scale conservation policies and collaborative practices that safeguard and restore habitat, reduce fragmentation, enhance forest connectivity, engage communities on hunting, and increase the effectiveness of national and international law enforcement activities, are among the strategies needed to protect these IUCN Vulnerable cat species.
Nepal is a global biodiversity hotspot, supporting 213 mammal species with diverse habitats across various landscape types, from the lowland Terai to the high Himalayas. Studies of Nepal’s mammalian fauna are not evenly distributed and better understanding of past biases towards some species, research themes and locations can provide better strategic direction for future research investments. Therefore, we reviewed 575 scientific articles on mammals in Nepal, published between 2000 and 2019 and compiled these in March 2020, to examine trends, patterns and gaps, and pave future plans for mammalian research in Nepal. A positive increase in the number of publications (β = 0.27 ± 0.02SD, P < 0.00) was observed, with a more than threefold increase between 2010 and 2019 compared to 2000–2009 (t = − 6.26, df = 12.21, P < 0.000). Analysis of these documents revealed that mammalian researches favored large flagship, threatened species of carnivores inside Nepal’s protected area system. Geographically, mammalian research was not uniform in Nepal, as most studies were concentrated in Bagmati Province and in the Terai and Chure region. Baseline surveys and ecological studies were more common types of research, while studies on the impact of climate change and wildlife trade and poaching, are scant, which deserves a future look. While these studies shape current mammalogy in Nepal, studies of small, uncharismatic species, and in areas outside protected areas and other provinces except Bagmati, Lumbini and Province One are severely lacking. The research identified habitat loss, degradation and human-wildlife conflict as the major threats to the survival of mammalian species in Nepal. Therefore, redesigning and strict implementation of policies based on habitat management and human-wildlife co-existence, including other threat mitigation measures, are warranted. To address knowledge gaps, the prioritization of future research and funding should be focused on relatively unexplored research themes and under-researched provinces. This approach will help to re-align the research focus with the current need, and assist to fully understand and effectively conserve the wealth of mammalian diversity that Nepal holds.
