Abstract of Poster Presenters of Wildlife Symposium

PANGOLIN- THE MOST TRAFFICKED WILD MAMMAL

 

Tejaswee Pokhrel*, Prem GM

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters are the most trafficked wild mammals of the world. Eight species of it are currently surviving in this world and among them, two (Chinese pangolin and Sunda pangolin) are in the critically endangered state. They are nocturnal and feed upon insects and termites with the help of their long and sticky tongues which can reach more than the length of the body. Though being the most heavily trafficked wild mammal, most people are not aware even of its existence. The Primary defense action of the pangolin is to roll its body like a sphere and cover by scales in all sides but this defense mechanism makes it easy for the poachers to catch it. It’s trafficking is heavily done in China and Vietnam in the belief that it has medicinal values, in other places also it is trafficked for meat and their skins are used to make leather products. Some pangolins are also being just killed for food purposes by local farmers and they also do not know the status of this animal. Awareness among people to recognize pangolins is very much necessary for its protection. The government of every country, especially the government of China and Vietnam should formulate a special policy for its protection and should ban products which are made up of pangolins. Poachers are nowadays becoming more active in the African region and they are paying local people there to help them in poaching and hence the livelihood of such local people should be improved and they should be made aware of the status of Pangolins so that they do not fall in the trap of poachers.

 

Keywords: Awareness, Most trafficked, Policy, Status

 

*Correspondence: pokhreltejaswee@gmail.com

 

 

AWARENESS, ATTITUDE, AND STATUS OF LOCAL PEOPLE OF MEGHAULI TOWARDS WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

 

Puspa Rai* and Sudip Chaudhary

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Meghauli is a buffer zone area of the Chitwan National Park. Locals are benefitted with tourists while on the other hand there is evidence of wild animal's attacks & crop destruction. So, under this human-wild animal interface, we did the above study because conservation success depends on local people attitude towards wildlife. A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire form was used to collect & quantify the information from sixty-nine local inhabitants. Later MS Office was used to analyze data. We found 90% of local people were Tharus with a 29% literacy rate. The wild boar destroyed most crop productions. However, only 1% of them were using traps for wild animals and 17% were getting aids as compensation. Despite these conditions, 95% of interviewed personnel showed interest in wildlife protection prioritizing economic advantages.  About half of them (55%) were found unaware of the wildlife laws/acts. The attitude of the local people in Meghauli region was found positive towards wildlife conservation. However, they needed to be more aware of the ecological significance of wildlife conservation, wildlife laws and procedures for getting wildlife damage compensation.

 

Key Words: Attitude, Awareness, Local people, Meghauli

 

*Correspondence: raipuspahtd@gmail.com

 

 

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ON LIVELIHOODS OF BUFFER ZONE COMMUNITY AROUND CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK, NEPAL

A. Khanal, A. Chhetri, P. Tandan, D. Lamsal and N. Bhattarai*

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Human wildlife shares a common territory in the buffer zone around Chitwan National Park; increasing human population and decline in wildlife habitat is the major reason for onset of conflict between them. To assess the trends of human-wildlife conflict and its corollary socio-economic impact on buffer zones’ livelihoods, a set of questionnaires was developed; pretesting was done and total 94 household of different locations of Meghauli buffer zone was conducted along with focal group discussion in collaboration with Buffer Zone User’s Committee. Data were analyzed using SPSS v16. Out of total households (94) of 5 separate location of Meghauli buffer zone, incidence of Tiger (26.6%), Rhino (96.8%), Elephant (58.5%), Deer (90.4%), Boar (86.2%) and other (39.4%) was reported by respondents. Results revealed that 6.3% households were directly affected by the wildlife attack with human casualties. Agricultural sector alone was affected 100% followed by livestock sector 18.1%. Major source of household income of the buffer zone community was reported as agriculture and livestock (60.6%) trailed by remittance, service and business. Total economic loss in agriculture and livestock sector due to wildlife was reported US$ 35368.4 including US$ 32718.59 in agriculture and US$ 2649.81 in livestock sector. Building high embankments and electric fencing with proper policies to maintain grasslands along with conservation of water resources with active enrollment of local communities within the National park is prompt to reduce consequences of human-wildlife conflict in the buffer areas. Moreover, alternative income sources should be created by promoting tourism opportunities.

 

Keywords: Chitwan National Park, Buffer zone, Human-wildlife conflict, Livelihood, Socio-economic impacts, mitigating measures.

 

*Correspondence: nbhattarai.afu@gmail.com

 

 

ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPES VIRUS IN ASIAN ELEPHANTS

 

Saroj Bista*, Yumi Shakya And Raman Ghimire

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV) infection is a highly fatal hemorrhagic and pathogenic disease of young Asian elephant usually 1-4 years but also seen in adult and old animals. Nine strains of EEHV infection in USA and Europe is 85% whereas in Asia it is 60%. Signs of sudden death, anorexia, colic, edema of head, neck, trunk and reduce trunk movement are common. Pathognomic and microscopic lesions include hemorrhagic diathesis, cellular infiltration and thickening of capillary wall in various organs including heart, lungs, tongue, degenerative changes in hepatocytes and pericardial effusions. Leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and low erythrocyte count are common findings. EEHV infections are diagnosed using real time PCR, antibody-based detection along with signs, clinical pathology and PM lesions. Famciclovir is specific antiviral medication used to treat the infection along with conservative symptomatic therapies of antibody, analgesics, diuretics and fluid therapies.

 

Keywords: - Elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus, Elephant, Lesions, Signs, Therapies

 

 
   

 

*Correspondence: saroj.bista14@gmail.com

 

RHINO STATUS AND ITS TRANSLOCATION IN NEPAL-AN OVERVIEW

 

Bijay Paudel*, Krishal Shrestha, Saurabh Gelal

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Until 1986, the Chitwan National Park had been only the home for Rhinos and this population had made them easy target for poaching, human wild life conflict, quick spread of the disease. Due to Intense decrease in their number they were recognized as the threatened species .Rhino translocation has been a part of the conservation strategy for increasing the number of the greater one horned rhinoceros  in Nepal and to bring to their original number .Considering the future possibilities of creating the second viable population , rhinos has been transported to the Bardiya National Park and Shuklaphanta National Park from Chitwan National Park since 1986 as per the adaptability to their habitat. Pre-capture phase involves the team formation, strategic planning, and management of cage, sledge, and vehicles. In capture phase the rhino is sited and surrounded by the elephants, darted using the combination of Acepromazine and Etorphine hydrochloride and radio collared. Finally, the rhinos are released in their target habitat. Apart from the psychological stress, injury due to their aggressive behavior there were no any evidences of mortality during transportation and in translocated site. The irresponsible action of the concerned authority failing to monitor the rhinos after release, no consideration while selecting the rhinos, creates the critical condition for survival in their new habitat. Despite all those odds, the rhinos had shown a great progress for adaptation in the translocated site with good signs of breeding. The success of translocation in these two major sites has opened a future potential for other conservation areas to be the house for rhinos.

 

Keywords: - Adaptation, Conservation, Potential, Rhino, Translocation

 

*Correspondence: bijaypaudel997@gmail.com

 

 

STATUS AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES FOR TIGER CONSERVATION IN NEPAL

Nabina Dhakal*

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is an icon of Asia’s natural heritage and ecological integrity. Wild tigers are one of the most endangered species of animals across the World including Nepal. Out of total nine subspecies of tiger, three have already become extinct and remaining four are considered endangered by International Union for the Conservation of Natures (IUCN) while two of them are considered critically endangered. Tigers have been facing extinction due to poaching, loss of habitat from urbanization and deforestation, and depletion of prey species. The government, law enforcement, NGOs, and local communities have made various initiatives to conserve tigers. Tiger being the most endangered species needs new and effective ways to preserve the existing population and to increase their population. Moreover, they are important for the balance of the ecosystem being the topmost predator of the whole ecosystem. In the paper, I have outlined the past and present scenario of tiger population, and disclosed the conservative initiatives running in Nepal to preserve the species. This study may be useful tool as a source of status and conservation initiatives running in Nepal and as an awareness tool for the conservation of tigers.

 

Keywords: Conservation, Endangered species, Poaching, Threats, Tiger.

 

*Correspondence: nabi.dhakal5363@gmail.com

 

 

 

HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTIONS: FROM CONFLICT TO CO-EXISTENCE

Pema Sherpa*

Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Human interactions with wildlife define human existence as it affects people’s livelihoods, attitudes and tolerance towards wildlife and wildlife reserves. The expansion of human society and their encroachment on wildlife habitats has resulted in scarcity of resources, wildlife extinction, livestock depredation, human casualties, retaliation killing thus escalating human-wildlife conflict. All these possess serious threat to both humans and wildlife thus heightening the need to create a sustainable co-existence between humans and wildlife. In Nepal, Human wildlife conflict issues resulting in the injuries and fatalities are more common than livestock losses and crop raiding. The species involved most commonly in the conflicts are elephants, leopards and rhinoceros. The frequency of attacks is found to be greater outside protected areas i.e. in the human-dominated landscapes that marks the issue of species habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation. The pattern of conflicts differs accordingly with the type of species related so species-specific conservation strategies are to be implemented. The same goes for livestock losses and crop raiding which reaches its peak in the dry season (December) during crop harvesting months. Thus, detailed study on the patterns of human wildlife conflict and the undermining causes within are to be addressed for implementing the necessary mitigative measures for sustainable co-existence.

 

Keywords: Human fatalities, Human wildlife conflict, Livestock losses and crop raiding

 

*Correspondence: pema.sherpa13254@gmail.com

 

 

THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ISSUES IMPACTING ON WILDLIFE TRANSLOCATION IN NEPAL: ROLE OF THE VETERINARIANS TOWARDS INCREASING CHALLENGES

Suvha Shree Sharma*

Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Wildlife Translocation is carried out for releasing threatened and endangered species raised on captive breeding. Majority of the one horned Rhinoceros and gharials are translocated in Nepal. The challenges during translocation are Human-Wildlife conflict, genetic pollution(outbreeding), outbreak of diseases, homing issues, liability to country and also the required expenses. Study shows that survivability of translocated animal is at risk. The population with small mass with restricted geographical ranges such as One-horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger are much prone to extinction which can hamper the balance of the ecosystem. Translocation serves an important phenomenon for overcoming the challenges. Both public and professional positive attitude towards it is necessary. For that, the veterinarians have a primary role to maintain successful translocation. It requires the proper selection of animals for translocation, necessary assessments at release site, examining pre-release condition of animal, transportation facilities and proper health monitoring pre and post the activity. Otherwise, in certain circumstances, there can be low rate of survival. So, this reflects the necessity of the correlation between veterinarians and wildlife translocation. However, the occurrence of human-wildlife conflicts can’t be neglected, so it is necessary to build a community awareness program and ownership in conservation in the backdrop of this challenge.

 

Keywords: Endangered species, Human-Wildlife conflict, Translocation, Veterinary

 

*Correspondence: suvhashreesharma@gmail.com

 

 

EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON POLAR BEARS

Sudesh Thapa*, Pradip Bhandari

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Polar bear (Ursus marimatus), the largest land predator in the planet ranks at the top in the arctic chain. It feeds mainly on ringed and bearded seal on sea ice though they are opportunistic in nature. Climate change is causing negative impact in the annual pattern of sea ice distribution, structure and freezing time which is their primary habitat. Polar bear highly depends upon sea ice as a platform for hunting, mating, travelling, etc so habitat loss can significantly impact on survival rate.  Less time to access prey due to early sea ice break up results in lack of sufficient adipose tissue deposition which can impact in the health and maintenance of their viable subpopulation. In addition to that, lower body condition, decreased access to denning areas, smaller and weaker cubs, increased human interaction, lower reproductive rates are some of the major impacts of climate change on polar bear population. Although climate change can improve bear and seal population in higher latitude over continental shelves on short run, it is estimated that polar bear population will decline in the near future if the climate change continues like this. Many scientists have predicted that polar bear will be extinct from the areas where they are common now and if the nothing is done to control climate change; polar bear will eventually be a part of history only.

 

Keywords: - Arctic, Climate change, Habitat loss, Polar bear, Sea ice

 

*Correspondence: sud.mct10@gmail.com

 

 

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON BIRDS

   Shivendra Kushwaha* and Kamal Bashyal

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

 

ABSTRACT

Climate change is a key threat to global biodiversity. Anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity such as land-use changes, introduction of exotics species, pollution and urbanization. Birds are one of the major groups of organisms which are affected. Major climate change includes increased carbon dioxide level, increased global temperature, decrease in artic sea ice level, light pollution, etc. Climate change has major effects on migration patterns, distributional ranges, reproductive phenology and population trends. Deforestation causes loss of habitat due to which about 1700 species of birds migrates 17 km towards pole. Rise in temperature forces the birds to migrates towards colder regions. During their migration, birds get encountered with insecticides in farm lands, disoriented from light pollution and collision with tall and reflective buildings (1 million die due to collision). Among 10 billion birds depart for migration only half will return to breed. Similarly, reproductive phenology of both migratory and non-migratory birds gets affected due to habitat loss. Due to increasing temperature length of breeding seasons for multi-brooder increases while single-brooder decreases. Increasing temperature causes early laying of eggs which creates high mortality for newly hatched birds. There is mismatch in breeding phenology with another organism. Increasing temperature causes increases sea water level due to which their habitat gets destroyed and creates problems in feeding and breeding pattern. High carbon dioxide concentration in water reduces the formation of shell in crustaceans and ultimately crustacean feeding birds get affected. Introduction of exotics species due to habitat loss changes the community structure and new diseases get transmitted

 

Key words: - Anthropogenic, Bird, Climate, Distribution, Migration, Phenology

                                                                                                    

*Correspondence: shivendrakushwaha1999@gmail.com