Dipendra Adhikari

• M.Sc
• Conservation Biologist at Nepal Conservation and Research Center

Large carnivores such as leopards (Panthera pardus) experience continuing threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, depletion of prey populations, and retaliatory killing following conflicts with humans. We aimed to identify factors affecting leopard occupancy and temporal overlap between leopards and tigers (P. tigris), their major prey, and hu...

Invasive alien species play a major role in biodiversity decline. We studied the impacts of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) on bird assemblages and their habitats in Jalthal Forest, a biogeographically unique lowland remnant forest in eastern Nepal. We surveyed birds by point counts and quantified environmental variables at 89 sites. Observatio...

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...

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 hi...

Wetlands support around 27% of birds in Nepal, however, there is a paucity of information about bird diversity and the wetland habitat of Western Chure Landscape Nepal. The “point count” method along transects was carried out to evaluate the species composition and habitat associations of birds. A total of 2,532 individuals representing 152 species...

Forest patches in urban areas can have the potential to provide shelter, resources, and breeding space for small mammals. This study aimed to explore the diversity, abundance, and habitat associations of non-volant small mammals in forest patches of Kathmandu Valley. Three sites were selected for the study: Ranibari Community Forest, Swayambhunath...

Forest patches in urban areas can have the potential to provide shelter, resources, and breeding space for small mammals. This study aimed to explore the diversity, abundance, and habitat associations of non-volant small mammals in forest patches of Kathmandu Valley. Three sites were selected for the study: Ranibari Community Forest, Swayambhunath...

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 t...

The Striped Hyena occurs in the Tarai and midhill regions of Nepal, where limited information is available on species distribution. A camera trap survey was conducted in Parsa National Park in 2016 (Feb-May) and 2016-2017 (Nov-Feb) to monitor tigers at 158 locations for 21 days (6,615 trap efforts in total). This study successfully captured the 15...

Honey Badger Mellivora capensis, one of the least known mustelids in Nepal. Although occurring throughout Tarai, Churia and Inner-Tarai ranges of the country, hitherto known from just a few sites. During a camera-trap survey focused for biodiversity rapid assessment during May-June 2018 and another survey focused on Striped Hyena in January 2019, t...

Protected areas are considered important for biodiversity conservation, however, studies have shown that habitats outside protected areas can also support high diversity and are important for biodiversity conservation. In this context, we compared the bird diversity between protected (Rani Taal in Shuklaphanta National Park) and non-protected (Sati...

Amongst three species of otters, the Asian Small-clawed Otter has not been recorded since Hodgson (1839). Since 1991, the Eurasian Otter has neither been photographed nor sighted in the country. Recently, the Smooth-coated Otter has been reported only from Bardia National Park and its west. In this chaotic situation, a volunteer project was initiat...

Corridor design is a centripetal conservation tool tofacilitate movement between fragmented patches. Increases inanthropogenic activity have caused degradation in forest con-nectivity, influencing animal movement to a small degree.Laljhadi-Mohana wildlife corridor (LMWC), a corridor be-tween Shuklaphanta National Park (Nepal) and DudhwaNational Par...

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 repo...

The rusty-spotted cat Prionailurus rubiginosus is the smallest felid in the world and is found only in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. The first record of rusty-spotted cat in Nepal dates back to 2016 from the protected areas of western Terai. Very little is known about this elusive cat all over its distribution range owing to very few targeted studies...

Information on density and abundance of globally threatened species such as tigers Panthera tigris is essential for effective conservation as well as to evaluate the success of conservation programmes. We monitored tigers in Parsa Widlife Reserve, Nepal, using camera traps, in 2013, 2014 and 2016. Once believed to be a sink for tigers from adjacent...

Information on density and abundance of globally threatened species such as tigers Panthera tigris is essential for effective conservation as well as to evaluate the success of conservation programmes. We monitored tigers in Parsa Widlife Reserve, Nepal, using camera traps, in 2013, 2014 and 2016. Once believed to be a sink for tigers from adjacent...

Corridor design is a centripetal conservation tool to facilitate movement between fragmented patches. Increases in anthropogenic activity have caused degradation in forest connectivity, influencing animal movement to a small degree. Laljhadi-Mohana wildlife corridor (LMWC), a corridor between Shuklaphanta National Park (Nepal) and Dudhwa National P...

Pangolin populations are declining globally due to illicit trade for meat and ethno-medicinal practices. We performed semi-structured interviews to analyze scenario of trade activities and documented the ethno-medicinal importance of pangolins in four districts of eastern Nepal. Out of 106 respondents, 78.3% had seen live pangolins, 90.6% had seen...

A seven days Training Workshop on Building National Capacity in Research and Monitoring of Small Mammals was conducted at the premise of Biodiversity Conservation Center, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Sauraha, Chitwan. Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation organized this training with support of WWF/Hariyo Ban Program with it...

Eastern Nepal has been understood as more vulnerable area to pangolins trade in Nepal. Questionnaire survey and record from District Forest Office (DFO) were taken for analysis of pangolin trade flow, ethnic use and awareness program in four districts (Taplejung, Ilam, Dhankuta and Sankhuwasaba) of eastern Nepal. Out of 106 respondents, about 78% h...