Karan Bahadur Shah

• Himalayan Nature

Morphological and DNA comparisons suggest that Trimeresurus karanshahi ORLOV & HELFENBERGER and Trimeresurus tibetans HUANG are not specifically distinct, and as consequence the former is relegated to the synonymy of the latter. Field work between 1991 and 2000 revealed several new localities in Nepal and shed some light on the natural history and...

Peter Matthiessen’s classic 1978 book "The Snow Leopard” catapulted this majestic cat into the general public’s attention, establishing Nepal as the snow leopard land. Thinly spread across the most rugged landscapes in the country's northern districts, along the Chinese and Indian borders, the snow leopard is a protected species in Nepal under the...

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a shy and solitary semi-aquatic species which is mainly nocturnal and prefers marshy places, rivers, lakes, seashores and estuaries. Contrary to the habit and habitat of the species, this report presents a Eurasian otter sighting in a built-up area at Chandragiri-6, Mahadevsthan, Chandragiri, in Kathmandu valley....

Burmese Ferret Badger (Melogale personata) was recorded by camera trapping for the first time in Nepal's Nagarjun forest of Shivapui Nagarjun National Park. According to IUCN, it was expected to inhabit only the eastern part of Nepal but recently the species has been recorded from central and western parts of the country. A globally rarely studied...

Four specimens of the Large-toothed Ferret Badger Melogale personata I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire were found at separate sites in Marshyangdi Rural Municipality, Ward No 4, Srichaur, Tangring, Lamjung district, Nepal. The first individual was captured alive by local people on 4th January 2017 and the second was found dead on 17th January 2017. The thi...

This study presents the first evidence of Eurasian otter presence in Nepal since 1991. Camera trap images from the Barekot River in Jajarkot District, photographic images from Tubang River in East Rukum District evidence and the skull of a dead otter are presented as documentation. Twelve craniomandibular traits measurements were carried out on a s...

Four specimens of the Large-toothed Ferret Badger Melogale personata I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire were found at separate sites in Marshyangdi Rural Municipality, Ward No 4, Srichaur, Tangring, Lamjung district, Nepal. The first individual was captured alive by local people on 4th January 2017 and the second was found dead on 17th January 2017. The thi...

This case documents envenomation by a Green pit viper (Cryptelytrops sp.), a species found in South and Southeast Asia that causes the majority of venomous snakebites among Southeast Asian pit vipers. The proven life-threatening cases described in published literature, however, are sparse. We report a case of noticeable envenomation due to confirme...

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 strateg...

The fragile ecosystem of greater Himalaya is home to diverse flora and fauna which are vulnerable to climate change impact. This study aimed to determine the suitable habitat of King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) in the current scenario and near-future scenario of the year 2040-2060 (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5). Geographic coordinates...

The spitting of the Monocled cobra is less documented and so far known from populations in West Bengal, India only. We report on the first evidence of spitting by Naja kaouthia from Nepal.

Pangolins are highly-threatened due to illegal hunting and poaching, and by the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of their habitats. In Nepal, effective conservation actions for pangolins are scarce due to limited information on the distribution of pangolins in many areas of the country. To identify the nationwide distribution of pangolins in Ne...

An individual of cat species having phenotypic appearance of an Asiatic wildcat Felis lybica ornata was photographed in Tanahun district during a bird survey on 3 March 2019 at 14:30 h. The typical features of the Asiatic wildcat were clearly visible, i.e. a spotted coat, horizontal bands on upper part of the leg, medium tail with rings towards the...

The red panda Ailurus fulgens, an endangered herbivorous member of the order Carnivora that is endemic to the eastern Himalayan broadleaf and coniferous forests, is surviving under threats induced by human activity and climate change. The distribution range of the red panda in Nepal represents an understudied remnant population at the edge of its w...

One live and another dead Yellow-bellied Weasel were spotted at an altitude of 2,190m and 3,078m, respectively, in Lamsung, Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality, Myagdi and Barekot Rural Municipality, Jajarkot on 1 May 2016 and 16 June 2016 in the afternoon. This is probably the first record of the species with photographs in Myagdi District of Gandaki Pr...

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...

Very little information is available on the distribution of globally threatened King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah in Nepal. Based on both field surveys and literature review, we present its updated geographical distribution in Nepal. Present study reveals that King Cobra has been found in 37 districts of the country with 219 individual records since it...

Information on species distribution range is a prerequisite for setting conservation strategies. Conservation efforts in Nepal have been focused on flagship species, such as Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris), Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) and Greater One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). By contrast, distribution data and conservation effor...

A synopsis report based on field survey carried out in August and September, 2018. Nine Species of frogs were recorded during the survey.

The Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA), a geographically diverse protected area, is known for the high diversity of flowering plants and endemism. However, information about the status of herpetofauna is limited. This study aims to fill this gap by updating diversity and distribution of herpetofauna of the MCA. We used a multi-prolonged strategy combi...

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...

The distribution of the Himalayan Stripe-necked Snake (Liopeltis rappi) is poorly documented. We summarize the distribution of this little known snake in Nepal and provide a new locality record from Kabilas, Chitwan, Nepal. Compiled observations presented here suggest that the species is more widely distributed and we call for additional surveys an...

The cause for rapid decline of the South Asian vulture population in 1990s was unknown for many years until diclofenac was proved to be the main reason for such decline in 2004. The vulture populations from Nepal has also undergone rapid decline that causes low awareness among people about its ecological importance. For declining species that have...

We present the first parasitic evidence of Hodgson's Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista magnificus) collected from Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Nepal. The pellets found in the large intestine were mostly rounded, grey and infested with numerous parasites. Three species of nematodes were recorded: two species of Syphacia in large intestine and o...

Nepal's plentiful water resources, like other countries across the globe, require careful management to ensure equitable use across the many competing facets of water consumers. These include agricultural production, hydropower generation and human consumption. As Nepal progresses on a water reform journey, it is an opportune time to investigate th...

Peter Matthiessen's classic 1978 book The Snow Leopard (Matthiessen P., 1978. The Snow Leopard. Viking Press, New York) catapulted this majestic cat to the general public's attention and established Nepal as the land of snow leopard. Thinly spread across the most rugged landscapes in the northern districts of the country, along the Chinese and Indi...

This study establishes a comprehensive baseline status of the JRRS, focusing on biodiversity and livelihood situation, with a view to keeping track of progress and changes and devising appropriate interventions. Specifically, the study documented floral and faunal diversity, assessed current socio-economic status of the communities, including their...

This study establishes a comprehensive baseline status of the JRRS, focusing on biodiversity and livelihood situation, with a view to keeping track of progress and changes and devising appropriate interventions. Specifically, the study documented floral and faunal diversity, assessed current socio-economic status of the communities, including their...

The Yellow Monitor, Varanus flavescens, is protected in most of its range, but there are few studies and little is known of its ecology. We studied Varanus flavescens in the southeastern part of Kanchanpur District in Parasan Village Development Committee to gather information on status and habitat ecology of this species. We assess the distributio...

B.H. Hodgson collected the holotype in 1847, named it Plecotus homochrous, and labelled the animal as a male taken in the ‘central region of sub-Himalayas’ which does not necessarily mean Nepal and, in fact, may have been Darjeeling in India or Sikkim. Fleming collected a specimen (Sanborn 1950), most certainly from Nepal, which Sanborn labelled Pl...

Reliable and sufficient information regarding status, distribution and habitat preference of red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) is lacking in Nepal. The research activities on red panda in the mid-western Nepal are very limited, so the status of red panda in the region is quite unknown. The study conducted during May, 2013 in three Village Develop...

The Himalayas of Nepal lack the reliable and sufficient information regarding status, distribution and habitat of red panda (Ailurus fulgens). Moreover, the research activities on red panda in the Mid-western Nepal are very limited. Due to this, the status of red panda in the region is unknown. This study on baseline survey and conservation status...

Snakebite envenoming is one of the most neglected diseases of the 21st century and affects several million people every year. It is most common in tropical and subtropical regions where it is an occupational disease of the young rural poor population and a disaster-related health hazard (e.g., after extreme weather events like floods). Children are...

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Snakebite envenoming is one of the most neglected diseases of the 21st century and affects several million people every year. It is most common in tropical and subtropical regions where it is an occupational disease of the young rural poor population and a disaster-related health hazard (e.g., after extreme weather events like floods). Children are...

Published by: B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal. ISBN: 978-9937-2-6004-6 Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235758996_Venomous_Snakes_of_Nepal_A_photographic_guide_Nepali_ed

Two new species of the naked-toed geckos of the genus Gonydactylus are described from Eastern Nepal. A comparison of the described species with another “himalayan” Gonydactylus (G. khasiensis and occurring in the west of Nepal G. himalayanus) is given.

The composition of amphibians and reptiles diversity in the Nagarjun forest of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park was studied. Purposive transect and opportunistic survey methods were adopted to estimate species diversity. The species caught during survey were identified on the spot using field guide and released in-situ. Transects were distributed a...

A study has been conducted on tiger and its prey status in various community forests practiced in Dang-Deukhuri Foothills of Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal. Community forests of this area have important role in the Terai Arc Landscape Program for the development of corridor for free movement of wildlife and conservation of the biodiversity. The study p...

The population collapse of resident Gyps vulture species in South Asia, caused by the use of a veterinary drug diclofenac, has highlighted an urgent need to monitor numbers of other vulture species in the region. This study assessed population trends of Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis in the mountainous region of Upper Mustang, Nepal, which is...

A study was conducted to identify the role of community forests in the conservation of faunal diversity in various community forests practiced in the Satbariya Range Post of Dang district. The study aimed to understand and evaluate the role of community forests in biodiversity, especially faunal conservation efforts. Different methods such as quest...

F a n i n d r a R . K h a r e l B a r n a B . T h a p a Introduction Nepal's diverse topography, altitude variations, different ecosystems and changing climatic conditions host a large variety of faunal elements including the snakes. The snakes, which are believed to have evolved from lizard ancestors, are remarkable animals for the strength of emo...