Breeding ecology of the Asian openbill in eastern Nepal: Larger trees support higher fledgling success.

Colonial nesting waterbirds in agricultural landscapes have historically received limited research attention, especially in South Asia. For example, the Asian openbill () is a colonial species that extensively utilizes agricultural landscapes, yet there is a notable lack of substantial studies despite increasing urbanization across these landscapes. We investigated the factors affecting the breeding ecology of Asian openbills in eastern Nepal.

Factors influencing Chinese pangolin () burrow selection in the Chandragiri-Champadevi hills of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

The Chinese pangolin () confronts challenges from illegal hunting, trading, and habitat degradation. Therefore, it is imperative to establish and implement effective conservation strategies at both local and regional levels. However, there is limited information, particularly within the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, underscoring the significance of local-level habitat characterization for burrowing animals like pangolins.

Population and conservation threats to the vulnerable Sarus crane in Nepal.

Globally, biodiversity is declining due to habitat loss and degradation, over-exploitation, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and infrastructure development. These threats affect the populations of large waterbird species, such as Sarus crane (), which inhabits agricultural-wetland ecosystems. Despite the burgeoning built-up areas and diminishing agricultural and wetland spaces, scant research investigates the impact of these changing land uses on the globally vulnerable Sarus crane in Nepal.

Occurrence and temporal overlap of sympatric jungle cats and leopard cats in Parsa‒Koshi Complex, Nepal.

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 to investigate factors influencing occupancy and spatial and temporal overlap between jungle cats (Felis chaus) and leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis).

Factors affecting the occupancy of sloth bear and its detection probability in Parsa-Koshi Complex, Nepal.

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 are found both inside and outside the protected areas of Nepal, and with increasing cases of human and bear conflicts in both areas. This highlights the necessity for a comprehensive understanding of anthropogenic and ecological factors that affect the occurrence of sloth bear.

Drivers of power line collisions and electrocutions of birds in Nepal.

Among the several anthropogenic factors, power lines are increasingly regarded as one of the most significant hazards to bird species, primarily owing to collisions and electrocutions. Nepal has comparatively fewer studies on the impact of power line collisions and electrocution on birds compared with developed nations. From November 2021 to May 2022, we assessed the effect of power line collisions and electrocutions on the mortality of birds in the Putalibazar Municipality of the Syangja district of Nepal.

Human Dietary Exposure to Heavy Metals via Rice in Nepal.

The effects of exposure to heavy metals (HMs) in rice on human health have become a global public health concern, particularly in countries where rice is consumed as a staple food. The concentrations of HMs, including cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu), in commercial rice samples (n = 170) were analyzed to estimate the HM exposure of consumers in Nepal. The geometric mean concentrations of Cd, As, Pb, and Cu in commercial rice were 15.

Forest Management Practice Influences Bird Diversity in the Mid-Hills of Nepal.

Forest management practice plays a critical role in conserving biodiversity. However, there are few studies on how forest management practice affects bird communities. Here, we compare the effectiveness of the Panchase Protection Forest (PPF; protected forest with government administration) and the Tibrekot Community Forest (TCF; community forest with community forest users' group administration) in hosting bird diversity in the mid-hills of Nepal.

Identifying the environmental and anthropogenic causes, distribution, and intensity of human rhesus macaque conflict in Nepal.

Reducing conflict between humans and wildlife is considered a top conservation priority. However, increasingly human-induced disturbances across natural landscapes have escalated encounters between humans and wildlife. In Nepal, forests have been destroyed, fragmented, and developed for human settlements, agricultural production, and urban centers for decades.

Occurrence of total mercury and methylmercury in rice: Exposure and health implications in Nepal.

Emerging studies have indicated that the consumption of rice could be the major methylmercury (MeHg) contributor to human mercury (Hg) exposure. Nonetheless, few studies are available on Hg in rice around the world, especially in countries with heavy rice diet. In this study, total Hg (THg) and MeHg levels in rice samples (n = 172) across Nepal were first investigated.

Factors affecting the crop raiding behavior of wild rhesus macaques in Nepal: Implications for wildlife management.

In many areas of South Asia and Southeast Asia, macaques inhabiting agricultural landscapes are considered serious crop pests by local farmers. In Nepal, for example, the expansion of monocultures, increased forest fragmentation, the degradation of natural habitats, and changing agricultural practices have led to a significant increase in the frequency of human-macaque conflict. In order to more fully understand the set of factors that contribute to macaque crop raiding, and the set of preventive measures that can be put in place to avoid human-macaque conflict, we examined patterns of crop raiding by a group of 52 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in the Kavrepalanchok district, Nepal.

Diet and Activity of Macaca assamensis in Wild and Semi-Provisioned Groups in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal.

Studying the behavioural flexibility and adaptability of macaques to different habitats is one approach to designing a conservation plan. To determine the activity budget and feeding behaviour and evaluate the effects of seasonality in wild and human- altered habitats of Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis), we conducted this study in the Nagarjun forest of Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) in central Nepal. We also updated the list of plant food items of Assamese macaques in the SNNP.

Seasonal Changes in Bird Species and Feeding Guilds along Elevational Gradients of the Central Himalayas, Nepal.

The Himalayas are a global hotspot for bird diversity with a large number of threatened species, but little is known about seasonal changes in bird communities along elevational gradients in this region. We studied the seasonality of bird diversity in six valleys of the Central Himalayas, Nepal. Using 318 plots with a 50 m radius, located from 2200 to 3800 m a.