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  DOI Prefix   10.20431


 

International Journal of Research Studies in Zoology
Volume 5, Issue 3, 2019, Page No: 1-10
doi:dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-941X.0503001

Comparative Study in Habitat Suitability Analysis of Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Two Flood Plains of Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal

Kripa Pokhrel1, Prabin Poudel2*, Bijaya Neupane3 , Rabin Paudel4

1. Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal.
2. Green Governance Nepal, Kathmandu Nepal.
3.Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, Nepal.
4. National Trust for Nature Conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Pokhara, Nepal.


Citation : Prabin Poudel, et.al, Comparative Study in Habitat Suitability Analysis of Wild Water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Two Flood Plains of Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal International Journal of Research Studies in Zoology 2019, 5(3) : 1-10.

Abstract

Globally endangered species, Wild Water Buffaloes are restricted to some extent of South and Southeast Asia. Its only population in Nepal survive on the flood plains of Koshi River inside Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR). They prefer alluvial grasslands and are heavily dependent on water. In KTWR, they face high anthropogenic pressure ranging from habitat deterioration to hybridization with domestic buffaloes. Hence, 15 of them have been translocated to CNP which are to be released in the wild soon from the open closure. However, the suitability analysis of potential habitat within CNP has not been done until now. Consequently, this research is carried out to find the appropriate habitat of water buffalo within Chitwan National Park for their release as well as for further translocation. Two potential habitats namely eastern sector grassland and western sector grassland were identified, analyzed and compared to determine the habitat suitability for wild water buffalo. Vegetation composition, slope, elevation, proximity to the water source and human settlement were the parameters that were selected to assess the suitability. The results showed that Saccharum arundinaceum was the dominant tall grass species in the both sites (IVI in eastern grassland=105.34, IVI of western grassland= 102.49) followed by Saccharum spontenum and Imperata cylindrical. Similarly, Bombax ceiba was the dominant tree species (IVI=12.57) followed by Trewia nudiflora and others in eastern sector whilst Syzigium cumini was the dominant tree species (IVI=68.11) followed by Bombax ceiba and Trewia nudiflora in western sector. The integration of all factors has shown that both sites possess suitable habitat for water buffalo but comparatively western sector (65.74%) was more preferrable than the eastern sector (52.77%). Accordingly, western sector grassland can be considered as the new worthy site for further translocation of wild water buffalo in CNP.


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