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(Bubalus Bubalis) in NEPAL: RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT ACTION in the FACE of UNCERTAINTY for a CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES

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(Bubalus Bubalis) in NEPAL: RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT ACTION in the FACE of UNCERTAINTY for a CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES Contents TIGERPAPER A Translocation Proposal for Wild Buffalo in Nepal................... 1 Eucalyptus – Bane or Boon?................................................... 8 Status and Distribution of Wild Cattle in Cambodia.................... 9 Reptile Richness and Diversity In and Around Gir Forest........... 15 A Comparison of Identification Techniques for Predators on Artificial Nests................................................................... 20 Devastating Flood in Kaziranga National Park............................ 24 Bird Damage to Guava and Papaya........................................... 27 Death of an Elephant by Sunstroke in Orissa............................. 31 Msc in Forest and Nature Conservation for Tropical Areas......... 32 FOREST NEWS Report of an International Conference on Community Involvement in Fire Management............................................ 1 ASEAN Senior Officials Endorse Code of Practice for Forest Harvesting.................................................................. 4 Asian Model Forests Develop Criteria and Indicators Guidelines............................................................................. 4 East Asian Countries Pledge Action on Illegal Forest Activities.............................................................................. 6 South Pacific Ministers Consider Forestry Issues........................ 9 Tropical Ecosystems, Structure, Diversity and Human Welfare.. 10 Draft Webpage for International Weem Network......................... 10 New FAO Forestry Publications................................................ 11 Asia-Pacific Forestry Chips and Clips.......................................... 14 FAO Asia-Pacific Forestry Calendar............................................ 16 A TRANSLOCATION PROPOSAL FOR WILD BUFFALO (Bubalus bubalis) IN NEPAL: RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT ACTION IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY FOR A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES by Joel T. Heinen Introduction approximately 175 km2 in area. It is Nepal’s only Ramsar site and contains extensive All populations of wild Asiatic buffalo, the wetlands that are important stopover and progenitor of domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis wintering areas for waterfowl (Sah, 1997). It is [Bubalus arnee]; Groves, 1981) are considered located on the flood plain of the Kosi River in to be endangered to critically endangered for Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur Districts in many reasons (Heinen & Srikosamatara, 1996), southeastern Nepal (elevation 75 to 100 m above and have probably been in decline for at least a mean sea level). century (Daniel & Grubh, 1966; Choudury, 1994). Current site locations of putative wild The reserve is subject to extreme flooding stock are western Thailand, east and central during the monsoon; buffalo and other ungulates India, southern Bhutan and southeastern Nepal frequently leave at that time and seek refuge in (Corbet & Hill, 1992) in several isolated croplands and flood-related mortality is a reserves. A major concern is that domestic and problem for the population (Heinen, 1993). feral buffalo are completely interfertile with Thus, the need for a translocation to a more wild buffalo; thus, the genetics of wild stocks secure site is imminent, and this paper considers are in question and some field censuses have translocation options given census figures for been criticized because the identification criteria buffalo in Kosi Tappu, and several issues have not been consistent. Besides genetic regarding the management situation in potential introgression, threats of disease transmission are translocation sites in other areas of lowland high when domestic and wild forms intermingle. Nepal. It is suggested that the translocation can The American Zoo and Aquarium Association be planned without detailed genetic analyses recommended field censuses and clarification of (which are both costly and time consuming), the species/subspecies of Asiatic buffalo (Read, based on a series of consistent field survey 1999). IUCN - The World Conservation Union’s criteria previously described for identifying Species Survival Commission has recommended putative wild stock. antibody research, genetic research, field studies and translocations where possible (e.g. Beyers et Previous research on buffalo in Kosi Tappu al., 1995; Hedges, 1995; Read et al., 1995) to better secure the species in the wild. The population of wild buffalo in Kosi Tappu has been censused numerous times and methods Due to the endangered status and the importance have been scrutinized because there are semi- of the species worldwide, the Department of feral as well as domestic buffalo that regularly National Parks and Wildlife Conservation in backcross with wild bulls in the area (e.g. Nepal (DNPWC) is considering translocating Mishra, 1982; Shrestha, 1997), a typical buffalo from Kosi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, the problem in places in which putative wild stock only Nepalese protected area with a wild are found (e.g. Divakar, 1977). Most censuses population, to one or more of Nepal’s other were done by people with little prior experience lowland parks or reserves to better secure the who spent limited periods of time in Kosi Tappu species in the country. Kosi Tappu Wildlife (one to two weeks). There have been two Reserve was established in 1976 and is longer-term studies: one by Dahmer (1978) in Tigerpaper Vol.28:No.3 Jul.-Sept.2001 1 1976 (for 1 year), and the other by Heinen cases of human-caused buffalo mortality from (1993) from 1986 to 1988 (for 1.5 years). Both 1995 to 2000, which was not the case in studies followed buffalo herds for long periods previous studies. These included incidences of in both wet and dry seasons, recorded shooting, poisoning, electrocution, and vehicular observations on home ranges, movements, collisions when animals left the reserve. population structure, and behavioral and Estimates for herd-specific population growth phenotypic characteristics of the wild versus rates in 2000 were consistent with observations feral backcrossed herds, and interviewed local made in previous studies that flood-related livestock owners in the region. Heinen and mortality is impacting this population (Heinen Singh (2000, in press) recensused the population and Singh, in press). For long-term conservation in 2000 and discussed the phenotypic and prospects, the wild buffalo population in Kosi behavioral characteristics used to distinguish Tappu cannot be considered viable and a wild buffalo from feral backcrosses in the study translocation into one of Nepal’s other reserves area. is highly advised. This was also recommended in Nepal’s Biodiversity Action Plan, but has yet Using consistent identification criteria to to be approved (Anon, 1998). Based on the differentiate wild from feral buffalo, Dahmer above and the previous research, there is strong (1978) described two mixed (females and support for the argument that some of the stock dependent calves) herds: the north herd and the in Kosi Tappu is truly wild, that many south herd. It has been previously reported that backcrossed animals are likely to be mostly wild female wild buffalo are thought to remain with (based on nuclear DNA), and there is sufficient their natal herds and show a high degree of expertise and written descriptions to distinguish philopatry (e.g. Heinen, 1993). Subsequent putative wild from feral backcrossed buffalo to studies (Heinen, 1993; Heinen and Singh, in chose animals for translocation, in spite of a lack press) relocated those herds and found that they of direct genetic evidence to differentiate were using similar home ranges to those mapped between them. by Dahmer (1978). The females and calves counted in those two mixed herds were the only Translocation Recommendations ones considered to be wild in those Kosi Tappu censuses. The sizes of herds thought to be feral A number of considerations must be made in backcrosses were also reported (Heinen and planning a translocation (Stanley Price, 1989; Singh, 2000). Males, which tend to be solitary, Kleiman, 1996). Included among them are the were censused separately. Other studies in Kosi ecological and political feasibility of Tappu are thought to have overestimated the establishing a new population; what individuals population of wild buffalo by including some should be moved based on social, demographic feral backcrossed females and their calves in and genetic considerations; whether sufficient wild census figures, from one herd in particular resources and expertise exists locally; and that behaved very similarly to those counted as whether the release should be ‘hard’ or ‘soft’. wild (Heinen and Singh, 2000). A few reports These issues are considered here. have undercounted wild buffalo due to an insufficient sampling effort (e.g. Shrestha, There are four other protected areas in Nepal 1996). within the presumed historical range of wild buffalo. These are: Parsa Wildlife Reserve, The results of the 2000 census compared to the Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park previous studies raised several new concerns and Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve. Parsa is about the status and conservation of wild buffalo dominated by dry upland forest and has very in Kosi Tappu. In spite of adequate population little grassland/riverine habitat; thus, it should growth overall (about 3.5% per year), the first not be considered as a translocation site. Sukla year calf to cow ratio showed a consistent decline over time and the adult sex ratio was male-biased. Furthermore, records from the reserve’s office showed
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