Editorial The launch of the first issue of The Himalayan Naturalist Inside this issue (THN) on May 2018 was highly appreciated by researchers and conservationists in Nepal and abroad. The overwhelming response from our readers was very 3 Diversity of butterflies in eastern lowlands of Nepal motivational and we would like to thank you all for your S. R. Tamang, A. Joshi, J. Pandey, N. Raut & B. R. support. Initially our consensus was to come up with the Shrestha next issue within December 2018 so we called for manuscript submission by mid-September. We were happy 11 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest in Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung (PIT) corridor of Eastern to receive a large number of manuscripts. While we worked Nepal for birds hard to publish the new issue by our December deadline, some factors complicated the process. C. Inskipp, A. P. Sherpa, D. Bista, H. S. Baral, M. Bunskoek, H. Chaudhary & R. Chaudhary Sorting out manuscripts that didn’t fully comply with the author’s guidelines delayed the peer review 26 Distribution of King Cobra in Nepal process. Our team members were also preoccupied with K. B. Thapa, N. Rana & K. B. Shah their primary responsibilities thus creating further delays. 34 Confirmation of breeding colonies of Lesser Adjutant This pushed the publication date back by nearly three Stork in Sarlahi, Nepal months. For this, we offer our sincere apology. S. Bajagain, A. Pradhan & A. Bhusal Unfortunately, few of the manuscripts we received were not quite original and had to be rejected. 37 Status and distribution of King Cobra in Southern THN’s editorial board takes plagiarism seriously and do not Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal compromise in this regard. We would like to request our R. Baral, S. K. Yadav, R. Gautam, M. P. Katila, R. K. readers to help spread awareness about this serious issue in Gurung, A. Subedi & B. Basnet your circles and would like to request future authors to be 42 The largest recorded breeding colony of Great more cautious of maintaining originality. You can visit Cormorant in Nepal https://www.plagiarism.org/ to understand more about S. GC, R. Acharya & N. R. Chapagain plagiarism. 44 Conserving the Asian Woollyneck in Nepal: efforts, With that said, we are very excited to present the outcomes and lessons learnt second issue of The Himalayan Naturalist. There are nine P. Ghimire & N. Pandey articles in this issue including one original contribution, four short communications, two distribution updates, one 46 First record of Crab-eating Mongoose in Dang district, Western Nepal conservation bulletin and a field note, plus the section ‘Photos from the Wild’. The articles cover the taxonomic P. Pandeya & C. Khanal classes herpetofaunas, butterflies, birds and mammals. We 48 Photos from the wild would like to thank our reviewers for their invaluable help S. Giri and advice. 52 My first herpetological field trip We sincerely hope this issue will be useful and K. B. Shah enjoyable and we hope for your feedback and critical comments on how we can keep refining The Himalayan Naturalist. DISCLAIMER: Views and opinions expressed in the articles are those Thank you! of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the editorial board or Friends of Nature.

Email: [email protected] FRONT COVER PHOTO Mountain Weasel by YADAV GHIMIREY Editors Mountain Weasel Mustela altaica is a small mustelid species Bidhan Adhikary Nepal Jeevan Rai Nepal found mostly in areas lying at high altitudes or cold places.

Mohammad Abidur Rahman Bangladesh It lives in rock crevices, tree trunks and abandoned burrows. Yadav Ghimirey Nepal It hunts for pikas, hamsters and other rodents. Globally the species is found in Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Advisor Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russian Federation Raju Acharya Nepal and Tajikistan. In Nepal the species has been recorded from Humla, Mustang, Solukhumbu and Taplejung districts. This Layout and Design Bidhan Adhikary Nepal photo was taken in Takche area in Limi valley, upper Humla.

BACK COVER PHOTO View towards north from Nyalu pass in Humla by YADAV GHIMIREY 3 Diversity of butterflies in eastern lowlands of Nepal SANJAYA RAJ TAMANG1,2*, AASTHA JOSHI3, JEEVNATH PANDEY1, NIRJALA RAUT1 and BIMAL RAJ SHRESTHA4 1 Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal 2 Himali Conservation Forum, Taplejung, Nepal 3 Central Department of Environment Science, Tribhuvan University, Nepal 4 Amrit Science College, Kathmandu, Nepal *Email for correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract A study of butterflies was conducted in Jhapa them an umbrella species for conservation (Fleishman et and Ilam districts of Nepal (100-300 m) in three different al. 2001; Betrus et al. 2005). seasons viz; Pre-monsoon, Monsoon and Post-monsoon, in This study aims to find the diversity of butterfly in three different land uses - Forest, Riverine fallow land and two areas in the lowlands of Eastern Nepal viz; Arjundhara Agricultural land. Purposive sampling followed by Pollard municipality of Jhapa district and Mai municipality of Ilam Walk was carried out for the data collection. A total of 985 district. It measures diversity in terms of seasons and individuals of 133 species of 90 genera belonging to all 6 different land use forms. The study will help provide families were recorded. Both species richness and baseline information and highlight butterfly diversity in abundance were highest during monsoon and lowest in this region. pre-monsoon period. The family, Nymphalidae represented the highest number of species followed by Study Area

Lycaenidae. The overall Shannon-Weiner diversity index was 4.46. Similarly, the highest diversity was found in forest (H’ = 4.27) followed by agricultural land (H’ = 3.76).

Keywords Abundance, butterfly, land use, richness, seasons ______

Introduction

Background Butterflies fall under Lepidoptera, the second largest Order of the Phylum Arthropoda. Of the 20,000 species documented in the world, 80% of the species are found in the tropical region. The Indian sub-continent covering major areas of the tropical zone, hosts about 1,504 species of butterflies (Nair et al. 2014). Nepal is home to 660 Palearctic and Oriental species (Smith 2011a). Their distribution varies according to physiographic zones with 51% in Terai and Siwalik zone, 88% in mid-hills and 13% in the highlands (BPN 1996 as cited by Bhusal and Khanal 2008). The distributional categories of butterflies of Nepal are also classified based on major watershed, namely Western species (Karnali basin), Central species (Gandaki basin) and Eastern species (Koshi basin) (Smith 1994). However, detailed and regular study focusing on species and habitat parameters like elevation, land use and habitat type has been lacking in Nepal. Butterflies have wide significant biological role in their ecosystem. They play an important part in pollination FIG. 1: Map of study area showing Mai and Arjundhara and food chain regulation. They also act as indicators for municipality. vegetative structure (Pollard 1991; Blair 1999), habitat The study area includes two municipalities from Province quality (Larsen 1998; Kocher and Williams 2000; Sawchik 1 of Nepal: Arjundhara (Jhapa district) and Mai (Ilam et al. 2005) and climate change (Parmesan et al. 1999). district) as shown in FIG. 1. They are located on the lower Variation in landscape due to alteration in land use region of Eastern Nepal and are associated with patterns leads to disparity in the butterfly diversity making

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 3-10 Butterflies in eastern lowlands of Nepal 4 Kanchanjunga Landscape of Eastern Himalaya. Three conducted between 07h00 to 13h00 in calm weather different land use types - Forest, Riverine fallow land & conditions (rain and cloudy days were avoided) to ensure Agricultural land, were included in the study which are maximum detection of butterflies. Direct field briefly described below. observations along with verifiable photographs were used to record species. Species were identified with the help of Forest ‘Butterflies of Nepal (Central Himalaya)’ (Smith 1994) and It includes Eastern Churia forests (100-300 m) at the base ‘Illustrated Checklists of Nepal’s Butterflies’ (Smith 2011b) of Siwalik hills. The assimilation of tropical species with and classified based on ‘Butterflies of India’ (Kehimkar sub-tropical species accounts for high plant diversity in this 2016). area. A notable association of Sal Shorea robusta (tropical Data analysis species) with Chilaune Schima wallichi (sub-tropical species) is a major feature of the region. The other major Species richness was determined based on the total tree species include Lagerstomia parvifolia, Cassia fistula, number of species observed in different land use types and Terminalia spp., etc. The study area covers two community season, and species abundance was based on the total forests namely - Sukhani Community Forest and Daltahar number of individuals observed in different land use types Community Forest. Grazing and land degradation were and season. minimal in this area. The data were pooled and analysed using MS Excel software. Shannon-Weiner diversity index was used Riverine fallow land to calculate the diversity which is given by: It includes fallow lands along river edges with clumps of Shannon-Weiner diversity index, bamboo species and dense undergrowth of Saccharum ∑푠 spp. Being associated with Riparian forest (100-200 m), the H’ = - 푖=1 푝푖 ∗ ln⁡(푝푖) woody species present were Khair Acacia catechu, Sisoo Where, 푝푖 = proportion of species of individuals of each Dalbergia sisoo and Kadam Anthocephalus chinensis. species belonging to ith species of the total number of However, the woody species were scattered and few. individual. Common shrubs of the site include Chinese Chaste Tree S = total number of individuals Vitex negundo, Lantana camara, Crown Flower Calotropis Species evenness was calculated using Shannon gigantean and Zizyphus spp. Grazing was common but equitability which is given by: tillage operations were not practiced in the area. Shannon equitability = H’/Hmax where Hmax = ln(S) Agricultural land Results It comprises of agricultural land (150-200 m) cultivated A total of 133 butterfly species across three habitat types with various seasonal and perennial crops. Paddy, Maize, were recorded. Nymphalidae was the most abundant Wheat, Potato and Mustard are the commonly planted Family. FIG. 2 shows the Family-wise representation of seasonal crops whereas Betel Nut Areca catechu along species. with Banana Musa spp. are the perennials. Several agro- forestry species like Indian Berry Melia azederach, Mango Mangifera indica, Monkey Fruit Artocarpus lakoocha, Ficus 50 spp. were found in this area. These species were subjected 40 to frequent pruning and lopping. This area was subjected to high tillage operations. 30

Methods 20 Nepal is characterized by four different seasons: pre- NumberSpecies of 10 monsoon (March-May), monsoon (June-September), post- monsoon (October-November) and winter (December- 0 February) (WECS 2011). The study was carried out for one Hes Pap Pie Rio Lyc Nym year (2017/2018) in three seasons except in winter as Family of Butterflies winter represents a poor diversity of butterfly owing to cold temperatures of which butterflies are highly sensitive. FIG. 2: Family-wise representation of species richness. Purposive sampling followed by transects counts was used Hes = Hesperidae, Pap = Papilionidae, Pie = Pieridae, Rio = for data collection (Pollard 1977). Transects of length 400- Riodinidae, Lyc = Lycaenidae, and Nym = Nymphalidae 600 m were laid, two in each of the three land use types. Butterflies were recorded along 5m width in both side of Nymphalidae was the most represented Family (n transect. Each transect was surveyed twice (two days) in = 47) followed by Lycaenidae (n = 36) and the least was each of the three study seasons. Transect walks were from Riodinidae (n = 2).

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 3-10 Butterflies in eastern lowlands of Nepal 5

TABLE 1: Indices for different land uses Land use Species Richness Species Abundance Species evenness Diversity index Forest 99 439 0.9302 4.27 Riverine fallow land 51 267 0.9255 3.64 Agricultural land 56 279 0.9338 3.76

Species richness, abundance, evenness and Lesser Zebra Graphium macareus (PHOTO 2) diversity which was previously recorded only from Jhapa district During the study period, 985 individuals of 133 species of (Smith 1994) was also recorded in Ilam district during the butterflies from 90 genera belonging to six families were study. recorded (ANNEX 1). The overall Shannon-Weiner diversity Rounded Pierrot Tarucus nara which was for the site was 4.46. The species richness, abundance, previously recorded only from Morang district in the evenness and diversity for different land use are shown in Japanese expedition of 1970s (Smith 1994) was again

TABLE 1. recorded during the study (PHOTO 3).

Records and observations During the study, Moore’s Ace Halpe porus was recorded for the first time from Jhapa district in Eastern Nepal (PHOTO 1). This rare butterfly was previously recorded only from Chitwan National Park in central Nepal (Smith

1994).

SANJAYA RAJ TAMANG PHOTO 3: Rounded Pierrot recorded in Jhapa district.

Land use pattern Of the total species, 99 species were recorded from forest, 51 species from the riverine fallow land and 56 from

SANJAYA RAJ TAMANG agricultural land. 86 species were recorded only from a PHOTO 1: First record of Moore’s Ace outside protected single habitat type of which 65 were found only in forest. area in Nepal. Among the three land use types in the study, 25 species

were recorded in all land use types (FIG. 3).

SANJAYA RAJ TAMANG PHOTO 2: Lesser Zebra photographed in Ilam district. FIG. 3: Species richness in different land use.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 3-10 Butterflies in eastern lowlands of Nepal 6 Seasonality spp. (Haribal 1992). Some species of Zizyphus were also Species richness of butterflies showed variation with found in the study area. seasons. Monsoon (n = 123) showed peak richness Almost all the recorded species were associated followed by post-monsoon (n = 85) and least in pre- to Oriental zone. Two of the recorded species were found monsoon period (n = 63) (FIG. 4). Number of species to be associated with both Oriental and Palearctic zone recorded in all three seasons was 50 whereas 48 species (Pea Blue Lampides boeticus and Painted Lady Vanessa were recorded in only one season. 37 species were found cardui) owing to their migratory behaviors (Smith 1994). only in monsoon. The species abundance was highest The highest butterfly diversity (H’ = 4.27) was during monsoon (552) followed by post monsoon (270). represented by forests which had the highest plant diversity among the studied land use types. Butterflies have high dependency on plant species (Paddhye et al. 140 2006) and their diversity corresponds to plant diversity 120 (Blair and Launer 1997). The result in the study follows the 100 same pattern. Majority of the species (n = 86) were found 80 to be associated with a particular land use (habitat) type.

60 This may be due to narrow habitat preference in response Richness 40 to small disturbances and heavy reliance over specific 20 plant species (Kunte 1997). The highest species richness and abundance was 0 Pre-monsoon Monsoon Post-monsoon seen during monsoon followed by post-monsoon and pre- monsoon. Monsoon may have accounted for its higher Season species richness due to higher rainfall and humidity (Bhusal

and Khanal 2008) which results in high diversity of plants. FIG. 4: Season-wise representation of species richness Similar result was obtained during the study of butterflies Discussion in Sikkim (Acharya and Vijayan 2015). 50 species were recorded in all three seasons Among 660 butterfly species reported from Nepal (Smith whereas the remaining were seasonal, occurring in only 2011a), 133 species were recorded from the study area one or two of seasons. However, this high number of which accounts for 20% of the total butterfly species of the species showing seasonality in the study might be country. This high diversity was found in an elevation erroneous owing to short field periods. More difference of only 200 m (100-300 m). Western lowland comprehensive studies with longer survey periods are and Koshi watershed accounted for 85 and 54 species required to provide any conclusive statements on the respectively during late seasonal study of butterflies seasonality of the species. (Khanal 2006; Khanal 2008). This shows higher diversity of The study area seems important for butterflies butterflies in the study area than the western lowlands of owing to its high and unique diversity. Study of larval host Nepal. However, both studies were associated with the plant and nectar plants seems essential in the area. This field researches conducted around 1988 to 1993 and 1999 will help determine the conservation steps for the species, to 2003 respectively based upon species richness only. more importantly to ones showing high specificity in terms Further comparative conclusions could not be made. of food plants and nectar source. On the other hand, Moore’s Ace Halpe porus has been recorded from regular diversity study remains important to update Northeast India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar diversity and assess concurrent status of species of the (Kehimkar 2016). Previous record of the species in Nepal area. was only from central region (Smith 2011b). So, the current presence record from Eastern region falls between Acknowledgements previous recorded ranges. This may be due to lack of We would like to mention our sincere gratitude towards research coverage in the area previously. Similar reason Colin Smith. Not to mention his tasks in the field of could also be accounted to the new distributional record Lepidoptera in Nepal, he has always been helpful and of Rounded Pierrot Tarucus nara. suggestive during the whole course of study. We would The larval food plants for Moore’s Ace are from also like to thank Peter Smetacek and Mahindra Singh Poaceae Family (Wynter-Blyth 1957; Kunte 2000; Robinson Limbu for helping in species identification and other et al. 2001) of which one of the confirmed food plant various parts of study. We would also like to extend our species Common Bamboo Bambusa vulgaris (Kalesh and gratitude towards Amrit Kumar Paudel, Bandana Subedi, Prakash 2007) was present in the study area. This indicates Pratik Pandeya, Sanjeev Baniya, Shristee Panthi, the possibility of the species being resident to the area. Siddhartha Aryal and Sudipti Parajuli for their regular help Regarding Rounded Pierrot, the food plants are Zizyphus and motivation.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 3-10 Butterflies in eastern lowlands of Nepal 7 References Padhye, A.D., Dahanukar, N., Paingaonkar, M., Deshpande, M. and Deshpande, D. 2006. Season and landscape wise distribution of Acharya, B.K. and Vijayan, L. 2015. Butterfly diversity along the elevation butterflies in Tamhini, Northern Western Ghats, India. Zoos’ Print21, gradient of Eastern Himalaya, India. Ecological research 30, 909-919. 2175-2181. Betrus, C.J., Fleishman, E. and Blair, R.B. 2005. Cross taxonomic potential Parmesan, C. and Ryrholm, N. 1999. Poleward shifts in geographical and spatial transferability of an umbrella species index. Journal of ranges of butterfly species associated with regional warming. Nature 399, Environmental Management 74, 79-87. 579-583. Bhusal, D.R. and Khanal, B. 2008. Seasonal and Altitudinal Diversity of Pollard, E. 1977. A method for accessing changes in the abundance of Butterflies in Eastern Siwalik of Nepal. Journal of Natural History Museum butterflies. Biological Conservation 12, 115-134. 23, 82-87. Pollard, E. 1991. Synchrony of population fluctuations: the dominant Blair, R.B. 1999. Birds and Butterflies along an Urban Gradient: Surrogate influence of widespread factors on local butterfly populations. Oikos 60, Taxa for Assessing Biodiversity? Ecological Applications 9, 164-170. 7-10. Blair, R.B. and Launer, A.E. 1997. Butterfly diversity and human and use: Robinson, G.S., Ackery, P., Kitching, I.J., Beccaloni, G.W. and Hernandez, Species assemblages along an urban gradient. Biological conservation 80, L. 2001. Host plants of the moth and butterfly caterpillars of the Oriental 113-125. Region. Natural History Museum, London. Fleishman, E., Blair, R.B., and Murphy, D.D. 2001. Empirical validation of Sawchik, J., Dufrene, M. and Lebrun, Ph. 2005. Distribution patterns and a method for umbrella species selection. Ecological Applications 11, 1489- indicator species of butterflies' assemblages of wet meadows in Southern 1501. Belgium. Belgian Journal of Zoology 135, 43-52 Haribal, M. 1992. The Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their natural Smith, C. 1994. Butterflies of Nepal (Central Himalaya). (Rev. Ed.) history. Thompson press (India) ltd. Faridabad, Haryana. Tecpress Service L.P. Craftsman Press. Bangkok, Thailand. Kalesh, S. and Prakash, S.K. 2007. Addition to the larval host plants of Smith, C. 2011a. Butterflies of Nepal in Natural Environment. Himalayan butterflies of the Western Ghats, Kerala, South India (Rhopalocera, Map House (P.) Ltd. Basantapur, Kathmandu, Nepal. Lepidoptera): Part 1. Journal of Natural History Museum 104, 235-238. Smith, C. 2011b. Illustrated Checklist of Nepal’s Butterflies. T.C. (Rev. Ed.) Kehimkar, I. 2016. Butterflies of India. Bombay Natural History Society, Craftsman Press. Bangkok, Thailand. Mumbai. WECS 2011. Water Resources of Nepal in the Context of Climate Change. Khanal, B. 2008. Diversity and status of butterflies in lowland districts of WECS, Kathmandu. west Nepal. Journal of Natural History Museum 23, 92-97. Wynther-Blyth, M.A. 1957. Butterflies of the Indian region. Oxford- Khanal, B. 2006. The late season Butterflies of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. Reserve, Eastern Nepal. Our Nature 4, 42-47. Kocher, S.D. and Williams, E.H. 2000. The diversity and abundance of Biosketches North American butterflies vary with habitat disturbance and geography. Journal of Biogeography 27, 785-794. SANJAYA RAJ TAMANG is an undergraduate in Forestry from Kunte, K. 2000. Butterflies of Pennisular India. University Press Institute of Forestry, Pokhara and works in Himali Conservation Forum, Taplejung. (Hyderabad) and Indian Academy of Sciences (Bangalore). AASTHA JOSHI is a graduate student currently pursuing her degree Kunte, K. 1997. Seasonal patterns in butterfly abundance and species in Environmental Science from Central Department of diversity in four tropical habitats in Northern Western Ghats. Journal of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University. Bioscience 22, 593-603. JEEVNATH PANDEY is an Associate Professor in the Department of Larsen, T.B. 1988. The butterflies of the Nilgiri mountains of the Southern Zoology in Institute of Forestry, Pokhara. India (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 85, 26-43. NIRJALA RAUT is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Wildlife management in Institute of Forestry, Pokhara. Nair, A.V., Mitra, P., and Aditya, S. 2014. Studies on the diversity and abundance of butterfly (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) fauna in and around BIMAL RAJ SHRESTHA is a graduate in zoology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and currently teaches in Amrit Science Campus, Sarojini Naidu College campus, Kolkata,West Bengal, India. Journal of Kathmandu. Entomology and Zoology Studies 2, 129-134.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 3-10 Butterflies in eastern lowlands of Nepal 8 ANNEX 1: List of butterflies recorded during the study. The status is mentioned based upon the general status of butterflies in Nepal provided by Smith 1994. (Habitat index regarding the study area: F = Forest, R = Riverine fallow land & A = Agriculture land)

S.N. Species Scientific name Family Status Habitat 1 Brown Awl Badamia exclamationis Hesperiidae Uncommon F & R 2 Common Awl Hasora badra Hesperiidae Uncommon F 3 Common Yellow- Gerosis bhagava Hesperiidae Uncommon F Breasted Flat 4 Suffused Snow Flat Tagiades gana Hesperiidae Uncommon, Local F 5 Large Snow Flat Tagiades parra Hesperiidae Rare F 6 Water Snow Flat Tagiades litigiosa Hesperiidae Common F 7 Common Spotted Flat Celaenorrhinus leucocera Hesperiidae Common, Local F 8 Fulvous Pied Flat Pseudocoladenia dan Hesperiidae Common F 9 Common Small Flat Sarangesa dasahara Hesperiidae Very common R 10 Indian Skipper Spialia galba Hesperiidae Common A 11 Moore’s Ace Halpe porus Hesperiidae Very rare F & R 12 Chestnut Bob Iambrix salsala Hesperiidae Common F, R & A 13 Chocolate Demon Ancistroides nigrita Hesperiidae Uncommon, Local R & A 14 Restricted Demon Notocrypta curvifascia Hesperiidae Very common F 15 Grass Demon Udaspes folus Hesperiidae Common A 16 Wax Dart Cupitha purreea Hesperiidae Rare, local F 17 Banana Redeye Erionota torus Hesperiidae Uncommon, local A 18 Common Redeye Matapa aria Hesperiidae Common, local F 19 Bevan’s Swift Borbo bevani Hesperiidae Very common R & A 20 Rice Swift Borbo cinnara Hesperiidae Very common R & A 21 Chinese Swift Pelopidas sinensis Hesperiidae Very common R & A 22 Detached Dart Potanthus trachala Hesperiidae Common F 23 Dark Palm Dart Telicota aneilla Hesperiidae Common A 24 Common Jay Graphium doson Papilionidae Uncommon, local F 25 Tailed Jay Graphium agamemnon Papilionidae Common F 26 Fivebar Swordtail Graphium antiphates Papilionidae Uncommon F 27 Spot Swordtail Graphium nomius Papilionidae Common F 28 Lesser Zebra Graphium macareus Papilionidae Rare, local F 29 Common Batwing Atrophaneura varuna Papilionidae Uncommon, local F 30 Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae Papilionidae Uncommon F, R & A 31 Common Mime Papilio clytia Papilionidae Common R & A 32 Common Mormon Papilio polytes Papilionidae Very common F, R & A 33 Red Helen Papilio helenus Papilionidae Common F 34 Yellow Helen Papilio nephelus Papilionidae Uncommon F 35 Great Mormon Papilio memnon Papilionidae Common F & A 36 Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus Papilionidae Very common R & A 37 Three-spot Grass Yellow Eurema blanda Pieridae Very common F, R & A 38 Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe Pieridae Very common F, R & A 39 Tree Yellow Gandaca harina Pieridae Rare R & A 40 Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona Pieridae Common F, R & A 41 Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe Pieridae Very common F, R & A 42 Great Orange Tip Hebomoia glaucippe Pieridae Uncommon F 43 Common Wanderer Pareronia hippie Pieridae Uncommon F 44 Chocolate Albatross Appias lyncida Pieridae Uncommon F 45 Common Albatross Appias albina Pieridae Common F 46 Indian Cabbage White Pieris canidia Pieridae Very common A 47 Bath White Pontia daplidice Pieridae Uncommon R 48 Common Gull Cepora nerissa Pieridae Common R 49 Plum Judy Abisara bifasciata Riodinidae Uncommon F 50 Punchinello Zemeros flegyas Riodinidae Very common F 51 Common Gem Poritia hewitsoni Lycaenidae Uncommon F

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 3-10 Butterflies in eastern lowlands of Nepal 9 52 Apefly Spalgis epius Lycaenidae Rare R 53 Long-banded Silverline Spindasis lohita Lycaenidae Common F 54 Club Silverline Spindasis syama Lycaenidae Common F 55 Common Silverline Spindasis vulcanus Lycaenidae Rare F 56 Common Ciliate Blue Anthene emolus Lycaenidae Common F & A 57 Pointed Ciliate Blue Anthene lycaenina Lycaenidae Rare, local F 58 Tailess Lineblue Prosotas dubiosa Lycaenidae Very common F 59 Common Cerulean Jamides celeno Lycaenidae Very common F 60 Forget-me-not Catochrysops strabo Lycaenidae Very common F 61 Pea Blue Lampides boeticus Lycaenidae Very common R & A 62 Zebra Blue Leptotes plinius Lycaenidae Uncommon R 63 Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon Lycaenidae Very common R & A 64 Rounded Pierrot Tarucus nara Lycaenidae R 65 Dark Pierrot Tarucus ananda Lycaenidae Uncommon, local F 66 Dark Grass Blue Zizeeria karsandra Lycaenidae Common A 67 Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis Lycaenidae Common R & A 68 Pale Grass Blue Pseudozizeeria maha Lycaenidae Very common R & A 69 Plains Cupid Chilades pandava Lycaenidae Uncommon F 70 Indian Cupid Everes lacturnus Lycaenidae Common F 71 Forest Quaker Pithecops corvus Lycaenidae Uncommon, local F 72 Common Hedge Blue Acytolepis puspa Lycaenidae Very common F 73 Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus Lycaenidae Common R 74 Lime Blue Chilades lajus Lycaenidae Uncommon A 75 Purple Sapphire Heliophorus epicles Lycaenidae Very common F 76 Centaur Oakblue Arhopala centaurus Lycaenidae Very common F 77 Large Oakblue Arhopala amantes Lycaenidae Uncommon F 78 Spotless Oakblue Arhopala fulla Lycaenidae Rare, local F 79 Aberrant Blushblue Arhopala abseus Lycaenidae Rare F 80 Indian Oakblue Arhopala atrax Lycaenidae Very common F 81 Common Tit Hypolycaena erylus Lycaenidae Common F 82 Orchid Tit Chliaria othona Lycaenidae Common F 83 Chocolate Royal Remelana jangala Lycaenidae Rare, local F 84 Yamfly Loxura atymnus Lycaenidae Uncommon A 85 Common Imperial Cheritra freja Lycaenidae Rare F 86 Common Flash Rapala nissa Lycaenidae Very common R 87 Glassy Tiger Parantica aglea Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 88 Striped Tiger Danaus genutia Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 89 Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 90 Brown King Crow Euploea klugii Nymphalidae Rare, local F 91 Long Branded Blue Crow Euploea algae Nymphalidae Common, local F 92 Common Crow Euploea core Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 93 Common Nawab Polyura athamas Nymphalidae Very common R 94 Eastern Tawny Rajah Charaxes bernardus Nymphalidae Common F 95 Common Duffer Discophora sandaica Nymphalidae Uncommon F, R & A 96 Common Palmfly Elyminas hypermnestra Nymphalidae Common, local F & A 97 Spotted Palmfly Elyminas malelas Nymphalidae Uncommon A 98 Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda Nymphalidae Very common F & A 99 Bamboo Treebrown Lethe europa Nymphalidae Uncommon A 100 Banded Treebrown Lethe confuse Nymphalidae Very common F 101 Whitebar Bushbrown Mycalesis anaxias Nymphalidae Uncommon, local F 102 Common Bushbrown Mycalesis perseus Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 103 Long-brand Bushbrown Mycalesis visala Nymphalidae Very common F 104 Dark-brand Bushbrown Mycalesis mineus Nymphalidae Very common F 105 White-line Bushbrown Heteropsis malsara Nymphalidae Common F 106 Jungle Brown Orsotrionema medus Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 107 Common Five-ring Ypthima baldus Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 108 Common Four-ring Ypthima huebneri Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 3-10 Butterflies in eastern lowlands of Nepal 10 109 Common Leopard Phalanta phalanta Nymphalidae Common F 110 Rustic Cupha erymanthis Nymphalidae Common F & R 111 Vagrant Vagrans sinha Nymphalidae Common F 112 Commander Moduza Procris Nymphalidae Common F & A 113 Common Sergeant Athyma perius Nymphalidae Very common F 114 Colour Sergeant Athyma nefte Nymphalidae Common F 115 Common Lascar Pantoporia hordonia Nymphalidae Common F, R & A 116 Common Sailor Neptis hylas Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 117 Sullied Sailor Neptis nata Nymphalidae Common F 118 Common Baron Euthalia aconthea Nymphalidae Very common F & A 119 Powdered Baron Euthalia monina Nymphalidae Rare, local F 120 Gaudy Baron Euthalia lubentina Nymphalidae Uncommon, local F 121 Common Earl Tanaecia julii Nymphalidae Common F 122 Common Castor Ariadne merione Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 123 Common Jester Symbrenthia lilaea Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 124 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Nymphalidae Very common A 125 Indian Red Admiral Vanessa indica Nymphalidae Very common A 126 Blue Pansy Junonia orithiya Nymphalidae Very common R & A 127 Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta Nymphalidae Common R & A 128 Chocolate Pansy Junonia iphita Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 129 Grey Pansy Junonia atlites Nymphalidae Common F, R & A 130 Peacock Pansy Junonia almanac Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 131 Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias Nymphalidae Very common F, R & A 132 Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina Nymphalidae Common F, R & A 133 Orange Oakleaf Kalima inachus Nymphalidae Uncommon F

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 3-10 11 Short Communication Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest in Panchthar- Ilam-Taplejung (PIT) corridor of Eastern Nepal for birds CAROL INSKIPP1,2*, ANG PHURI SHERPA3, DAMBER BISTA3, HEM SAGAR BARAL4,5, MARTIJN BUNSKOEK6, HATHAN CHAUDHARY7,9 and RAMESH CHAUDHARY8,9 1 Self-employed bird researcher, conservationist and writer, UK 2 Himalayan Nature, Nepal 3 Red Panda Network, Nepal 4 Zoological Society of London - Nepal Office 5 School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga, Australia 6 Bunskoek Natuurlijk, Netherlands 7 Nepal Ornithological Union, Nepal 8 Bird Conservation Nepal, Nepal 9 Self-employed nature guide

*Email for correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract The national and global importance for birds of the upper Mai valley, far eastern Nepal has been documented and compiled in a checklist of the 209 bird species recorded here between 2008 and 2018. The checklist is annotated with species’ status and distribution and highlights biome-restricted and globally and nationally threatened bird species. Although the proposed Red Panda Protected Forest is dedicated to the conservation of Red Pandas, it will also help conserve birds in the area. Keywords Birds, conservation, Mai valley, protected forest, temperate forest ______

Introduction The Eastern Himalayan range runs east from the Arun-Kosi valley of eastern Nepal, through Bhutan, north-east India (Sikkim, northern West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh), south-east Tibet autonomous region and north-east Myanmar to south-west China (north-west Yunnan province). Research has shown that many of the birds are altitudinal migrants and that subtropical wet hill forest and

wet temperate forest are particularly important breeding habitats (BirdLife International 2018). Mai valley (FIG. 1), located in Eastern Himalayas, consists of upper and the lower Mai valleys. The whole of the Mai valley was assessed as an Important Bird and

Biodiversity Area (IBA) in the first IBA assessment (Baral SOURCE: RED PANDA NETWORK and Inskipp 2005) and in the second assessment (BCN, FIG. 1: Upper Mai valley region in the PIT corridor. DNPWC and DoFSC in press). Despite this recognition of their international importance for birds in 2005 and the The altitudinal range of the proposed PIT fact that upper Mai valley has some important patches of Protected Forest is from 2000-3600 m. Forests in the area wet temperate forest, currently Mai valley forests remain comprise fragmented patches of lower temperate mixed unprotected. The Red Panda Network (RPN), having over broadleaved forests and higher up extensive stands of ten years of working experience in Panchthar, Ilam and upper temperate broadleaved forest, mainly of Quercus Taplejung districts in eastern Nepal, recommends giving semecarpifolia and Rhododendron spp. with thick bamboo the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung (PIT) network of community undergrowth and slopes covered with bamboo (RPN forests in the upper Mai valley some kind of protected 2018). These habitats are of major global importance for status for broader conservation (Bista 2018).

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 12 birds, especially breeding species (Grimmett et al. 2016). Ramesh Chaudhary explored the area for birds and Red Other habitats are upland grasslands and scrub, also Panda for week long visits in July 2015, March 2016, March farmlands around villages, which have all been created by 2017 and March 2018, spending time around Dobato, forest clearance. Hangetham, Kaiyakata, Lalbas, Jaubari, Alebhanjyang, Conservation of the Red Panda, which is the Kalapokhari, Sandakpur, Choyatar, Thumki, Maipokhari flagship species of the PIT Corridor, will therefore also and Gorkhe areas. Hathan Chaudhary spent one week secure the habitat of birds and other biodiversity. This making bird observations in the following areas each year paper presents evidence for the global and national from 2015-2018: Gorkhe, Jogmai, Chitre, Choyatar and

importance of this proposed Protected Forest for birds. Jaubari. Hathan Chaudhary and Carol Inskipp spent a week

recording birds in January 2018 covering area above Dobato, Hangetham, Kaiyakata, Lalbas, Kalopokhari, Alebhanjyang and area above Hangetham. This was the only winter visit known to be made by birdwatchers between 2008 and 2018. Relatively few birds were recorded compared to visits between March and September. Using Mackinnon’s List method was attempted but too few observations were made each day to make this possible. Good coverage of the upper and lower temperate forests was made by birdwatchers between 2015 and 2018, mainly in March which is the beginning of the breeding season for most birds here. There were also visits

DAMBER BISTA in January, April, July and September. Most observers PHOTO 1: Dobato village - tourism hub for birding and red covered the altitudinal range from 2000-2800 m, although panda sighting. Ramesh Chaudhary and Hathan Chaudhary each reached 3600 m. Methods A comprehensive checklist of all bird species recorded in Results the proposed PIT Red Panda Protected Forest between A total of 209 species (ANNEX I) were recorded during 2008 and 2018 by bird surveyors and birdwatchers was surveys and visits by bird surveyors and birdwatchers to compiled. The species list was annotated with status and the proposed Protected Forest. Visits were made by B. national threat category. Earlier records have not been Robson and team in 2008, H. S. Baral and team in 2010, M. included because habitats in parts of the area, especially at Bunskoek in 2015, H. Chaudhary annually between 2015 lower altitudes have been changed in recent decade by and 2018, R. Chaudhary annually between 2015 and 2018 some forest clearance, forest degradation and planting of and H. Chaudhary and C. Inskipp in January 2018. non-native conifers (Robson et al. 2008, Carol Inskipp Recent visits by M. Bunskoek in 2015, and H. personal observation). As a result, some previously found Chaudhary and C. Inskipp in 2018 showed that extensive bird species may no longer occur. broadleaved upper temperate forests still remain within Several bird surveyors and birdwatchers have the proposed PIT Protected Forest. Although there was visited the area between 2008 and 2018. A joint five- some evidence of grazing in forests closer to the small person team from Bird Conservation Nepal and Royal settlements here, apart from these peripheral areas, Society for the Protection of Birds (UK) had carried out an forests in the region were in very good condition with ornithological survey of both the lower and upper Mai much bamboo and other undergrowth. Here there were valley in a four-week survey in March 2008. However, the many large trees, mainly of Brown Oak Quercus most productive upper temperate forests were not semecarpifolia and Rhododendron spp. with huge trunks covered. This survey used the Mackinnon’s List method and branches clothed in mosses and epiphytic ferns and and Timed Species Count method for bird recording orchids, which provided good habitats for numerous bird (Robson et al. 2008). Other birdwatchers have casual species. records of their observations in the area. Hem Sagar Baral, Suchit Basnet and Badri Chaudhary spent five days in Discussion September 2010 around Dobato, Kaiyakata and above The Mai valley qualified as an IBA as the number of bird Hangetham. Martijn Bunskoek, Coen Nengerman, Gokarna species recorded between 2006 (Basnet and Sapkota Khanal and Himal Khanal made bird observations while 2006) and 2018 met the biome-restricted assemblage searching for Red Panda in April 2015 mainly covering criteria for the Sino-Himalayan temperate forest and Sino- Mabu, Mai Pokhari, Dobato and Kalapokhari areas. Himalayan subtropical forest biomes (BCN, DNPWC and

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 13 DoFSC in press). However, the lower Mai forests (tropical throated Barwing Sibia nipalensis from the Central EBA. and subtropical) were found to be in relatively much Two of these species occur in the proposed PIT Protected poorer condition and some specialist birds of these lower Forest: Broad-billed Warbler (uncommon) and Hoary- altitude forests have not been recorded here since the throated Barwing (fairly common). As there is extensive 1980s, for example Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinculus suitable habitat for both species in the proposed Protected grantia and Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella (BCN, DNPWC Forest, it also qualifies as an IBA based on the restricted- and DoFSC in press). In contrast the condition of the range criterion. Broad-billed Warbler is a rare and local proposed PIT Protected Forest is far better and still species in Nepal and was assessed as nationally supports important communities of bird species. The Endangered (Inskipp et al. 2016). It inhabits bamboo and compilation of bird records between 2008 and 2018 other undergrowth in dense evergreen broadleaved forest presented here shows that the proposed PIT Protected in the temperate zone between 2195 m and 2300 m Forest qualifies as an IBA as the number of species (Grimmett et al. 2016). The global distribution of Hoary- recorded meets the biome-restricted assemblage criterion throated Barwing is centered on the Nepal Himalayas, for the Sino-Himalayan temperate forest (64 species mainly in the temperate zone between 1980 m and 3000 recorded between 2008 and 2018, 35 percent of the total m where it is locally fairly common (Grimmett et al. 2016). for this biome-restricted assemblage). Sino-Himalayan It frequents moist oak-rhododendron forests with many temperate forests are one of the two forest types for epiphytes of ferns and mosses (Inskipp et al. 2016). which Nepal is especially important (BCN, DNPWC and Only one globally threatened species has been DoFSC in press). found since 2008: Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis which is The entire Mai valley was also assessed as an IBA probably a passage migrant and possibly also a winter based on the restricted-range criterion, as defined by visitor. BirdLife International (Stattersfield et al. 1998). Species Two species classified as globally Near with restricted-ranges are land-bird species which have Threatened by BirdLife International (2018) have been had, throughout historical times (i.e. post-1800), a total recorded in the proposed Protected Forest between 2008 global breeding range of less than 50,000 km2 (an area and 2018: Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra (uncommon) about a third of the size of Nepal). BirdLife showed that and Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis (fairly common). restricted-range species often tend to occur together on Both species have been assessed as nationally Vulnerable islands or in isolated patches of a particular habitat. These (Inskipp et al. 2016). areas of endemism are termed Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) Nationally threatened birds recorded in the

(Stattersfield et al. 1998). proposed Protected Forest total 20 species. These

comprise two Critically Endangered species, one Endangered species, 15 Vulnerable species and two species assessed as Data Deficient. Critically Endangered species include Rufous-backed Sibia Leioptila annectans which was recorded near Lalbas in March 2016 (Chaudhary 2016) and inhabits dense, humid, broadleaved evergreen forest in the subtropical and temperate zones between 1450 m and 2650 m (Grimmett et al. 2016). The other Critically Endangered species is Yellow-cheeked Tit Machlolophus spilonotus recorded near Thumke in March

2018 (Chaudhary 2018) which frequents open broadleaved forest between 1980 and 2400 m (Grimmett et al. 2016). In the past two other species nationally categorized as Critically Endangered were recorded in the HATHAN CHAUDHARY PHOTO 2: Red-tailed Minla. Mai valley. Both are very rare and local in Nepal. Single individuals of Slaty-bellied Tesia Tesia olivea were There are three EBAs in Nepal that support such recorded at two localities in Hangetham forests in April concentrations of restricted-range bird species and are 1999: one about 3 km up the ridge above the village and therefore of global conservation importance. These are another about 1 km above the village (Inskipp 2006; Basnet the Western Himalayas, Central Himalayas and Eastern 2007). There are no later records from the Mai valley. Himalayas EBAs. In the whole of the Mai valley, three Rufous-throated Wren Babbler Spelaeornis caudatus, restricted-range species have been recorded and extensive which is also globally near-threatened and a restricted- suitable habitat occurs for all of them: Yellow-vented range species, was first recorded in Nepal in forests at Warbler Phyllocopus cantator and Broad-billed Warbler Hangetham in 1961 and was regularly seen here until 1993 Tickellia hodgsoni from the Eastern EBA, and Hoary- (Inskipp et al. 2016), but despite searches in later years,

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 14 there have been no other records from the area. require bamboo in their habitat or favor forest with Broadleaved lower temperate forests near Hangetham bamboo in the understorey. were cleared in the 1990s and replanted with fast-growing The two Data Deficient species include Black- exotic conifers (Cryptomeria japonica), so becoming tailed Crake Zapornia bicolor, a very local species in Nepal unsuitable for both species, as well as for many other birds. of upland marshes, which was first seen in the reserve near Rufous-throated Wren Babbler frequents mossy rocks, Dobato in September 2010 (Baral et al. 2010) and in April terrestrial ferns and fallen trees and also dense thickets in 2015 on Mai Pokhari marsh (Bunskoek 2015) which lies narrow gullies in lower temperate broadleaved evergreen outside, but close to the border of the proposed Protected forest between 2135 m and 2440 m (Grimmett et al. 2016). Forest. The other Data Deficient species is Mountain Slaty-bellied Tesia inhabits thick low undergrowth of ferns Tailorbird Phyllergates cucullatus which was first recorded and nettles in dense moist forest, especially in evergreens for Nepal in April 2015 (Bunskoek 2015) from several between 1000 m and 2200 m (Grimmett et al. 2016). Some localities below Jaubari and Kalipokhari/Dobato in dense areas of suitable habitat may occur for both species in the and moist undergrowth of temperate forest. It inhabits Mai valley including in the proposed Protected Forest. evergreen biotope (Grimmett et al. 2016). Both species are The nationally Endangered Rusty-fronted Barwing probably residents which have been overlooked Actinodura egertoni which is uncommon in the proposed previously. Protected Forest inhabits dense thickets in humid, broadleaved evergreen forest in the subtropical and lower temperate zones between 1500 m and 2400 m (Inskipp et

al. 2016).

BUNSKOEK

MARTIJN

PHOTO 4: Black-tailed Crake.

RAMESH CHAUDHARY

PHOTO 3: Himalayan Wood Owl.

Amongst the Vulnerable species, the majority: *Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra, Barred Cuckoo-dove Macropygia unchall, Brown Wood Owl Strix CAROL INSKIPP leptogrammica, Black-headed Shrike Babbler Pteruthius PHOTO 5: Upper temperate forest near Dobato. rufiventer, *Hume’s Bush-warbler Horornis brunnescens, The PIT corridor is part of the Kangchenjunga- Grey-sided Laughingthrush Garrulax caerulatus *Golden- Singhalila Complex which provides connectivity between breasted Fulvetta Lioparus chrysotis, *Brown Parrotbill Cholornis unicolor, *Fulvous Parrotbill Suthora fulvifrons, protected areas in India and Nepal. Establishing the PIT *Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus Protected Forest will connect the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area of Nepal with India’s Khangchendzonga superciliaris, and Gold-naped Finch Pyrrhoplectes National Park, Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary and epauletta inhabit temperate forests, and those marked * Singhalila National Park and as the forests are contiguous this will create an uninterrupted stretch of protected land

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 15 extending for 11,500 km2 (Williams et al. 2011; Bista 2018; recording birds from March to May is highly RPN 2018). recommended. Some of the proposed PIT Protected Forest lies adjacent to the larger extent of upper temperate Acknowledgements broadleaved forest in the Singhalila National Park in India, Carol Inskipp and Hathan Chaudhary are grateful to Phinju such as above Dobato and between Ingla and Jaubari so Sherpa, who works for the Red Panda Network for acting there is very likely to be considerable movement of birds as their local guide and his valuable contributions to their between the PIT Protected Forest and Singhalila National bird observations. Martijn Bunskoek much appreciated the Park, although in a few places deforested and overgrazed company on his Mai valley visit of: Coen Nengerman, open land along the border may make this difficult. Gokarna Khanal and his son Himal and local guides from the Red Panda Network in the Ingla and Dobato areas. Hem Sagar Baral thanks Nature Safari Tours for supporting his Mai valley visit. Ramesh Chaudhary thanks Ang Phuri Sherpa and Damber Bista of Red Panda Network for giving him the opportunity to lead their eco trips and Wendy Hare and Nigel for hiring him as their bird guide in 2014 and 2016.

References

Baral, H. S., Basnet, S. and Chaudhary, B. 2010. A checklist of birds and mammals recorded at Ilam District. Unpublished report. Baral, H.S. and Inskipp, C. 2005. Important Bird Areas in Nepal; Key Sites MARTIJN BUNSKOEK for Conservation. Bird Conservation Nepal. Kathmandu, Nepal. PHOTO 6: Ingla forest. Basnet, S. 2007. Nepal Rare Birds Committee (NRBC) Report 2007. Danphe 16, 10-11. The proposed Protected Forest will be the largest Basnet, Y.R. and Sapkota, J. 2006. Ornithological survey of lower Mai- “protected forest” in Nepal and the first to be managed by valley, Ilam, eastern Nepal. A report to Oriental Bird Club, U.K, and Bird Conservation Nepal. Unpublished. 31pp. a network of community forests. National Forest Policy Bird Conservation Nepal, Department of National Parks and Wildlife 2019 has a provision for community to declare a portion of Conservation and Department of Forests and Soil Conservation in press. their managed land as “protected”. RPN’s goal is to create Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas of Nepal, Kathmandu. the Red Panda Protected Forest, a network of all BirdLife International 2018. Endemic Bird Areas factsheet: Eastern community forests bordering the proposed PIT corridor Himalayas. http://www.birdlife.org. which will cover at least 438 km2 (Bista 2018). As it will Bista, D. 2018. Communities in frontline in Red Panda Conservation, Eastern Nepal. The Himalayan Naturalist 1, 11-12. include the upper temperate broadleaved forests in the Bunskoek, M. 2015. Birds recorded in the upper Mai valley, April 2015. Mai Valley IBA, the proposed Red Panda Protected Forest Unpublished report. will help conserve birds in the area. Chaudhary, H. 2018. Birds recorded in the Mai valley, 2015-18. Although 12 visits by bird surveyors and Unpublished report. birdwatchers have been made to the proposed PIT Chaudhary, H. and Inskipp, C. 2018. Birds recorded in the upper Mai Protected Forest between 2008 and 2018, the forest valley, January 2018. Unpublished report. remains under-recorded for birds and most observations Chaudhary, R. 2015. Birds recorded in Ilam district, 2015. Unpublished were made on a casual basis. While the upper temperate report. broadleaved forests, which are the most important for Chaudhary, R. 2016. Birds recorded in Ilam district, 2016. Unpublished report. breeding birds have been well covered in March, there has Chaudhary, R. 2017. Birds recorded in Ilam district, 2017. Unpublished been little recording in April and May which are the most report. important breeding months here. It is quite likely that new Chaudhary, R. 2018. Birds recorded in Ilam district, 2018. Unpublished bird species for Nepal will be found in the proposed report. Protected Forest. For example, White-spectacled Warbler Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., Inskipp, T. and Baral, H. S. 2016. Birds of Nepal. Phylloscopus intermedius has been reported here (Mich A field guide. Revised edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Coker pers. comm. to C. Inskipp, 2017), but further details Inskipp, C. 2006. Report on rare birds in Nepal 2005. Danphe 15, 4-5. are needed to confirm the presence of this species. In Inskipp, C., Baral, H.S., Phuyal, S., Bhatta, T.R., Khatiwada, M., Inskipp, T., addition, it is probable that this forest area has several Khatiwada, A., Gurung, S., Singh, P.B., Murray, L., Poudyal, L. and Amin, R. 2016. The status of Nepal's Birds: The national red list series. Zoological other globally and nationally threatened species which Society of London, UK. future surveys will record. A spring survey using scientific Red Panda Network 2018. Red Panda Network. methodology by an experienced team dedicated to https://www.redpandanetwork.org/what-we-do/ 15 July 2018.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 16 Robson, B., Ellsion, M., Keys, A., Pandey, M. and Pokharel, K. 2008. Bird socio-economic dimension of wildlife conservation and believes that survey of Mai Valley. Bird Conservation Nepal and Royal Society for the conservation can only thrive if it is based on good science and Protection of Birds, Kathmandu and Sandy. ensures local community involvement. Stattersfield, A.J., Crosby, M.J., Long, A.J. and Wege, D.C. 1998. Endemic HEM SAGAR BARAL has worked on birds and biodiversity Bird Areas of the world: priorities for biodiversity conservation. BirdLife conservation for over 30 years. His main interests lie on ecology and population monitoring of wildlife. Hem promotes the red list, International, Cambridge, UK. field guides, and various innovative conservation approaches for Williams, B.H., Dahal B.R. and Subedi, T.R., 2011. Project Punde Kundo: nature conservation. Community-based monitoring of a red panda population in Eastern MARTIJN BUNSKOEK is an enthusiastic ecologist and birdwatcher Nepal. In Red Panda Biology and Conservation of the First Panda, A.R. from The Netherlands who has recently started his own business Glatston (eds.). Elsevier Inc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. PP. 393-408. (Bunskoek Natuurlijk) focused on all kinds of nature-related subjects.

Biosketches HATHAN CHAUDHARY has worked as a professional nature guide since 1988, first in Chitwan and later in Koshi Tappu protected areas CAROL INSKIPP is a bird conservationist and naturalist with a and led birdwatching groups throughout Nepal. Hathan has special interest in Nepal and has visited the country many times undertaken numerous bird surveys in protected areas and since 1977. Carol has authored a number of Nepal bird conservation Important Bird Areas and led many training courses. books and Indian subcontinent field guides. RAMESH CHAUDHARY is a professional bird, wildlife, mountain, ANG PHURI SHERPA has over 28 years of experience in biodiversity culture and pilgrimage tour guide in Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. conservation and managing conservation areas in Nepal. His key Ramesh played an instrumental role in establishing the Bird area of interest is promoting public and civil society organisations Education Society in Sauraha, Chitwan in 1994 and became the engagement for sustainability of conservation endeavours. founder secretary of the organization. DAMBER BISTA has nearly ten years of experience in the eastern Himalayas, Damber is concerned with the ecological aspects and

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 17 ANNEX I: Bird Checklist (2008-2018) of proposed Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung Red Panda Protected Forest.

*Status refers to status in the proposed PIT Protected Forest: am = altitudinal migrant, sv = summer visitor, wv = winter visitor, r = resident and pm = passage migrant. ? indicates uncertainty about the Status ** Nationally Threatened Species: VU = Vulnerable, EN = Endangered, CR = Critically Endangered, DD = Data Deficient and NT = Near Threatened *** Surveys: 1. Robson et al. 2008, 2. Bunskoek 2015, 3. Baral et al. 2010, 4. Chaudhary and Inskipp 2018, 5. Chaudhary 2015, 6. Chaudhary 2016, 7. Chaudhary 2017, 8. Chaudhary 2018 and 9. Chaudhary 2015-2018.

x in the table is used for affirmation of Biome-restriction and affirmation of record of species in Surveys***

Surveys***

* **

SN English name Scientific name restricted

-

tatus

species

pecies

S

Nationally S

Threatened 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Biome

GALLIFORMES Phasianidae 1 Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola am x x x x x x x x x 2 Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra am x VU x x x x x x x x 3 Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos am x x x x x x ANSERIFORMES Anatidae 4 Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus pm x 5 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea pm x COLUMBIFORMES Columbidae 6 Rock Dove Columba livia am x x x x x 7 Speckled Wood Pigeon Columba hodgsonii r x x 8 Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis am x x x x x x x x 9 Barred Cuckoo Dove Macropygia unchall am VU x x x 10 Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon Treron sphenurus am x CAPRIMULGIFORMES Caprimulgidae 11 Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka sv x

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 18 Apodidae 12 White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus sv x 13 Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis sv x x 14 Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris am x x x 15 Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba sv x 16 House Swift Apus nipalensis sv x CUCULIFORMES Cuculidae 17 Large Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides sv x x x x x 18 Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus sv x x x 19 Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus sv x x GRUIFORMES Rallidae 20 Black-tailed Crake Zapornia bicolor r x x Scolopacidae 21 Solitary Snipe Gallinago solitaria am x x STRIGIFORMES Strigidae 22 Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei r x x x x x 23 Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides r x x x x x 24 Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica r VU x x 25 Himalayan Wood Owl Strix nivicolum r x x x ACCIPITRIFORMES Accipitridae 26 Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus pm? x 27 Crested Serpent-eagle Spilornis cheela sv x 28 Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus pm x 29 Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis r VU x x x x x x 30 Mountain Hawk-eagle Nisaetus nipalensis r x x x x 31 Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis r x x x x x 32 pm/ Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis VU x x wv?

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 19 33 Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus r x 34 Shikra Accipiter badius am? x 35 Besra Accipiter virgatus am? x 36 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus r x 37 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis r x x x 38 Black Kite Milvus migrans r? x 39 Himalayan Buzzard Buteo refectus r x x x x x 40 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus wv x x 41 Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius r x x Upupidae 42 Common Hoopoe Upupa epops pm x x PICIFORMES Megalaimidae 43 Great Barbet Psilopogon virens r x x x x x 44 Golden-throated Barbet Psilopogon franklinii r? x 45 Blue-throated Barbet Psilopogon asiaticus r? x Picidae 46 Scarlet-breasted Woodpecker Dryobates cathpharius r x 47 Rufous-bellied Woodpecker Dendrocopos hyperythrus r x 48 Darjeeling Woodpecker Dendrocopos darjellensis r x x x x x x x x CARIAMIFORMES Falconidae 49 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus r x 50 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus ? x x PASSERIFORMES Oriolidae 51 Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii am x x x x x Vireonidae 52 Black-headed Shrike-babbler Pteruthius rufiventer r VU x x x 53 White-browed Shrike-babbler Pteruthius aeralatus am x x x x x 54 Green Shrike-babbler Pteruthius xanthochlorus r x x x x x x x 55 Black-eared Shrike-babbler Pteruthius melanotis r x

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 20 Campephagidae 56 Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris am x 57 Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris am x 58 Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus am x x x x xx x 59 Black-winged Cuckooshrike Lalage melaschistos r/sv x x x Rhipiduridae 60 White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis r x x x x x x x Dicruridae 61 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus am x x x x x Laniidae 62 Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus r/am x x x x Corvidae 63 Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae r x x x x x x 64 Yellow-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa flavirostris r x x x x x x x x 65 Plain-crowned Jay Garrulus bispecularis r x x x 66 Southern Nutcracker Nucifraga hemispila r x x x x x x 67 Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos am x x x x x x x Stenostiridae 68 Yellow-bellied Fairy-fantail Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus am x 69 Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis sv? x Paridae 70 Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus am x x x x x x x x 71 Coal Tit Periparus ater am x x x x x 72 Rufous-vented Tit Periparus rubidiventris am x x x x x 73 Grey-crested Tit Lophophanes dichrous am x x x x x 74 Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus am x x x x x x x x x 75 Black-lored Tit Machlolophus xanthogenys am x x x 76 Yellow-cheeked Tit Machlolophus spilonotus r CR x Cisticolidae 77 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis v x x 78 Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera am x x x x x 79 Black-throated Prinia Prinia atrogularis r x

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 21 Pnoepygidae 80 Pygmy Cupwing Pnoepyga pusilla am x x 81 Scaly-breasted Cupwing Pnoepyga albiventer am x x x Hirundinidae 82 Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus am x 83 Nepal House Martin Delichon nipalense am x x x x x 84 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica am x x x Pycnonotidae 85 Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii r x x 86 Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus r x x x x 87 Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys r x x x x Scotocercidae 88 Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cucullatus am DD x Phylloscopidae 89 Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus wv/pm x 90 Hume's Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus humei am x x x 91 Lemon-rumped Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus chloronotus am x x x x x x x 92 Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher am x x x x x x x 93 Ashy-throated Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis am x x x x x x x x x 94 Tickell's Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus affinis am x x 95 Green-crowned Warbler Phylloscopus burkii am x x x x x 96 Whistler's Warbler Phylloscopus whistleri am x x x x x x 97 Chestnut-crowned Warbler Phylloscopus castaniceps am x x x x x x x 98 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides sv x x x 99 Large-billed Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris sv x x x 100 Blyth's Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus reguloides am x 101 Grey-hooded Warbler Phylloscopus xanthoschistos am x x x x x 102 Grey-bellied Tesia Tesia cyaniventer am x x x x x 103 Chestnut-headed Tesia Cettia castaneocoronata am x x x x x 104 Grey-sided Bush-warbler Cettia brunnifrons am x x x x 105 Black-faced Warbler Abroscopus schisticeps r x x 106 Broad-billed Warbler Tickellia hodgsoni r x EN x x x

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 22 107 Brownish-flanked Bush-warbler Horornis fortipes am x x x x 108 Hume's Bush-warbler Horornis brunnescens r x VU x x 109 Aberrant Bush-warbler Horornis flavolivaceus am x x x Aegithalidae 110 Red-headed Tit Aegithalos iredalei r x x x x x x 111 Rufous-fronted Tit Aegithalos iouschistos r x x x x x x Sylviidae 112 Fire-tailed Myzornis Myzornis pyrrhoura r x x x x x 113 Golden-breasted Fulvetta Lioparus chrysotis r x VU x x x 114 White-browed Fulvetta Fulvetta vinipectus am x x x x x x x x x 115 Brown Parrotbill Cholornis unicolor r x VU x x 116 Fulvous Parrotbill Suthora fulvifrons r x VU x

117 Black-throated Parrotbill Suthora nipalensis r x x Zosteropidae 118 Stripe-throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis am x x x x x x x x x 119 Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis am x x x x x x x x 120 Rufous-vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis am x x x x x x 121 Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus am x Timaliidae 122 Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinus superciliaris r x VU x x x 123 Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis r x x x x x x 124 Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babbler Erythrogenys erythrogenys r x 125 Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps r x x 126 Rufous-capped Babbler Cyanoderma ruficeps r x x x x x x Pellorneidae 127 Rufous-winged Fulvetta Schoeniparus castaneceps am x x x x x x x Leiotrichidae 128 Nepal Fulvetta Alcippe nipalensis am x x x x 129 Striated Laughingthrush Grammatoptila striata r x x x x x x x x x 130 Spotted Laughingthrush Garrulax ocellatus r x x x x x x x 131 White-throated Laughingthrush Garrulax albogularis r x x x x x x 132 Grey-sided Laughingthrush Garrulax caerulatus r VU x

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 23 133 Scaly Laughingthrush Trochalopteron subunicolor r x x x x 134 Blue-winged Laughingthrush Trochalopteron squamatum r VU x 135 Streaked Laughingthrush Trochalopteron lineatum r x x x x 136 Black-faced Laughingthrush Trochalopteron affine r x x x x x 137 Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Trochalopteron erythrocephalum am x x x x x x 138 Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capistrata am x x x x x x x x x 139 Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea r x x x 140 Rufous-backed Sibia Leioptila annectens r? CR x 141 Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta am x x x x x x x 142 Hoary-throated Barwing Sibia nipalensis r x x x x x x x x 143 Blue-winged Minla Siva cyanouroptera am x x x x x x 144 Bar-throated Minla Chrysominla strigula am x x x x x x x x x 145 Rusty-fronted Barwing Actinodura egertoni r EN x x x Certhiidae 146 Rusty-flanked Treecreeper Certhia nipalensis am x x x x x 147 Sikkim Treecreeper Certhia discolor am x x Sittidae 148 White-tailed Nuthatch Sitta himalayensis am x x x x x x x x x Troglodytidae 149 Northern Wren Troglodytes troglodytes r x x Sturnidae 150 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis am x Turdidae 151 Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni am x x 152 Alpine Thrush Zoothera mollissima am x x x 153 Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul am x x x x x 154 Tickell's Thrush Turdus unicolor am x 155 White-collared Blackbird Turdus albocinctus am x x x x x x x x 156 Chestnut Thrush Turdus rubrocanus wv x x 157 Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis wv x x x x Muscicapidae 158 Dark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica sv x

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 24 159 Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara am x x x x x 160 Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae r x x 161 Large Niltava Niltava grandis r x 162 Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus sv x x x x x x x 163 Himalayan Shortwing Brachypteryx cruralis am x x 164 Indian Blue Robin Larvivora brunnea sv x x 165 White-tailed Blue Robin Myiomela leucura sv x 166 Himalayan Bush-robin Tarsiger rufilatus am x x x x x x 167 White-browed Bush-robin Tarsiger indicus am x x x 168 Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri sv x x 169 Spotted Forktail Enicurus maculatus am x x x 170 Blue Whistling-thrush Myophonus caeruleus r x x x x x x x x 171 Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula erithacus wv x x 172 Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra sv x x x x x 173 Pygmy Blue-flycatcher Ficedula hodgsoni am x 174 Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata am x x x x x x x x x 175 Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris sv x x x 176 Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni sv x x x x x 177 Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla wv x x 178 Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis pm x x x x x x 179 White-throated Redstart Phoenicurus schisticeps wv x x x 180 White-capped Water-redstart Phoenicurus leucocephalus sv? x x x x x x 181 Plumbeous Water-redstart Phoenicurus fuliginosus r x x x x x x 182 Chestnut-bellied Rock-thrush Monticola rufiventris am x x x x x x x 183 Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius wv x x 184 Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferreus am x x x x x Regulidae 185 Goldcrest Regulus regulus am x Chloropseidae 186 Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii am x x Dicaeidae 187 Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum melanozanthum am x x

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 Conservation value of upper Mai valley forest for birds 25 188 Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus r x x x x Nectariniidae 189 Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda am x x x x x x x 190 Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis am x x x x x 191 Gould's Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae am x x x x x x Prunellidae 192 Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculata wv x x x x x 193 Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata am x x x x x Passeridae 194 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus r x Motacillidae 195 Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni am x x x x x x x 196 Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus sv x x 197 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea am x x x x x x 198 White Wagtail Motacilla alba sv x x Fringillidae 199 Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus sv x 200 Scarlet Finch Carpodacus sipahi r x x x x 201 Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch Carpodacus thura wv x x 202 Brown Bullfinch Pyrrhula nipalensis r x x 203 Red-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythrocephala wv x x x x x 204 Gold-naped Finch Pyrrhoplectes epauletta wv x VU x 205 Dark-breasted Rosefinch Procarduelis nipalensis wv x x x x 206 Plain Mountain-finch Leucosticte nemoricola wv x x x x 207 Yellow-breasted Greenfinch Chloris spinoides sv x x x x x 208 Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra r x x Emberizidae 209 Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla wv VU x x x x

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 11-25 26 Short Communication Distribution of King Cobra in Nepal KUL BAHADUR THAPA1*, NEESHA RANA2 and KARAN BAHADUR SHAH1 1 Himalayan Nature, PO Box 10918, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal 2 National Academy of Science and Technology, Khumaltar, Kathmandu, Nepal *Email for correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract Very little information is available on the Nepal and categorized as Vulnerable (V) by National Red distribution of globally threatened King Cobra Data Book (HMG 1995). Ophiophagus hannah in Nepal. Based on both field surveys King Cobra was first reported from Nepal in 1974 and literature review, we present its updated geographical from Rautahat district (Fleming and Fleming 1974). Its distribution in Nepal. Present study reveals that King Cobra occurrence elsewhere in Nepal was mentioned by Shrestha has been found in 37 districts of the country with 219 (1981), Majpuria (1981), Gurung (1983), Nanhoe and individual records since its first record in 1974. These Ouboter (1987), Schleich (1993), Shah (1995), Budha et al. records show that the King Cobra is rather widely (1998), Shah (1998), Shah (2000), Rai (2003), Pandey distributed in Nepal. (2012), Chettri and Chhetry (2013), Pandey (2015), Thapa (2016), Bhattrai et al. (2018) and Pandey et al. (2018). Shah Keywords Distribution, King Cobra, Nepal, rare species (2000) provided its detailed accounts including behaviour, ______habitat, distribution, potential threats and ethnozoology in Nepal. Other publications before and after Shah (2000) Introduction were mainly based on opportunistic sightings or as part of The King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) is the cursorial surveys. Hence, the existing limited information longest venomous snake in the world and is native to South on distribution of King Cobra led to information gap in and Southeast Asia. It is known to grow up to 5.79 m understanding the nationwide occurrence of the species. (Aagaard 1924; Mehrtens 1987; Daniel 2002). It is found in In order to reduce this gap, based on literature review and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, sightings by ourselves, other wildlife biologists, nature India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, guides and local people, we hereby present the updated Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam (Stuart et al. distribution of King Cobra in Nepal. 2012) and Pakistan (Faiz et al. 2017).

Methodology

Primary Data Collection Field surveys following lines transect and opportunistic random visual encounter surveys along with active search were carried out during 2013 to 2018 in Eastern, Central and Western parts of the country to record occurrence of

the King Cobra.

THAPA

.

B . K PHOTO 1: An adult King Cobra from Palpa district, Nepal.

This snake is not frequently encountered anywhere within its wide range except in forested areas of Thailand where it is a protected species (Stuart et al. 2012).

This species is globally threatened mainly due to habitat

HAPA

T

. B

destruction, illegal collection and human persecution . K (Stuart et al. 2012). The species has been categorised as PHOTO 2: A typical habitat of King Cobra in Central Nepal. Vulnerable in International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of In addition, opportunistic sightings were also Threatened Species and included in the Appendix II of recorded. We also acquired information on occurrence of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species the species by anecdotal oral history and/or photos/videos of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is a protected species of as evidence through interactions with local people living near potential King Cobra habitats. The information based

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 26-33 Distribution of King Cobra in Nepal

27

FIG. 1: District map of Nepal indicating distribution of King Cobra. The highlighted districts without presence points indicate that the occurrence of King Cobra was evident but exact location was not known.

on the anecdotal oral history was sensibly judged, and only Conservation Area and Bardia National Park. They were reliable information has been included in this paper. recorded from diverse habitats such as forest, grassland, agricultural land, scrubland, human settlements (both Secondary Data Collection rural and urban) and even inside the houses. Among the We carried out a thorough review of the research articles, recorded King Cobras, 170 were recorded alive and 37 books, dissertations, and published and unpublished were killed and the status of 12 individuals couldn't be reports (1974 to 2018) to collate the secondary data on ascertained due to lack of information in the literature. distribution of the King Cobra in Nepal. Also, the information obtained from newspapers and online portals were substantiated and incorporated in this study.

Results A total of 90 records were acquired from primary sources from different locations through direct observation (14 records) and personal communication (76 records).

Twenty-eight records were acquired from secondary

THAPA

. B

sources. Information on 219 individuals including 140 . K adults/sub-adults and 79 juveniles were obtained. More PHOTO 3: A juvenile King Cobra from Makwanpur. than one individual was seen on nine occasions. The occurrence of King Cobra was confirmed from 37 districts Discussion of Nepal (FIG. 1). It was found to be distributed from Jhapa district in the east to Kailali district in the west and Distribution records of King Cobra from 37 districts, altitudinal distribution ranged from 67 m to 2566 m spanning from Jhapa to Kailali and altitudinal distribution (ANNEX 1). The species was reported from five districts of from 67 m to 2566 m indicate that the species is widely State No. 1, all eight districts of State No. 2, seven districts distributed in the country. Besides the occurrence of the of State No. 3, eight districts of Gandaki State (State No. 4), King Cobra in wide altitudinal range, the varied climatic six districts of State No. 5, two districts of Karnali State conditions and diverse habitats suggests that there are (State No. 6) and only one district of Sudur Paschim State ample chances of King Cobras occurring in many other (State No. 7). districts as well. The highest altitude of King Cobra's Geographically, King Cobra occurred in 19 occurrence in Nepal mentioned by Shah and Tiwari (2004) districts of Terai and Inner Terai, and 18 districts of hilly as 3500 m was a typing error (verified by the authors) and region. Among the total 219 individual records, only 47 it should actually be 2566 m. This highest altitude record is records were from Protected Areas. They have been from Simbhanjyang of Makwanpur district in the central recorded from eight Protected Areas of Nepal viz., Koshi Nepal. So far, the available information indicates that this Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Gauri Shankar Conservation Area, species is rare in the country. In Nepal, King Cobras have Langtang National Park, Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, been recorded from Terai/Inner Terai and hilly districts in Parsa National Park, Chitwan National Park, Annapurna almost same proportion. Some localities where the species

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 26-33 Distribution of King Cobra in Nepal 28 was recorded have been known to receive snowfall during data and field support, and Hari Basnet for map winter. Primarily existing in pristine forests, King Cobras production. has also been recorded from degraded forests and References agricultural lands with scattered trees (Stuart 2012) which Aagaard, C.J. 1924. Cobras and King Cobras. Natural History Bulletin Siam was also observed during our study. Society 6, 315-316. Most of its records (172 out of 219) have been Bhattarai, S., Pokheral, C.P., Lamichhane, B.R., Regmi, U.R., Ram, A.K. and made from outside of the Protected Areas which could be Subedi, N. 2018. Amphibians and reptiles of Parsa National Park, Nepal. because occurrence of this species inside any protected Amphibians and Reptiles Conservation 12, 35-48. areas rarely make news or brought into attention from Budha, P.B., Singh, R.L. and Chaudhary, R.P. 1998. Animal Diversity of these locations. The recorded cases of high mortality Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Nepal: A Preliminary Survey. Journal of Natural History Museum 17, 65-88. (16.9%) due to human persecution signify that the King Chettri, K. and Chhetry, D.T. 2013. Diversity of Snakes in Sarlahi District, Cobras are facing great threats in Nepal. Thus, Nepal. Our Nature 11, 201-207. conservation initiation seems urgent. Daniel, J.C. 2002. The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. Bombay Natural History Society. Oxford University Press, Mumbai. Acknowledgements Faiz, A.H., Abbas, F., Bagaturov, M.F., Faiz, L.Z. and Akhtar, T. 2017. First We want to acknowledge Department of Forest and sighting and occurrence record of King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in Pakistan. Herpetology Notes 10, 349-350. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Fleming, R.L. and Fleming, R.L. jr. 1974. Some Snakes from Nepal. Journal Babarmahal, Kathmandu for providing research of Bombay Natural History Museum Society 70, 426-437. permission; The Rufford Foundation, UK (for study in Palpa Gurung, K.K. 1983. Heart of the Jungle: The Wildlife of Chitwan, Nepal. district), National Academy of Science and Technology, Andre Deutsch, London. Khumaltar (for study in Makwanpur district) and Majupuria, T.C. 1981. Reptile. In: Wild is Beautiful. Introduction to Fauna Himalayan Nature, Lazimpat, Kathmandu for financial and Wildlife of Nepal, Majupuria T.C. (eds.). Lashkar, India. PP 147-177. support. We are grateful to Prof. Dr. Tej Bahadur Thapa, Mehrtens, J. 1987. Living Snakes of the World. New York: Sterling. Head of the Department-Central Department of Zoology, Nanhoe, L.M.R. and Ouboter, P.E. 1987. The Distribution of Reptiles and Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, Prof. Dr. Notker Amphibians in the Annapurna-Dhaulagiri Region (Nepal). Zoologische Verhandelingen 240, 1-105. Helfenberger-Thurgau University of Teacher Education, Pandey, D.P. 2012. Snakes in the vicinity of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, Prof. Dr. Mark O'Shea-University Herpetological Conservation and Biology 7, 46-57. of Wolverhampton, UK, Dr. Romulus Whitaker- Pandey, D.P. 2015. Venomous Snakes of Medical Relevance in Nepal: Herpetologist and Founder of MSP, ANET, MCBT, ARRS, Study on Species, Epidemiology of Snake Bite and Assessment of Risk India, Dr. Hem Sagar Baral-Country Representative, Factors of Envenoming and Death. Ph.D. Thesis, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Zoological Society of London, Nepal and Founder of Pandey, D.P., Jelic, D., Sapkota, S., Lama, H.M., Lama, B., Pokharel, K., Himalayan Nature and Nepal Ornithological Union, Mr. Goode, M. and Kuch, U. 2018. New records of snakes from Chitwan Sharad Singh, Director-Himalayan Nature, Mr. P. Gowri National Park and vicinity, Central Nepal. Herpetology Notes 11, 679-696. Shankar-King Cobra Researcher and Founder Director, Rai, K.R. 2003. Environmental Impacts, Systematics and Distribution of Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology, India, Mr. Michael G. Herpetofauna from East Nepal. Ph.D. Thesis, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. Starkey-Co-Founder and Executive Director, Save The Snakes, USA, Mr. Tom Charlton-Herpetologist and Wildlife Red Data Book of the Fauna of Nepal. 1995. Biodiversity Profiles Project, technical pub. no. 4. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Photographer, UK for their valuable advices and Conservation, HMG, Nepal. encouragement. We are thankful to King Cobra Schleich, H.H. 1993. Contribution to the Systematics and to a Bibliography Conservation and Rescue Groups-Palpa, Dadhi Lal Kandel- of the Amphibians and Reptiles from Nepal. Journal of Nepal Research Division Forest Officer, Palpa, Dev Narayan Mandal-Mithila Centre 9, 141-168. Wildlife Trust, Santosh Bhattarai, Sri Ram Poudel, Pit Shah, K.B. 1995. Enumeration of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal. Biodiversity Profiles Project Technical Publication No. 2, HMG's Bahadur Nepali, Bishnu Prasad Pandey, Purnaman Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Kathmandu, Shrestha, Shivish Bhandari, Raj Man Maharjan, Hathan Nepal. Chaudhary, Min Bahadur Gurung, Sandesh Gurung, Shah, K.B. 1998. Checklist of the Herpetofauna of Nepal with English and Dheeraj Chaudhary, Bivek Gautam, Omkar Bhatt, Vernacular Names. NAHSON bulletin 8, 26-30. Chiranjeevi Khanal, Aditya Pal, Bishal Bhattrai, Arjun Shah, K.B. 2000. Habits, Habitats, Distribution and Status of King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836), (Serpentes:Elapidae). Journal of Bhusal, Prem Bista, Sunil Chapagain, Anish KC, Keshab Natural History Museum 19, 135-154. Chokhal, Sagar Pandey, Maj. Rajendra Gurung-Shree Shrestha, T.K. 1981. Wildlife of Nepal: A study of renewable resources of Quebec Battery No. 1, Kulekhani Barrack, Inspector Nepal Himalayas. T.U., Curriculum Development Center, Kathmandu, Dhurba Prasad Silwal-Area Police Office, Palung, Nepal. Makwanpur, Jaman Singh Lama and Bikram Lama- Stuart, B., Wogan, G., Grismer, L., Auliya, M., Inger, R.F., Lilley, R., Chan- Ard, T., Thy, N., Nguyen, T.Q., Srinivasulu, C. and Jelić, D. Indrasarovar Rural Municipality-1, Markhu, Makwanpur, 2012. Ophiophagus hannah. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012- Division Forest Offices, nature guides, research assistants, 1.RLTS.T177540A1491874.en. 14 September 2018. field assistants and local people for providing distribution Thapa, K.B. 2016. Herpetofaunal Diversity of Palpa District, Nepal. M.Sc. Thesis, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 26-33 Distribution of King Cobra in Nepal 29 Biosketches in Nepal. At present, she is a Senior Scientific Officer at National Academy of Science and Technology, Khumaltar, Kathmandu. KUL BAHADUR THAPA is interested in herpetology, currently focusing on research and conservation of the King Cobra in Nepal. KARAN BAHADUR SHAH is a herpetologist and retired Professor of He has been working as a Wildlife Research Officer at Himalayan Natural History Museum, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu. He has Nature, Lazimpat, Kathmandu. made several significant contributions to herpetology of Nepal. He is currently the Senor Scientific Advisor at Himalayan Nature NEESHA RANA is an environmental researcher and biotechnologist. She is involved in studying medicinal plants and microbial diversity

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 26-33 Distribution of King Cobra in Nepal 30 ANNEX 1. Distribution records of King Cobra in Nepal

No. of SN Latitude Longitude Altitude (m) Location District Source of information Evidence individuals 1 26.505780° 88.005938° 105 1 Jalthal Forest Jhapa Rai (2003) Literature 2 26.395562° 87.293480° 67 1 Budhnagar Morang Media Video

3 26.804598° 87.254065° 288 1 Dharan Sunsari Shah (2000) 4 26.619496° 87.026445° 91 1 Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Sunsari Rai (2003) Literature 5 26.837961° 87.151662° 175 1 Chatara Sunsari Pers. comm. Photo 6 26.645054° 86.803648° 126 1 Mahuli Saptari Pers. comm. Photo 7 26.840190° 86.254956° 137 1 Mirchaiya Siraha Pers. comm. Photo 8 26.845773° 86.215725° 123 1 Karjanaha Siraha Pers. comm. Photo 9 26.902522° 85.944083° 184 1 Jamunibas Dhanusha Pers. comm. Photo 10 26.938753° 85.967248° 187 1 Bahunmara Dhanusha Pers. comm. Photo 11 26.787895° 85.886610° 85 1 Tuteshwor Gaun Mahottari Pers. comm. Photo 12 27.087151° 85.557041° 147 1 Hariwon Sarlahi Chettri and Chhetry (2013) Literature 13 27.145460° 85.246430° 131 1 Near Parsa National Park Rautahat Pers. comm. Photo 14 N/A N/A N/A 1 N/A Rautahat Fleming and Fleming (1974) Literature 15 27.476010° 84.794210° 561 1 Near Parsa National Park Bara Pandey et al. (2018) Literature 16 27.282511° 84.983899° 333 1 Amlekhgunj Hattisar, Parsa National Parsa Bhattarai et al. (2018) Literature Park 17 27.398479° 84.736393° 365 1 Shitalpur Camp, Parsa National Park Parsa Bhattarai et al. (2018) Literature

18 27.229728° 84.987095° 229 1 Parsa National Park Parsa Observation 19 27.561348° 84.152698° 142 1 Narayani Chitwan Pers. comm. Photo 20 27.542723° 84.187654° 163 1 Reu Valley Chitwan Pers. comm. Photo

21 27.542723° 84.187654° 163 1 Reu Valley Chitwan Observation 22 27.421770° 84.287520° 213 1 Madi Chitwan Pandey et al. (2018) Literature 23 27.574440° 84.498640° 193 1 Sauraha Chitwan Pandey et al. (2018) Literature 24 27.532430° 84.336470° 190 1 Tamor Taal Chitwan Pandey et al. (2018) Literature 25 27.529407° 84.256890° 174 1 Between Sauraha road, Chitwan Pandey et al. (2018) Literature Madi road and Reu valley 26 27.537620° 84.522180° 197 1 Padampur Chitwan Pandey et al. (2018) Literature 27 27.563281° 84.317133° 170 1 Jagatpur Chitwan Media Video 28 27.454790° 83.925040° 132 1 Tribeni, army barrack Nawalpur Pandey et al. (2018) Literature

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 26-33 Distribution of King Cobra in Nepal 31 29 27.705271° 84.398744° 192 1 Gaindakot Nawalpur Media Photo 30 27.557779° 83.788773° 128 1 Bardaghat Parasi Pers. comm. Photo 31 N/A N/A N/A 1 N/A Rupandehi Anonymous Photo 32 27.868070° 82.526349° 257 1 Lamahi Dang Pers. comm. Photo

33 28.354237° 81.711490° 368 1 Chepang, Bardia National Park Bardia Observation 34 28.321317° 81.470476° 191 1 Satkhaluwa Bardia Pers. comm. Photo 35 28.946004° 80.731110° 1494 1 Nigali Kailali Pers. comm. Photo 36 28.619294° 81.587551° 828 1 Surkhet Surkhet Pers. comm. Photo 37 29.224445° 81.656667° 956 1 Badalkot Kalikot Pers. comm. Photo 38 28.204900° 83.379874° 1039 1 Kaandebaas Baglung Media Video 39 28.361856° 83.549527° 1612 1 Beni Myagdi Pers. comm. Photo 40 28.016875° 83.438786° 606 1 Johang, Khaireni Gulmi Pers. comm. Photo 41 27.984684° 83.474434° 696 2 Aslewa Gulmi Pers. comm. Video 42 28.181010° 83.661561° 962 1 Phalewas municiality-3, Parbat Pers. comm. Photo Shankarpokhari 43 28.207029° 83.708930° 1093 1 Kushma-10, Pipaltari Parbat Media Photo 44 28.388701° 83.827227° 1425 1 Landruk Kaski Nanhoe and Ouboter (1987) Literature

45 28.291456° 83.901015° 1348 1 Naudanda Kaski Shah (2000)

46 28.293306° 83.822973° 1724 1 Naudanda Kaski Shah (2000) 47 28.359086° 83.744544° 1749 1 Kaski Kaski Pers. comm. Photo 48 28.359086° 83.744544° 1749 14 Dansing Kaski Pers. comm. Photo 49 28.354230° 83.955831° 1289 1 Machhapuchhre-9, Kuibang Kaski Media Photo 50 28.241234° 83.991723° 920 1 Pokhara Kaski Pers. comm. Photo 51 28.246821° 83.947493° 1546 1 Sarangkot Kaski Pers. comm. Photo 52 28.373293° 83.807058° 2024 1 Ghandruk, Annapurna Conservation Kaski Pers. comm. Photo Area 53 28.284344° 83.929113° 1121 1 Hemja Kaski Pers. comm. Photo 54 28.210100° 83.986333° 853 1 Pokhara Kaski Pers. comm. Photo 55 28.175990° 84.000012° 782 1 Pokhara Kaski Anonymous Photo 56 28.190400° 83.840060° 1500 1 Rapu Syangja Pers. comm. Photo 57 28.303288° 84.272674° 1771 3 Bhujung Lamjung Pers. comm. Photo 58 28.311729° 84.329717° 1220 1 Khudi Lamjung Pers. comm. Photo

59 28.161532° 84.372748° 1084 1 Duragaun Lamjung Observation

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 26-33 Distribution of King Cobra in Nepal 32 60 28.199873° 84.744019° 1913 1 Barpak Gorkha Pers. comm. Photo 61 27.900702° 83.475979° 727 1 Jorte Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 62 27.934822° 83.436628° 489 1 Ridi Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 63 27.930896° 83.566517° 629 2 Shikhardanda Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 64 27.918491° 83.452217° 683 1 Ranwa, Argali Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 65 27.931544° 83.459996° 593 1 Ravidaas, Argali Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 66 27.931530° 83.460031° 593 1 Ravidaas, Argali Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 67 27.929450° 83.439899° 605 1 Kamalpokhari Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 68 27.771688° 83.452033° 654 1 Suketaal Dobhan Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 69 27.771688° 83.452033° 654 1 Suketaal Dobhan Palpa Pers. comm. Photo

70 27.785203° 83.539805° 692 1 Jordhara Palpa Observation 71 27.919352° 83.617096° 535 2 Darpuk Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 72 27.908172° 83.616879° 959 1 Sunadi Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 73 27.894937° 83.424061° 986 1 Dambak Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 74 27.683932° 83.773710° 260 1 Rahabaas Palpa Pers. comm. Photo 75 28.141249° 85.356429° 2353 1 Thulo Syabru Rasuwa Pers. comm. Photo

76 27.622064° 85.090705° 1932 1 Daman Makwanpur Observation

77 27.593658° 85.088397° 2566 1 Simbhanjyang Makwanpur Shah (2000) 78 27.432189° 85.046336° 467 1 Hetauda Makwanpur Media Video

79 27.593664° 85.157603° 1561 1 Kulekhani Makwanpur Observation

80 27.593899° 85.157286° 1582 1 Kulekhani Makwanpur Observation

81 27.593664° 85.157603° 1561 24 Kulekhani (Hatchlings) Makwanpur Observation

82 27.593664° 85.157603° 1561 27 Kulekhani (Hatchlings) Makwanpur Observation 83 27.593214° 85.158106° 1530 1 Kulekhani Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 84 27.595098° 85.156164° 1678 1 Kulekhani Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 85 27.600954° 85.166341° 1712 1 Kulekhani Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 86 27.595735° 85.165657° 1592 1 Kulekhani Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 87 27.593958° 85.157037° 1590 10 Kulekhani (Hatchlings) Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 88 27.588270° 85.154738° 1488 1 Kulekhani Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 89 27.570326° 85.146577° 1927 1 Kulekhani Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo

90 27.638945° 85.072580° 1835 1 Angare, Palung Makwanpur Observation 91 27.634528° 85.077350° 1776 1 Palung khola Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 26-33 Distribution of King Cobra in Nepal 33 92 27.639104° 85.067928° 1824 1 Angare, Palung Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 93 27.658106° 85.173899° 1823 1 Chitlang Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 94 27.657372° 85.179396° 1797 1 Chitlang Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 95 27.652349° 85.177723° 1806 1 Chitlang Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo 96 27.662582° 85.183461° 1835 1 Chitlang Makwanpur Pers. comm. Photo

97 27.729664° 85.263381° 1450 1 Ichangunarayan Kathmandu Shah (2000)

98 27.758967° 85.421008° 1373 1 Sundarijal Kathmandu Observation

99 27.582651° 85.276268° 1226 1 Katuwaldaha Kathmandu Observation 100 27.791665° 85.370537° 1643 1 Panimuhaan, Shivapuri Kathmandu Pers. comm. Photo 101 27.791422° 85.371421° 1661 1 Panimuhaan, Shivapuri Kathmandu Pers. comm. Photo 102 27.613665° 85.280686° 1444 1 Pharping Kathmandu Pers. comm. Photo 103 27.649195° 85.264252° 1571 1 Bosan Kathmandu Pers. comm. Photo 104 27.658338° 85.251157° 1540 1 Machchhegaun Kathmandu Pers. comm. Photo 105 27.788037° 85.290802° 1470 1 Jitpur Kathmandu Pers. comm. Photo 106 27.662223° 85.304303° 1282 1 Nakkhu Kathmandu Pers. comm. Photo

107 27.600736° 85.314862° 1424 2 Chhampi Lalitpur Observation 108 27.540884° 85.385632° 2128 1 Bhardev Lalitpur Pers. comm. Photo 109 27.007776° 86.162927° 256 1 Harshai Sindhuli Pers. comm. Photo

110 27.622934° 86.222804° 2043 1 Jiri Dolakha Shah (2000) 111 27.650746° 86.210322° 2532 1 Jiri Dolakha Pers. comm. Photo 112 27.840258° 86.225949° 1714 1 Taasinaam, Gaurishankar Conservation Dolakha Pers. comm. Photo Area 113 27.821026° 86.228845° 1201 1 Jagat Dolakha Pers. comm. Photo 114 27.901675° 86.213247° 1931 1 Lamabagar Dolakha Pers. comm. Photo 115 27.679886° 86.104676° 896 1 Gumkhola Dolakha Shah (2000) Photo 116 27.717318° 86.140125° 1205 1 Deurali Village Dolakha Pers. comm. Photo 117 27.440963° 86.761011° 2040 1 Lokhim Solukhumbu Pers. comm. Photo 118 26.898911° 86.258471° 196 1 Belsot Udayapur Pers. comm. Photo

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 26-33 34 Short Communication Confirmation of breeding colonies of Lesser Adjutant Stork in Sarlahi, Nepal SANTOSH BAJAGAIN1*, AAVAS PRADHAN1 and ARJUN BHUSAL1

1 Institute of Forestry (IOF), Hetauda

*Email for correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract Presence-Absence survey of Lesser Adjutant Nawalparasi district (Poudyal 2009), and Saptari and Siraha Stork was carried out in Sarlahi district during June-July districts (Baral 2004a, b). Breeding colonies have been 2018. The survey provided positive results with record of recorded from Morang, Saptari and Siraha Districts (Baral three nesting colonies from the area. The area is suitable 2004a, b), Dharan forests of Sunsari District (Basnet 2009) for the species in terms of habitat however anthropogenic and Jhapa District (Khadka 2009). threats still exists and require conservation interventions. Materials and Methods Keywords Bombax ceiba, breeding colonies, hunting, Lesser Adjutant Stork Study area ______The survey was carried out in three sites i.e. Janakinagar of Haripur Municipality, Murtiya of Bharathawa Municipality Introduction and Nadiman Lake and its periphery of Chandranagar rural Ciconiidae Family account for 19 species of storks in the municipality of Sarlahi district in south-eastern central

whole world (del Hoyo et al. 1992). Nepal has 8 species of lowlands of the country (FIG. 1). storks, two of which are adjutants (Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus). Both species are categorized as globally threatened (Birdlife International 2017). Lesser Adjutant Stork (LAS) is categorized as globally Vulnerable stork species (Birdlife International 2017). It has been recorded from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China (mainland), Nepal, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam (Birdlife International 2013). LAS is found in freshwater wetlands and in mangroves. It mainly feeds on fish, frogs, reptiles, large invertebrates, rodents, small mammals and rarely carrion (Hancock et al. 1992). They are solitary except during the breeding season when they form loose colonies, usually not exceeding 20 nests in a single colony (ibid.). LAS is one of the largest breeding birds (i.e. 110- 120 cm tall) found in Nepal and has been categorized as Vulnerable in Nepal by IUCN's National Red List (Inskipp et al. 2016). LAS is fairly common in Chitwan National Park and eastern Nepal. It has been recorded from almost the entire stretch of lowland Nepal from east to west though with some gaps in the west (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991). It has been recorded from most of the protected areas of lowland terai i.e. Suklaphanta National Park, Bardia National Park, Chitwan National Park, Parsa National Park FIG. 1: Map of the study area showing transects and colony and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (Inskipp et al. 2016). locations. Outside the protected area system the species Methods has been recorded from Lumbini and Rupandehi district (Baral 1993), Kapilvastu district (Giri 2010), Kailali district Key informant survey was conducted with villagers around (Sharma 2005a, b), Morang district (Baral 2004a, b), the study areas to locate the nesting and feeding sites. Sunsari district (Basnet 2009), Jhapa district (Khadka 2009), Road transect survey was conducted in order to visit the potential sites as per the informants. Sites of possible

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 34-36

Breeding colonies of Lesser Adjutant Stork in Sarlahi 35

SANTOSH BAJAGAIN PHOTO 1: Nesting colony of Lesser Adjutant Stork.

TABLE 1: Information on LAS nests in Janakinagar Community Forest Colony Location Nesting Trees No. of Nests No. of Adult Number Species Active Vacant Total LAS Observed Area Forest Office vicinity, 1 Cotton Tree 4 4 6 Janakinagar Bombax ceiba Janakinagar CF 1 12 1 13 19 Janakinagar CF 1 7 7 14 occurrence, such as agricultural land, marshy areas and numbers in decreasing trend elsewhere in the eastern open grounds near the forest were thoroughly scanned to lowlands (Karki and Thapa 2013; Inskipp et al. 2016), the identify the nesting and roosting sites. Direct visual discovery of a new nesting colony is an important finding. observations were made using a pair of 8x40 Olympus The species was observed to use only Silk Cotton Bombax binoculars and coordinates were marked using Garmin ceiba trees for nesting in the study area while in eastern GPS MAP 64s. Field visits were made at different times of lowlands they were also found to use Karam Adina the day i.e. in the morning, afternoon and evening during cordifolia trees (Karki and Thapa 2013). Interestingly, June and July 2018 for 15 days. Counts at the colony were discussion with key informants revealed that the area was made at dusk when the birds returned to roost as numbers previously occupied by vultures whose population were variable at other times of the day. Key informants decreased radically leading to local extinction in the area. were also asked to provide information on the prevalent Key informant survey with eight people in threats to the species. Nadiman lake area revealed the collapse of Silk Cotton tree with active nests of LAS few months ago. While there were Results no nests recorded there during the study, it is important as A total of 18 km was covered during the transect walk the area is a habitat for the species. It is important to during which three different breeding colonies were monitor this site as a potential nesting area. identified in Janakinagar. The distance between the Although the study area provides suitable habitat colonies ranged between 212 m to 1426 m. for LAS conservation, threats are still prevalent. These LAS were also observed foraging in Murtiya and include hunting, conversion of farmlands, increase in Nadiman lake areas without any evidence of nests. The human settlement, degradation of the wetland and numbers of foraging individuals ranged from one to three intensive use of pesticides and insecticides. Local people individuals. Information regarding the colonies is and staffs at District Forest Office during interview presented in TABLE 1. reported the decrease of LAS every year. Further surveys in other areas of the districts to look out for nesting Discussion colonies of the species is highly recommended. Also, awareness initiatives focusing the importance of the This record of 24 LAS nests with 39 adults provides species targeting locals and school students should be information on breeding colonies of the species in the carried out in the area. areas outside PA system in Nepal. With the species

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 34-36 Breeding colonies of Lesser Adjutant Stork in Sarlahi 36 Acknowledgements Hancock, J., Kushlan, J.A., and Kahl, M.P. 1992. Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the world. Academic Press. USA. I am very thankful to Bird Conservation Nepal and Carol Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. 1991. A guide to the birds of Nepal. Second Inskipp for their continuous motivation and guidance. edition. London, UK: Christopher Helm. Thanks to Subdivision Forest Office, Janakinagar who Inskipp, C., Baral, H.S., Phuyal, S., Bhatt, T.R., Khatiwada, M., Inskipp, T, supported me with the information and helping me reach Khatiwada, A., Gurung, S., Singh, P.B., Murray, L., Poudyal, L. and Amin, R. 2016. The status of Nepal's Birds: The national red list series. Zoological the local community. Thanks to Mr. Bikram Singh Thakuri Society of London, UK. for technical support with Geographical Information Karki, S. and Thapa, T.B. 2013. Population Status, nesting habitat selection System. and conservation threats of lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos javanicus) in the eastern lowlands of Nepal. Conservation Science 1, 27-35. References Khadka, M.B. 2009. Lesser Adjutant population census and conservation: a study from Rani Community Forest of Jhapa District. Unpublished. Baral, H.S. 2004a. Population status, breeding and habitat preference of Lesser Adjutant in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and surrounding areas, Poudyal, L.P. 2009. Population status and habitat preference of Lesser east Nepal. Birding ASIA 2, 82. Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus in Nepal. Unpublished. Nagao Environment Foundation, Japan. Baral, H.S. 2004b. Population status, breeding success and habitat preference of Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus in the Koshi Tappu Poudyal, L.P. and Nepal, S. 2010. Population status of Lesser Adjutant in Wildlife Reserve and -surrounding areas, east Nepal. Unpublished. Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Danphe 19, 1-3. Oriental Bird Club, UK. Sharma, S. 2005a. Population status and distribution of Lesser Adjutant Basnet, Y.R. 2009. Birds of Dharan forests IBA, eastern lowland Nepal. Stork Leptoptilos javanicus in far western lowland (Bardia, Kailai and Danphe 18, 1-4. Kanchanpur Districts), Nepal. Unpublished. Oriental Bird Club, UK. BirdLife International. 2013. IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from Sharma, S. 2005b. Population status and distribution of Lesser Adjutant http://www.birdlife.org on 22/08/2013). Leptoptilos javanicus in Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts, western Nepal. Birding ASIA 3, 8. BirdLife International. 2017. Leptoptilos javanicus (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22697713A110481858. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017- Biosketches 1.RLTS.T22697713A110481858.en. SANTOSH BAJAGAIN is a BSc Forestry final year student and has Chaudhary, H. 1997. Additional sightings. Danphe 6, 2-3. been involved in research and conservation awareness program for birds. Del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A., and Sargatal, J. 1992. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Lynx Editions. Barcelona, Spain. AAVAS PRADHAN is a BSc Forestry final year student and has been involved in research of herpetofauna in the Institute of Forestry, Giri, D. 2010. A checklist of birds recorded in Lumbini area, 2005-2010. Hetauda campus. Unpublished. ARJUN BHUSAL is a BSc Forestry final year student and has been working on big mammal research. He is also interested in studying birds.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 34-36 37 Short Communication Status and distribution of King Cobra in Southern Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal RISHI BARAL1,2,3*, SHAILENDRA KUMAR YADAV1, RAMJI GAUTAM2,3, MAHENDRA PRASAD KATILA3, RAJ KUMAR GURUNG1, ASHOK SUBEDI1 and BINOD BASNET4

¹ National Trust for Nature Conservation - Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Hariyo Kharka, Pokhara, Nepal 2 Department of Zoology, Prithvi Narayan Campus, Bhimkalipatan-1, Pokhara, Nepal 3 Snake Conservation Society, Nepal, Simpani-1, Pokhara, Nepal 4 National Trust for Nature Conservation, PO Box 3712, Khumaltar Nepal

*Email for correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract Altogether 12 sightings of King Cobra were Conservation Act 1973 due to different threats and its recorded in the lower region of Annapurna Conservation rarity. Area. These include 11 opportunistic sightings and a record King Cobras have been recorded throughout from grey literature. These sightings were made between Terai, within altitudes of 110 to 2500 m (Shah 2000). It was 2016 and 2018 of which two were nest records. All records recorded for the first time in Nepal from Chitwan and were from southern belt of Annapurna Conservation Area. Rautahat districts (Fleming and Fleming 1974). Till now the The elevation range of the locations ranged from 832 m to species has been recorded from 37 districts of the country 1984 m. The King Cobra nests were intensively monitored (Thapa et al. 2019). with 2 to 5 camera traps to check hatching success rate, Within ACA, King Cobra has been observed 2 km behaviour and status. The two nests had a hatching north of Landruk village by Nanhoe and Ouboter in the success of 100% and 92% respectively. summer of 1981. The species was later recorded during the survey of herpetofauna of Modi Khola watershed area. Keywords Hatching success, Kaski district, King Cobra, Further evidence of its occurrence was recorded from mating, nest Dangsing (1800 m), Chomrong (2170 m), Naya pul (1340 ______m), Tolka (1850 m) and Bhachek Village (1960 m) with the help of discussion with the villagers of these area (Shah Introduction 2000). King Cobra has been recorded between 110-2500 m King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) is the in the country, but it is suspected to occur even higher longest venomous snake in the world with recorded length (Shah 2000). reaching up to 5.85 m (Chanhome et al. 2011). It is a pan Here we present information on distribution as oriental species and occurs in both Western and Eastern well as its nesting ecology in the Ghandruk, Lwang and Himalayas (Smith 1943). It is widespread throughout South Bhujung Unit Conservation Office of Annapurna and Southeast Asia and reported from Bali, Bangladesh, Conservation Area. Bhutan, Borneo, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Java, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Materials and Methods Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Study Area Thailand and Vietnam (David and Vogel 1996; Iskandar and Colijn 2002; Scleich and Kestle 2002). It occurs in a variety The Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) which was of habitats including pristine forests, degraded forests, established in 1992, is the largest Protected Area in Nepal mangrove swamps, agricultural areas and non-forested covering an area of 7,629 sq. km with 15 Rural lands (Stuart et al. 2012). Female King Cobra have an Municipalities and 91 wards of 5 districts (NTNC/ACAP unusual maternal instinct, building a nest and lying coiled 2016). ACA is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot over the heap for the entire hatching period of about 60- (Myers et al. 2000). It covers tropical, sub-tropical, 90 days (Murthy 1986). temperate and alpine climatic regions and has 22 different King Cobra is a globally threatened snake species forest types. It is rich in biodiversity and is a treasure house and has been categorized as Vulnerable in IUCN Red List of for 1,233 species of flowering plants, 105 mammals, 40 threatened species (2018) and listed in Appendix II of reptiles, 23 amphibians (NTNC/ACAP 2016) and 518 birds Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (Baral 2018). The area consists of seven Unit Conservation of Flora and Fauna (CITES) (Stuart et al. 2012). It is Offices (UCOs) namely Manang, Jomsom, Lomanthang, considered rare in Nepal and has been listed as Vulnerable Ghandruk, Lwang, Sikles and Bhujung UCOs. This study is in the National Red Data Book of Nepal since 1995. Shah limited to the southern belt of ACA i.e. Ghandruk, Lwang and Baral (2010) recommended the King Cobra to be and Bhujung UCOs (FIG. 1). Ghandruk and Lwang are included in Nepal Government’s National Park and Wildlife

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 37-41 King Cobra in Southern Annapurna Conservation Area

38

FIG. 1: Study area with sightings of King Cobra. Different colours represent sightings in different years. located in Kaski district while Bhujung lie in Lamjung One record was from literature review which was based on district. direct sighting in 1981. Of the 11 recent records, nine were The study area is situated in sub-tropical zone of live snakes while two were found dead. Eight records with broad leaved forest comprising different habitats were from Kaski district while three records were from dominated by Indian Chestnut Castanopsis indica and Lamjung district. In Lamjung, two records were of dead Needlewood Tree Schima wallichii forest. It provides snakes killed by people and one record was of mating from habitat for rare and globally threatened species such as Singdi Kharka inside ACA (PHOTO 1) whereas in Kaski, two Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Chinese Pangolin records were of nests while rest six were of live sightings. Manis pentadactyla, Red Panda Ailurus fulgens and The altitudinal range of the records varied from 832 m Spotted Linsang Prionodon pardicolor (NTNC/ACAP 2016; (Simpani, Lamjung) to 1984 m (Dadagau, Kaski).

Ghimirey et al. 2018).

Methods The information on King Cobra sightings between 2016 and 2018 from ACA was collected based on photographic evidence from newspapers, photographs posted on social media for identification by local people and trekkers and photographs taken by staffs of ACA. Only photographic evidences of the species were considered as confirmed records. Special care was taken to verify the evidence to avoid double count. The location of each site was recorded with the help of the GPS Garmin eTrex by visiting the sites where the species was observed. Literature review was also done to search for additional records from the area in the past. Camera traps were deployed to monitor two different single nests in 2016 and 2018 for 35 and 60 days respectively to assess the behaviour of the species. Results SETE GURUNG A total of 12 records of King Cobra was found from the PHOTO 1: Mating of King Cobra at Sidhi Kharka, Bhujung, southern belt of Kaski and Lamjung District out of which 11 Lamjung. were recent records between 2016 and 2018 (TABLE 1).

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 37-41

King Cobra in Southern Annapurna Conservation Area 39

The first nest of King Cobra was sighted at Gairi Gau, Dangsing on 3 June 2016 at an altitude of 1749 m (PHOTO 2). The nesting location had a high canopy cover of around 90%. The nest consisted of dried leaves of Needlewood Tree, Pinus spp. and Indian Chestnut. The site was on a well-drained forested hill having 40° slope, South aspect and water source nearly 100 m away. The nest contained a female King Cobra with 14 eggs which were regularly observed for 45 days. All 14 eggs hatched

successfully.

PHOTO 4: Barking Deer near King Cobra’s nest.

Discussion The present study recorded 11 sightings between 2016 and 2018. The first two years i.e. 2016 and 2017 accounted for

two King Cobra records respectively while there were seven records of the species in the third year (FIG. 2). This shows an increase in the encounter frequency of the species. However increase in the number of people carrying smartphones and cameras and rising trend of use MAHENDRA PRASAD KATILA PHOTO 2: Eggs of King Cobra at Gairi Gaun, Dangsing, of social media like Facebook and Instagram could also be

Kaski. the reason why we were able to access more records.

8 7 6 5 4

3 Observations

2 NumberKing of Cobra 1

YAM GURUNG 0 PHOTO 3. King Cobra in its nest at Karai, Dangsing. 2016 2017 2018 The second nest was recorded at Karai, Dangsing Years on 17 June 2018. It was situated at 1249 m. The canopy FIG. 2: Trends of King Cobra in sightings in ACA. cover of the nest was more than 80 % by vegetation. The nest was made of dried leaves of Needlewood Tree, Pinus Our King Cobra observations were recorded from spp., Fern spp. and Indian Chestnut. The site was on a well- the southern belts of ACA from Kaski and Lamjung districts drained forested hill having slope of 40° with water source with dense subtropical wet forests which is considered an nearly 50 m far away from the nest. There were 25 eggs important habitat for the species (Shah and Tiwari 2004). out of which 23 (92%) hatched successfully after an All previous and current records of King Cobra from Nepal incubation period of 65 days. are from the dense forests of Terai, midhills and their One camera trap photo captured an image of a vicinity in rural agricultural lands (Thapa et al. 2019). In barking deer startled by the King Cobra while grazing India too they have been reported from similar habitats nearby (PHOTO 4). (Whitaker 1978; Daniel 1983). A total of 4 and 10 photos of King Cobra were Our record of King Cobra mating in the area was captured in 2016 and 2018 respectively by the camera during April while all previous mating records were traps deployed for monitoring the nesting ecology. between January and March (Shah 2000). However there However, most of the time the camera remained inactive. is little evidence to say there is a change in mating

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 37-41 King Cobra in Southern Annapurna Conservation Area 40

TABLE 1: Locality records of King Cobra in Annapurna Conservation Area. SN Date Altitude Latitude Longitude Location Status (m) 1 April-June 1981 1530 28.37488° 83.82503° Landruk, Kaski Live 2 3 June 2016 1754 28.32642° 83.75918° Gairi Gaun, Dangsing, Kaski Live (Nest) 3 1 October 2016 1565 28.37102° 83.82670° Landurk, Kaski Live 4 7 September 2017 1200 28.38137° 83.80237° Ghandruk Village, Kaski Live 5 8 September 2017 1725 28.35975° 83.80397° Kimche, Ghandruk, Kaski Live 6 31 March 2018 1984 28.37688° 83.80520° Dada Gaun, Ghandruk, Kaski Live 7 18 April 2018 1650 28.30907° 84.24088° Sidhi Kharka, Bhujung, Lamjung Live (Mating) 8 21 April 2018 1618 28.30917° 84.26320° Bhujung Village, Lamjung Dead 9 9 May 2018 832 28.27035° 84.35687° Simpani, Lamjung Dead 10 22 May 2018 1225 28.35568° 83.88282° Kuibang Village, Lwang, Kaski Live 11 17 June 2018 1249 28.31482° 83.77010° Karai, Dangsing, Kaski Live (Nest) 12 24 July 2018 1163 28.32852° 83.96458° Bhurjung Khola, Lwang, Kaski Live behaviour of the species. A long-term monitoring of their Conservation Society for providing the photograph and mating behaviour could provide essential clue regarding information. this aspect of the species’ behaviour. References The two nests of the species recorded were both Baral R. 2018. Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area. National Trust for located in the sub-tropical forests facing towards south Nature conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Pokhara, and dominated by Needlewood Tree and Indian Chestnut. Nepal Both sites had southern aspect and were between the Budha, P.B., Singh, R.L. and Chaudhary, R.P. 1998. Animal Diversity of altitude of 1249 and 1754 m. The nesting material used in Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Nepal: A Preliminary Survey. Journal of Natural both locations were dried leaves of Needlewood Tree, History Museum. 17, 65-88. Pinus spp. and Indian Chestnut. Chanhome, L., Cox, M.J., Vasaruchapong, T., Chaiyabutr, N. and Sitprija, V. 2011. Characterization of venomous snakes of Thailand. Asian Very limited information on the distribution of Biomedicine 5, 311–328. King Cobra in ACA and in Nepal is available at present. Daniel, J.C. 1983. The Book of Indian Reptiles. Bombay Natural History However with increasing reports of the species coming Society, Bombay, India. PP. 115-117. from various districts (Thapa et al. 2019) it is likely that the David, P., and Vogel. G. 1996. The Snakes of Sumatra: An Annotated species will be recorded from many news districts of the Checklist and Key with Natural History Notes. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt- am-Main, Germany. country. General people normally correspond its Fleming, R.L. and Fleming, R.L. Jnr. 1974. Some Snakes from Nepal. occurrence with dense forests in the lowlands of Nepal. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 3, 426-437. Hence it is important that outreach programs be carried Hrima, V.L., Hriatzuala Sailo, V.L., Fanai, Z., Lalronunga, S., Lalrinchhana, out in the mid-hills of the country that are potential habitat C., Zothansiama, Lalremsanga, H.T. 2014. Nesting ecology of the King of the species. Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah, (Reptilia: Squamata: Elapidae) in Aizawl District, Mizoram, India. In Issues and Trends of Wildlife Conservation in Northeast India. Lalnuntluanga, Zothanzama, J., Lalramliana, Acknowledgements Lalduhthlana, Lalremsanga, H.T. (eds.). Mizo Academy of Sciences, Aizawal. PP. 268–274. We acknowledge National Trust for Nature Conservation, http://www.recentfusion.com/2016/08/05/king-cobras-found-in- Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Hariyokharka, pokhara-annapurna-region. August 5, 2016 Pokhara and Unit Conservation Office, Ghandruk, Lwang, Majupuria, T.C. 1981. Reptile. In Wild is Beautiful. Introduction to Fauna Bhujung for providing the flexible time to collect the details and Wildlife of Nepal, Majupuria, T.C (eds.). S.Devi, Lashkar, India. PP. information. Likewise, many thanks to Narendra Shrestha 147-177. for GIS mapping and field officer and staffs Bidur Bikram Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., da Fonseca, G.A.B. and Kent, J. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature Kuinkel, Yam Bahadur Gurung, Rajesh Gupta, Lekhnath 403, 853-858. Gautam, Pawan Yadav, Basudev Neupane, Keshab Nanhoe, L.M.R. and Ouboter, P.E. 1987. The Distribution of Reptiles and Sapkota, Krishna Mani Baral, Raju Acharya, Ram Babu Amphibians in the Annapurna-Dhaulagiri Region (Nepal). Zoologische Mandel, Om Prakash Singh for providing the necessary Verhandelingen 240, 1-105. information and data. Similarly, many thanks to Mr. Raj NTNC/ACAP 2016. Management Plan of Annapurna Conservation Area Bahadur Gurung, Project manager of Project Abroad, Mr. (2016-2020). National Trust for Nature Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal. Rohit Giri and Roshan Giri, field expert of Snake Schmidt, K.P. and Inger, R.F. 1957. Living Reptiles of the World. Garden City, New York.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 37-41 King Cobra in Southern Annapurna Conservation Area 41 Schleich, H. and Kästle, W. 2002. Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal. A.R.G. Biosketches Gantner Verlag K.G., Germany. RISHI BARAL is currently working as a Conservation Officer at Shah, K.B. 1998. Checklist of the herpetofauna of Nepal with English National Trust for Nature Conservation, Annapurna Conservation vernacular names. NAHSON bulletin, Natural History Society of Nepal. 8, Area Project, Pokhara and is particularly interested in participatory 26-30. wildlife conservation. He has expertise on research in tree cavity, birds and wildlife. Shah, K.B. 2000. Habitats, distribution and status of King Cobra Ophiophagus Hannah (Cantor, 1836) in Nepal. Journal of Natural History RAMJI GAUTAM is working as an associate lecturer at Department Museum 10, 135-154. of Zoology, Prithivi Narayan Campus, Tribhuvan University. His previous studies focused on vulture conservation in Nepal and he Shah, K.B. and Tiwari, S. 2004. Herpetofauna of Nepal: A Conservation has keen interest in snake rescue, rehabilitation and conservation. Companion IUCN – The world Conservation Union, Nepal. MAHENDRA PRASAD KATILA is working for a decade on snake Shrestha, T.K. 1981. Wildlife of Nepal. A study of renewable resources of conservation as a field specialist. He is the president of Snake Nepal Himalayas. Steven Simpson Natural History Books, Kathmandu, Conservation Society, Nepal and works on the conservation of Nepal. snake. Smith, M.A. 1943. The Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Amphibia, Vol.3, RAJ KUMAR GURUNG is currently working as a Project Chief at Serpentes. Taylor and Francis, London. National Trust for Nature Conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Pokhara and has more than 25 years of experiences Stuart, B., Wogan, G., Grismer, L., Auliya, M., Inger, R.F., Lilley, R., Chan- in participatory conservation and management of biodiversity in Ard, T., Thy, N., Nguyen, T.Q., Srinivasulu, C. and Jelić, Nepal. D. 2012. Ophiophagus hannah. The IUCN Red List of Threatened ASHOK SUBEDI is working on National Trust for Nature Species 2012: Conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Pokhara as a e.T177540A1491874. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012- conservation officer. He is mainly focused on conservation and 1.RLTS.T177540A1491874.en. Downloaded on 19 February 2019. ecology of snow leopard. Thapa, K.B., Rana, N. and Shah, K.B. (in press). Distribution of King Cobra SHAILENDRA KUMUR YADAV is currently working as a Conservation in Nepal. The Himalayan Naturalist. Officer at National Trust for Nature Conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Pokhara. He has two decades of Whitaker, R. and Captain, A. 2008. Snakes of India: The Field Guide. Draco experience in wildlife monitoring and human-wildlife conflict Books, Chengalpattu, PP. 312-313. management issues.

Whitaker, R. 1978. Common Indian Snakes: A Field Guide. Macmillan India BINOD BASNET is currently workings as a Project Manager at Ltd., New Delhi, India. National Trust for Nature Conservation, Khumaltar, Lalitpur and has more than 20 years of experience in participatory conservation and management of biodiversity in Nepal.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 37-41 42 Distribution Update The largest recorded breeding colony of Great Cormorant in Nepal SOM GC1, RAJU ACHARYA1 and NAWA RAJ CHAPAGAIN2*

1 Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal, PO Box 23491, Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal 2 NEA Engineering Company, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal *Email for correspondence: [email protected]

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo is considered a fairly however it was not possible to count them from a moving common bird in Nepal, distributed in both lowlands and vehicle. mid-hills (Inskipp et al. 2016). It is considered winter visitor in the country and are found singly or in small groups (Grimmett et al. 1998; Inskipp et al. 2016). This species often roosts communally in winter (Grimmett et al. 1998). It feeds almost exclusively on fish (Ali and Ripley 1987). The overall population in Nepal is declining, especially considering the decline of fish stocks in the rivers and lakes

(Inskipp et al. 2016).

SOM GC

ACHARYA/FON NEPAL RAJU FIG. 1: Map showing local government units of Kalikot PHOTO 1: a. Nest of Great Cormorant at a cliff face in district and breeding colony site. Karnali River at Kalikot district; b. Zoomed out view of the nest location with yellow circle indicating nest location. A colony of Great Cormorant was recorded recently from Kalikot district, western Nepal. Research team first sighted The team revisited the area (11 June 2018) and the species (7 June 2018) flying over the Karnali River counted 36 individuals (28 Juveniles and 8 Adults) residing above Jitegadhi. It was again found near Amtada in a cliff, in 19 nests. There were three juveniles in nests which were

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 42-43 Breeding colony of Great Cormorant 43 not able to fly, however others were seen frequently flying Cormorant in winter season must be investigated to to and fro from the nests. The team spent two hours and ascertain their migratory behaviour in the country. observed the movement of cormorants in the area. The Acknowledgements colony of nests was located near Amtada (N 29.19809°, E 081.61330°) of Sanni Tribeni Rural Municipality with 809 m This short communication is part of the findings of contract elevation. The nesting colony was located on the cliff face agreement between Vidhyut Utpadan Company Limited with west aspect lying 25-30 m above the Karnali river. (VUCL), Kathmandu and NEA Engineering Company Inskipp et al. (2016) specifically mentions the (NEAEC), Kathmandu, Nepal to carry out the species as a winter visitor and there is no information on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Phukot Karnali its breeding in the country. However, the first colony of Hydro Electric Project. nests was discovered during March-April of 2016 in the adjoining districts Jajarkot and Rukum in western Nepal References (per. comm. Gobinda Singh). The colony included eight Ali, S. and Ripley, S.D. 1987. Compact handbook of the Birds of India and nests with 24 individuals and was located at 1250 m. As per Pakistan. Oxford University Press, New Delhi, India. current knowledge, this is the second nesting colony of the Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. 1998. Birds of the Indian species in the country and the largest one. Subcontinent. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Local people have never observed or seen the Inskipp, C., Baral, H.S., Phuyal, S., Bhatt, T.R., Khatiwada, M., Inskipp, T, Khatiwada, A., Gurung, S., Singh, P.B., Murray, L., Poudyal, L. and Amin, R. species migrating to other parts of the country. According 2016. The status of Nepal's Birds: The national red list series. Zoological to them, these cormorants remain in the area throughout Society of London, UK the year. They believe that good prey base (fish number) Biosketches could be the reason for this. Inskipp et al. (2016) identified wetland habitat SOM GC is a renowned birder who leads birding trips in Nepal and other countries of South Asia. He has been involved in the loss and degradation, pesticides, disturbance (to breeding, conservation of birds in Nepal since two decades. roosting and feeding areas), hunting and trapping for food RAJU ACHARYA has been involved in wildlife conservation for over and for medicinal purposes, and over-fishing as the major two decades. His main interest lies in ethno-zoology. threats for the species in Nepal. However, specific threats NAWA RAJ CHANPAGAIN leads environmental assessment team of Nepal Electricity Authority Engineering Company. He is mainly at local level are still unknown. Presence of Great interested in environment/biodiversity assessment, and application of GIS and remote sensing in nature conservation.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 42-43 44 Conservation Bulletin Conserving the Asian Woollyneck in Nepal: efforts, outcomes and lessons learnt PRASHANT GHIMIRE1* and NABIN PANDEY1 1 Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus *Email for correspondence: [email protected]

The Asian Woollyneck Ciconia episcopus is one of the least studied, yet vulnerable storks found only in Asia. In Nepal, Asian Woollyneck Stork is downgraded from Vulnerable to Near threatened but national population status is still unknown. It has been recorded from Suklaphanta National Park in far west to Jhapa District in the far east. It shows preference to natural wetland habitats including rivers, flood plains, marshes and artificial habitats such as rice paddy-fields, flooded pastures, and cultivated fields. A research and conservation project was initiated, specifically for the Asian Woollyneck in Nepal from November 2016. Over the last two years, we have visited different parts of the country to explore its status with our intensified efforts in Rupandehi and Kapilvastu districts of western lowlands, and Pyuthan, Arghakhanchi and Salyan districts of the mid-hills of Nepal. Both research and PRASHANT GHIMIRE conservation initiatives were carried out in the PHOTO 1: Asian Woollyneck roosting on a Sal tree. aforementioned districts. Here we present the efforts and

their outcomes. Efforts

Research Seven permanent road transects of variable length (15 km to 34 km) have been established for seasonal monitoring in Rupandehi and Kapilvastu since 2016 (FIG. 1). The transects are being used for regular survey of Asian Woollyneck. Conservation Audio-visual tools were used for conservation education campaigns conducted in 50 schools and 20 social groups of project area benefiting 3500 people. Household visits for conservation awareness, bird identification training for students in Lumbini, and bird guiding training for youths, homestay owners and women in Jagadishpur were conducted. Two Community Based Bird Conservation Units (CBBCU) were formed in Jagadishpur and Kudan in collaboration with District Forest Office, Kapilvastu. The objectives of these units are to carry out Asian Woollyneck conservation initiatives in the area. Oral presentations were made during Rufford Small Grants Nepal Conference 2018, Kathmandu and Bird Watching and Identification Training 2018, Pokhara and Poster presentation during Butwal Trade Fair 2016 and

Nepal Owl Festival 2018, Jiri. Posters (n = 1000) and FIG. 1: (Past and Ongoing) Project implementation Leaflets (n = 2000) emphasizing the importance of Asian districts. Woollyneck have been published and distributed.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 44-45

Conserving Asian Woollyneck in Nepal 45

2017. In the summer of 2018, we observed a total of 46 (18 from Kapilvastu while 28 from Rupandehi) Asian Wollyneck individuals. Conservation CBBCU of Kudan visited about 30 households of surrounding villages to sensitise local people about the issues affecting bird conservation in the area. This resulted in removal of two hunting nets which were placed to hunt farmland birds. Trainees from bird guide training are now involved in awareness activities and tourism promotion in their locality. Despite the positive attitude of locals of PHOTO 2: Presenting project outcomes in Bird Jagadishpur towards bird conservation, their active identification training at Institute of Forestry, Pokhara. involvement is lacking.

Facebook and Instagram page has gained 2011 and 255 followers respectively in last 7 months. They have been a complementary tool to raise issues of conservation and receive responses from followers. For example, Facebook post regarding Photo Bank Campaign and Leaflet reached to 13,537 and 5200 people respectively otherwise might not have been reached by our usual conservation efforts. With the help of information published through such media, Photo Bank Campaign has received a total of 51 photo submissions from 19 districts by 25 people till date. Lessons learnt Conservation sensitization at the local level can really help PHOTO 3: Participants involved in bird watching after Bird to reduce anthropogenic threats to Asian Woollyneck as identification training at Jagadishpur reservoir. shown by the incident of hunting nets removal in Kudan. However for sustaining such motivation of local people it In Arghakhanchhi, Pyuthan and Salyan Districts, is important that proper work which addresses their we have initiated a Science and Community Campaign to livelihood gets a priority. Skill based trainings for income connect conservation science with the local culture. We generation will be important. Individual and short-term aim to educate local communities regarding why and how projects with small funding like ours are able to promote we are working to save this species by disseminating the message of participatory conservation but cannot sustain results and outputs of scientific papers. community-based operations after the project Moreover, Asian Woollyneck Photo Bank completion. However we also learnt that consistent visit to campaign has been initiated for national level scientific the project area and regular meeting with local people also documentation about the distribution, threats and status helps keep their motivation up. of the Asian Woollyneck. This campaign is online bank Use of social media could be an effective way to where individuals deposit photographs of Asian disseminate conservation awareness among wider Woollyneck with detailed information of observation such audiences at both national and international level. as number of individuals observed, location and date, directly observed threats and short biography of Acknowledgements depositors. Social media platforms like Facebook and We would like to thank The Rufford Foundation, UK, for Instagram have been used to update people regarding our financial support. Special thanks to Mr. Steve Lockett and works and educate more about the Asian Woollyneck anonymous reviewer for constructive comments on this itself. article. We are gratified to all contributors in our campaign. Outcomes Biosketches Research PRASHANT GHIMIRE is a final year student at Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, Nepal. His interest lies in behavioural ecology of storks Total of 38 (11 Kapilvastu and 27 Rupandehi) and 41 (11 and their connection with human dimension. from Kapilvastu while 30 from Rupandehi) Asian NABIN PANDEY is a third-year student at Institute of Forestry, Woollyneck were observed during winter and summer Pokhara, Nepal and working to conserve Asian Woollyneck in Nepal.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 44-45 46 Distribution Update First record of Crab-eating Mongoose in Dang district, Western Nepal PRATIK PANDEYA1* and CHIRANJEEVI KHANAL2 1 Agriculture and Forestry University, FOF, Hetauda. 2 Friends of Nature (FON Nepal)

*Email for correspondence: [email protected]

Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestes urva is one of the least The mongoose was sighted at 15h45 on the edge known mammal species in Nepal and is recorded with of the pond. Observing from binoculars, it was seen verifiable evidence from only a few areas in the country. catching something which could not be identified from the During winter migratory water bird survey in January 2018, pond and eating its catch while staying on the edge. It was a single individual of Crab-eating Mongoose was recorded then photographed and filmed using mobile phone with in Dang district, the first record of the species from the makeshift adjustment on binoculars. The pond lies in district. deciduous forest area predominantly of Sal Shorea

robusta, on the foothills of Churia around 500 m away from the nearest human settlement. Dang district lies outside the existing protected area system of Nepal but is rich in biodiversity as the forests in Deukhuri valley connects Bardiya and Banke National Park with Chitwan National Park (Khanal and Baniya 2018). Crab-eating Mongoose is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Taiwan and all countries of mainland Southeast Asia (Choudhury et al. 2015). In Nepal, the species has been previously recorded from Bardia National Park, Chitwan National Park, Koshi Tappu Wildlife

PRATIK PANDEY Reserve, Parsa National Park and Suklaphanta National PHOTO 1: Crab-eating Mongoose photographed in Dang Park (Jnawali et al. 2011; Sharma and Lamichhane 2017). district. Outside the protected area, it has been recorded from Gorkha (Fry 1925), Sankhuwasabha (Thapa 2013), Pokhara In January 2018, during winter water bird count in (Pers. Comm. Som GC) and Tanahun district (Pers. Comm. Dang, a single individual of Crab-eating Mongoose was Tashi R. Ghale). We present a recent record of the species seen near a small water pond, Charchare of Ghorahi sub- from Dang district. metropolitan city. The location of the sighting and its Crab-eating Mongoose is often referred to be elevation is 28.005962°N, 82.531409°E and 703 m found near water but is also known to occur in a wide respectively. variety of habitats including degraded and fragmented

areas, up to around 1800 m (Pham-Chong-Ahn 1980; Duckworth 1997; Van Rompaey 2001; Than Zaw et al. 2008; Thapa 2013). It is categorised as Least Concern by IUCN Red List (Choudhury et al. 2015) while its national conservation status is Vulnerable with an estimated population less than 1000 individuals (Jnawali et al. 2011). References

Choudhury, A., Timmins, R., Chutipong, W., Duckworth, J.W., Mudappa, D. and Willcox, D.H.A. 2015. Herpestes urva. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T41618A86159618. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41618A45208308.en. Downloaded on 20 August 2018. Duckworth, J.W. 1997. Small carnivores in Laos: a status review with notes on ecology, behaviour and conservation. Small Carnivore Conservation 16, 1–21. Fry, T.B. 1925. Bombay Natural History Society’s mammal survey of India, FIG. 1: Location map of Crab-eating Mongoose sighting in Burma and Ceylon. Report No. 37a: Nepal. Journal of the Bombay Natural Ghorahi of Dang district. History Society 30, 525–530.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 46-47 Crab-eating Mongoose in Dang district 47 Jnawali, S.R., Baral, H.S., Lee, S., Acharya, K.P., Upadhyay, G.P., Pandey, Thapa, S. 2013. Observations of Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestes urva in M., Shrestha, R., Joshi, D., Laminchhane, B.R., Griffiths, J., Khatiwada, A.P., eastern Nepal. Small Carnivore Conservation 49, 31–33. Subedi, N. and Amin, R. (compilers) 2011. The status of Nepal mammals: Van Rompaey, H. 2001. The Crab-eating Mongoose, Herpestes urva. Small the national Red List series. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Carnivore Conservation 25, 12-17. Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal. Khanal, C. and Baniya, S. 2018. Deukhuri valley: a wildlife haven in the Biosketches Shiwalik hills, Nepal. The Himalayan Naturalist 1, 8-10. PRATIK PANDEYA is studying M.Sc. Forestry at Agriculture and Pham-Chong-Ahn. 1980. Morphology and ecology of Viverridae in Forestry University, Faculty of Forestry, Hetauda, Makawanpur. His Vietnam. Zoologicheskii Zhurnal 59, 905-914. interest lies in research and conservation of Sloth bear in western Sharma, B and Lamichhane, R 2017. Record of Crab-eating Mongoose lowland of Nepal. Herpestes urva from Parsa Wildlife Reserve, central Nepal. Small CHIRANJEEVI KHANAL is working as a Team Leader in Striped Carnivore Conservation 55, 97–103 Hyaena Project. He is interested in research and conservation of Hyaena and other carnivores and is a member of IUCN Hyaena Than Zaw, Saw Htun, Saw Htoo Tha Po, Myint Maung, Lynam, A.J., Kyaw Specialist Group. Thinn Latt and Duckworth, J.W. 2008. Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar. Small Carnivore Conservation 38, 2–28.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 46-47 PHOTOS FROM THE WILD 48

Photographs by SAGAR GIRI

The Asian Elephant Elephas maximus is one of the largest land mammals. In Nepal they are found in the lowlands. This photo of male elephant was taken in Chitwan National Park during January 2017.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 45-46 49 The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis is another mega fauna species found in the protected

areas of Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park and Suklaphanta National Park and adjoining habitats. This photo was taken in Bardia National Park during February 2017.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 45-46 50 Swamp deer Cervus duvaucelii is one of the largest deer species in the world. In Nepal, they are restricted in the protected areas of Bardia National Park and Suklaphanta National Park. This photo was taken in Suklaphanta National Park during February 2017.

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 45-46 51

Common leopard Panthera pardus is one of the four big cat species found in Nepal. They are widespread across large altitudinal range. This photo was taken in Suklaphanta National Park during February 2018.

Biosketch

SAGAR GIRI is a photographer from Chitwan district of Nepal. He started working as a professional wildlife photographer since 2016. He has travelled across most of the protected areas in the lowlands of the country and plans to explore the highland regions in the future. He is active in the conservation sector and wants to bring awareness on the importance of wildlife through his work.

Email for correspondence: [email protected]

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 45-46 52 Field Notes My first herpetological field trip KARAN BAHADUR SHAH1

1 Himalayan Nature, PO Box 10918, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal

*Email for correspondence: [email protected]

Back in 1981, when it was not uncommon for foreign We followed Naudanda-Baglung-Beni trail and scientists to collect and transport specimens without 10-12 days later finally reached Dhorpatan airport. The permission, two Dutch herpetologists came to Nepal to trek was not so enjoyable due to torrential heavy rain, collect specimens of amphibians and reptiles from constant attack of leeches, difficult trails, swollen streams Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalaya regions. They came to and dangerous bridges and indifferent behavior of the know about the letter of permission for specimen Dutch researchers. They had shortage of money as most of collection only after their expedition ended. To solve the their money had been spent during their first collection legal dispute somebody advised them to make those trek of the same area. Therefore they wanted to specimens legal by officially revisiting the same areas with economize food, lodging and other expenses. We had our a Nepalese herpetologist and making recollection of a few own tents and cooking utensils and the Sherpa and cook new specimens and finally mixing the new and old usually faced a hard time pitching tents due to frequent specimens which they could take to the Netherlands. rains and having to buy food items from local villagers. As I had just started my career in Natural History we were on a limited budget, meat or eggs were wishful Museum but remained still undecided what to pursue as thinking and local potatoes became our staple food for all my specialization. There was already a novice three meals every day. Once our Dutch friend's stomach herpetologist in the museum and who was my senior, so got upset due to eating boiled potato without removing the museum chief asked him to accompany the foreign peel and that delayed us by two extra days. herpetologists for the specimen collection trip. When all Everyday Neema and Tsewang used to buy the official formalities were completed the selected staff fuelwood from locals for cooking lunch. While moving declined to accompany the Dutch team due to some camps, throwing away or leaving leftover fuelwood was personal reasons. So the museum chief asked me if I could not allowed so they were loaded on the wicker baskets of assist the team in their herpetological expedition and I the porters and almost every day the poor porters had to happily accepted the offer. And this expedition became my carry the extra weight and as a result the porters would first ever herpetological field work, a turning point of my curse them in Nepali language indicating their displeasure. life and also an official recognition as a budding Our Dutch friends did not like to camp close to human herpetologist of Nepal. settlements. This was to avoid unwanted visits from local One morning during the third week of June 1981 villagers and asking stupid questions, requesting for right before our journey began, I met the Dutch medicines and also to minimize security risks. Sometimes herpetologists at the Summit Hotel in Kopundol. They the Dutch friends would select a highly vulnerable flood- were younger than what I had speculated, both were less prone river bank for camping and instead of arguing, we than 30 years old and were a couple. The gentleman was a would obey them but remain awake most time of the night native fair skinned Dutch while the lady because of her due to the fear of flooding. Our porters would spend the Indian origin, was dark skinned and originally from night singing jhyaaure (folk songs) and playing madal Suriname. They seemed slightly unhappy with the change (traditional cattle drum). of their Nepali counterpart probably due to my young age I still remember one occasion when a wealthy and limited knowledge in herpetological field. man of Dharapani of Myagdi district seriously asked the Our expedition team including Neema, our Dutch lady to marry him despite being told by our porters Sherpa guide and Tsewang, our cook left Kathmandu for and Sherpa that she was there with her boyfriend. In Pokhara by bus on 1 July 1981. We had planned to stop at another occasion a local guy asked the Dutch gentleman to Pokhara to make some preparations before continuing our sell him his wristwatch. Many local people would visit us journey to Dhorpatan where we were starting our while we were stopping for lunch, resting after a long walk fieldwork. At Pokhara we stayed at a Tibetan hotel located or in our campsite and ask for medicines though they were opposite to Pokhara airport. The next day six young porters not sick. I personally provided some light medicines against from Gorkha district joined us completing our expedition fever, headache, diarrhoea, cough, cold, etc. to needy team of 11 people. We arranged logistics and purchased villagers. One evening a middle-aged villager who was essential commodities, wicker baskets for the porters to suffering from chronic cough probably due to his smoking carry goods, medicines and high-altitude clothing for habit visited our camp and requested medicine. Just to get porters. After that we left Pokhara by bus and arrived at rid of him at that time I gave him a single dose of cough Naudanda of Syangja district and then began our syrup. The guy must have slept well that night due to the expedition on foot. mild sedative effect of cough syrup. This made him revisit us to ask for more cough syrup. The next morning when we

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 52-54 My first herpetological field trip 53

PHOTO 1: Map showing the expedition trail starting from Pokhara - Naudanda(Syangja district) - Karkineta - Darbang (Baglung district) - Muna village (Myangdi district)- Dhorpatan - Tatopani - Beni - Kushma - Ghodepani - Ulleri - Birethanti - Naudanda (Kaski district) - Hemja - Pokhara. were about to leave camp I saw him there with folded hand the airport, and after spending three days there one requesting more cough syrup. He had brought an empty morning our caravan left for the Jaanglaa pass. It was hard five-litre plastic jerry can to carry the cough syrup. walking the steep trail within temperate forest which was One day I developed a painful cramp in my almost covered by dark leeches, we hardly walked two stomach and then things took a turn for the worst as it was hours when suddenly we encountered heavy rain. We immediately followed by dysentery. Although I took anti- were already facing constant attack of leeches and then dysentery tablets after lunch, it didn’t help, and my the rain added salt to our wounds! Those difficulties forced problem further worsened. Until evening I had used open us to cancel our Jaanglaa pass trip and we returned back to toilet 6-7 times. The medicine was not helping me so I was the airport. Next 4-5 days we continued our herpetological very nervous and filled with bad imaginations. I thought if activities. During the same period I noticed that the my condition did not improve I might have to stop my Tibetan refugees of the area were clean and healthy and journey and return to Kathmandu. When we made camp looked rich, running successful business contrary to the that night, I was in a very bad shape due to pain and Nepalese permanent residents who were poorer, dirty, dehydration. Hoping to get some help I explained my suffering from malnutrition and many were working in the problem to the most senior porter Dhan Bahadur and after houses of the Tibetans as servants or laborers. hearing my trouble he exclaimed “Oh! Do not worry sir, it Among the many herpetological activities we was due to your stomach catching cold!”. He asked our conducted there, creating artificial microhabitat using flat cook to prepare jhwaain khatte (a hot concoction of stones and circular plastic sheet fencing and then releasing purified butter, rice and local rum) for me. Tsewang live skinks there for measuring their body and ambient immediately prepared it, even before making evening tea, temperature was very interesting. When there was no sun and offered one full glass of jhwaain khatte to me. the skinks hid under the stones but as soon as the area was Reluctantly I sipped it and it worked like a panacea! Two sunny, they would come out and start basking and moving. hours later I was a normal person! The active skinks were captured and their body Finally we arrived at Dhorpatan and camped at so temperatures were measured by immediately inserting a called “airport”, which was covered by dense vegetation digital thermometer's fine transparent plastic tube inside growth. Actually it was used during early sixties to manage their cloaca. The entire experiment was meant to record Tibetan refugees’ settlement problem and later difference between skink's body temperature and external completely abandoned. The airport area was a huge flat temperature at which they would become active. We also land with several settlements in its peripheral area collected some beautiful Himalayan pit viper and belonging to Tibetan refugees and local villagers. We Himalayan keelback snake specimens in Dhorpatan. wanted to visit Jaanglaa pass (5300 m), two days walk from

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 52-54 My first herpetological field trip 54 While returning from Dhorpatan we traced back about 10-12 meters when fortunately I was able to find our previous route. When we arrived at the Ningaale khola footing and touch the ground with my both feet. I pulled (a tributary of Uttargangaa river), we were stunned to find him with a sudden jerk and took him along with me and huge flood. The over-flooded stream's water was murky reached the other side of the river. That was when I heard with strong current. We checked the map and came to everyone from other side miserably shouting at us. know that unfortunately there was no bridge upstream Outraged that his carelessness almost cost us our and hardly 100 meters downstream, the Ningaale khola lives, I threw him on the ground, and he started begging met the larger Uttargangaa river. We decided to rest there and making excuse for that mischief. I cursed him and and wait hoping that the water would subside and we shouted, “Stupid! You did not have love for yourself due to would be able to cross the stream. Four hours later the greed of earning money!”. We rested there for a while and water level had decreased considerably, however even I realized I could have crossed the stream easily. I wanted then it was not possible to cross the stream. to return back across the stream but the guy was very As we were waiting by sitting at the bank of the nervous and reluctant. I forcefully took him with me and swollen stream we saw a black coloured livestock (cow or easily crossed the river. The depth of water with strongest bull) brought there by the flood which within seconds current was about the height of my chest and I felt it was disappeared once it reached the Uttargangaa river. question of courage rather than depth and water force. Immediately after that four villagers hurriedly arrived at Some of our members were looking very nervous and they the place. They wanted to catch the livestock so they could shouted and cursed at those four villagers. Our Sherpa consume its meat. We told them that the dead animal was Neema jokingly asked them to pay me at least Rs 1500 for gone and out of their reach. They asked us why we were saving the life of their friend but they immediately left the waiting there and I explained them in detail about our place. We then put a strong rope horizontally across the predicament. Their facial expression showed happiness stream and using it we finally crossed the river along with after knowing our story. One of the guys told us that if we our belongings. paid Rs 200 per person they could help us cross the swollen Reflecting back, if we have been swept 10-15 stream. That included getting all our belongings. We were meter further downstream then we would have been lost 11 people including porters and two foreigners. That in the Uttargangaa river forever! And you would have lost means if we have agreed what they asked from us they the opportunity of reading my travelogue. After walking would had earned Rs 2200! This corresponded to USD 187 10-12 days, finally we arrived at Pokhara city where we bid which was substantial amount at that time. goodbye to our porters and returned to Kathmandu by bus After the price was fixed we came to know that thus completing our long expedition. only one guy amongst them dared to cross the stream and Although I faced many difficulties during my first rest three were hesitant like us. The villager who stepped herpetological field work, it was very useful for me. I learnt forward to guide us across the stream was about 30-35 different scientific techniques of studying herpetofauna year old, tall and slim. He wanted to take one person across including searching, collecting, killing and preserving at a time however no one from our group was willing to specimen. In 1987 one of my herpetologist friends brought volunteer to be the first to go. Both our foreign guests a monograph written by those two Dutch herpetologists were so nervous that they wanted to abandon the idea of on amphibians and reptiles of Annapurna-Dhaulagiri crossing the river and return to our previous camp site and region. I hurriedly looked for my name as coauthor, but my try crossing the next day. Finally, I volunteered to be the name was not mentioned even in the acknowledgements. first to cross the stream with the villager and put my leg Contrary to this they had fully acknowledged and gave into the water. good credits to the guy from my museum who had at the We started crossing, holding each other's hands eleventh hour cancelled his involvement in the expedition and the water came waist deep but the deepest part of the and as a result which I had received the golden stream was still further ahead. At this section of the river I opportunity. Despite my best possible contributions to the was not feeling much force but could hear the loud roar of expedition I felt cheated in my first herpetological field the water. From time to time I was looking upstream to work. In spite of this, I take joy from the fact that this was check if any rocks, trees or wooden logs were being also the expedition which opened my door to the world of brought by the water current. Both of us were walking Herpetology. slowly with the other guy on my right in the direction of the water current. When we reached the deepest part with Biosketch fast current all of a sudden the other guy lost footing and KARAN BAHADUR SHAH is a herpetologist and retired Professor of we got swept away by the strong current of water! Our feet Natural History Museum, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu. He has made several significant contributions to herpetology of Nepal. He were off the river floor and I was still firmly holding his is currently the Senor Scientific Advisor at Himalayan Nature. hand while we got carried away. The stream swept us

©2018 Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 2(1), 52-54

55

YADAV GHIMIREY/FON NEPAL

Friends of Nature

Who we are

Friends of Nature is a youth led non-governmental, non-profit making, non-political organization working in the field of environment and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. What we do

We conduct research on wildlife and biodiversity, assess conservation issues and help develop and implement innovative solutions.

How we work

We work in partnership with governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and communities. We also provide technical assistance to communities to help solve their problems.

Mailing Address: Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal PO Box 23491, Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal Email: [email protected] Website: www.fonnepal.org

Guidelines for contributors

The Himalayan Naturalist is a bi-annual, digital newsletter to Short Communications cover wildlife research and conservation related contributions - Articles based on short term research, case studies, and by- scientific and general. products of other major research can be submitted under short communications. It should be under 2,000 words. Though not Articles that has been published in an online or hardcopy compulsory, it is highly advised to follow the same format as journal/newsletter, will be considered ineligible, including original contribution. derivatives for re-publication. However, articles published in a personal or organizational website won’t be considered as Review papers published. These include articles mostly done from reviewing scientific papers rather than based on field work. The word limit is 2,000 Full instructions are available on our official website and requires citation. http://www.fonnepal.org/the-himalayan-naturalist Distribution updates Editorial Policy These include short notes about record of species from new locations previously thought to be unoccupied. Provide verifiable The Himalayan Naturalist takes plagiarism seriously. Any article evidence (such as photographs, DNA results) and locations (maps found to plagiarise will be rejected instantly and further articles would be great) of the record. The article should not cross 700 from the authors won’t be accepted until a satisfactory words and require citation. explanation is provided to the editor. Opinions Content should be relevant to biodiversity and conservation. Any Opinions on articles published as well as on issues critical for articles that are deemed to have no contribution on conservation conservation are welcome. These should be limited to 1,000 won’t be published. Authors are welcome to justify their article(s) words. Citation is optional though reference is encouraged. as significant for conservation in case the view of editors differ. Hotspots Citations will be checked thoroughly. Please make sure you have These include description and importance of areas which are them in order. Please be wary of articles published in predatory important in terms of wildlife diversity they possess. These journals. You can check them here https://doaj.org/ and here should not be more than 1500 words. Citation is optional though https://predatoryjournals.com/journals/. reference is encouraged.

Peer review process Field Notes Interesting incidents, memorable observations and similar field If the submitted manuscript doesn’t follow the format, it will be experiences can be submitted under field notes. The upper word rejected instantly and sent to authors for revisions. The limit is 1,000 and doesn’t require citation. manuscript will be reviewed only after the manuscripts have been revised as per the format. Conservation bulletin Articles on conservation activities on local or regional level, issues Original contributions, short communications, and review papers in conservation, and similar theme can be submitted under will be published only after two peers have reviewed the article. conservation bulletin. Word limit is 700 and doesn’t require After the editors have made sure the manuscript is as per the citation. guideline, it will be sent to two independent peers from related field. We will keep both sides anonymous from each other. Cover letter Revision will be requested if the reviewers suggest so. If there is any other information that the editor should know on Distribution updates, opinions, field notes, hotspots, and sensitive issues such as making coordinates of endangered conservation bulletin will be edited by the editors. Revisions will species unavailable, or you might deem necessary, please include be requested when required. them with the cover letter while submitting your manuscript.

Article classification Submitting your manuscript Articles are classified based on the underlying work, source, and Please submit your articles following the format mentioned intention. Each manuscript should clearly indicate which above through email at [email protected]. classification it belongs to. Editors can suggest change in article Only electronic copies following our guidelines will be accepted. type based on the manuscript. Original contribution for scientific articles Acknowledgement of receipt of manuscript Original research by authors that resulted in new and exciting After we have safely received your manuscript, an email findings can be submitted as original contributions. The acknowledging your submission will be sent by the editor on the manuscript should follow the standard format complete with email address of corresponding author or the email used to abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussions, submit the article. acknowledgements, references, and biographical sketch. The upper word limit is 4,000 requiring citation exclusively. You can include abstract in your native language but is not compulsory.

YADAV GHIMIREY YADAV

The Himalayan Naturalist Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal PO Box 23491, Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal Email: [email protected] Website: www.fonnepal.org https://www.facebook.com/fonnepal2005/