International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Investigation on Situation of Habitat and Allocation of Time Budget of Wild Water Buffalo Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal
Abstract
The study was conducted with main purpose to state the existing situation of habitat Wild Water Buffalo in the regards of land use and vegetation and to explore the allocation of diurnal time in different activities in KTWR, Nepal. The Wild Water Buffalo categorized as endangered species on the IUCN Red list, restricted to south and Southeast Asia. For the estimation of land utilization freely available satellite imagery Landsat-5 TM (2011), Landsat-8 OLI-TIRS (2015) and Landsat-8 OLI-TIRS (2021) were used. Some circular plots were designed for vegetation studies. The behaviour was observed by focal animal sampling method. Most of the land was covered by agriculture (62.37%), followed by grassland (20.57%) and by water (4.79%) in buffer zone. In core zone mostly area covered by grassland (56.62%) then by sand (18.35%) and by water (10.97%). A total of 15 species of trees, 17 species of shrubs and 61 species of grasses and herbaceous plants were found in its preferred habitat. Common plant known to be eaten by Wild Water Buffalo were found as 3 species of tree, 4 species of shrub and 25 species of grasses. It was remarked that the time spent for grazing was 42%, followed by resting (30%), wallowing (11%), moving (9%) and for other activities (8%). It is essential to seek the similar habitat for the sustainable conservation of this species.
Keywords
References
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Aryal, A., Shrestha, T. K., Ram, A., Frey, W., Groves, C., Hemmer, H., Dhakal, M., Koirala, R. K., Heinen, J., & Raubenheimer, D. (2011). Call to conserve the Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Nepal International Journal of Conservation Science, 2(4), 261-268.
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Chalise, M. K. (2003). Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) in Nepal. Primate Conservation, 19, 99-107.
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Dahal, B. R., Mcgowan, P. J., & Browne, S. J. (2009). An assessment of census techniques, habitat use and threats to Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Bird Conservation International, 19(2), 137-147.
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Shrestha, T. K., Hecker, L. J., Aryal, A., & Coogan, S. C. (2020). Feeding preferences and nutritional niche of wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Ecology and Evolution, 10(14), 6897-6905.
Thapa, R., Neupane, B., Ranabhat, S., Poudel, M., & Panthi, S. (2020). Habitat suitability of wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Babai flood plain of Bardia National Park, Nepal. Global Ecology and Conservation, 23. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01172
Yadav, B., Dutta, I., Chilese, M., Williums, C., & Sharma, B. (2013). Habitat utilization by Asiatic Wild Elephant (Elephus maximus) in Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Ecoprint: An International Journal of Ecology, 20, 41-52.
Zobel, D., Jha, P., Behan, M., & Yadav, U. (1987). A practical manual for ecology, Ratna Book Distributors.
Altmann, J. (1974). Observational Study of Behavior: Sampling Methods. Behaviour, 49(3-4), 227-266. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1163/156853974X00534
Aryal, A., Shrestha, T. K., Ram, A., Frey, W., Groves, C., Hemmer, H., Dhakal, M., Koirala, R. K., Heinen, J., & Raubenheimer, D. (2011). Call to conserve the Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Nepal International Journal of Conservation Science, 2(4), 261-268.
Bawri, M., & Saikia, P. K. (2014). Diurnal Activity Budgeting Pattern of Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee Kerr, 1792) in Kaziranga National Park, Assam. Golden Research Thoughts, 3(9), 1-8.
Bawri, M., & Saikia, P. K. (2014). Preliminary study on the food plant species of Endangered Asiatic Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee Kerr, 1792) in Kaziranga National Park, Assam India. An International Journal of Environment and Biodiversity, 5, 49-55.
Chalise, M. K. (2003). Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) in Nepal. Primate Conservation, 19, 99-107.
Chettri, N., Uddin, K., Chaudhary, S., & Sharma, E. (2013). Linking spatio-temporal land cover change to biodiversity conservation in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Diversity, 5(2), 335-351.
Dahal, B. R., Mcgowan, P. J., & Browne, S. J. (2009). An assessment of census techniques, habitat use and threats to Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Bird Conservation International, 19(2), 137-147.
DNPWC. (2020). Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) Conservation Action Plan for Nepal (2020-2024), . Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Gentry, A., Clutton-Brock, J., & Groves, C. P. (2004). The naming of wild animal species and their domestic derivatives. Journal of Archaeological Science, 31(5), 645-651.
Kandel, R. C., Solanki, G. S., Chalise, M. K., & Sharma, B. K. (2018). Habitat Composition of Asian Wild Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis arnee) at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Biodiversity Conservation: Strategies and Application, 151-171.
Kaul, R., Williams, A., Rithe, K., Steinmetz, R., & Mishra, R. (2019). Bubalus arnee. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species2019:e.T3129A46364616. In (Vol. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T3129A46364616.en).
KTWR. (2018). Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and It’s Buff er Zone Management Plan (2074/75-2078/79). Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Office, Paschim Kushaha, Sunsari, Nepal.
Li, Y. (2009). Activity budgets in a group of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys in Shennongjia Nature Reserve, China. Current Zoology, 55(3), 173-179.
NTNC. (2021). Wild Water Buffalo population increases in Nepal. https://ntnc.org.np/news/wild-water-buffalo-population-increases-nepal. assessed on 26 April, 2021.
Pandey, P., Shah, D. N., & Tachamo-Shah, R. D. (2020). Impact of invasive alien plant species on aquatic biodiversity of Koshi Tappu Wetlands: Ramsar Site, Nepal. Banko Janakari, 30(2), 48-58.
Peet, N. B., Watkinson, A. R., Bell, D. J., & Kattel, B. J. (1999). Plant diversity in the threatened sub-tropical grasslands of Nepal. Biological Conservation, 88(2), 193-206.
Poudel, P., & Mandel, R. (2019). Comparing Growing Stock using Circular, Square and Rectangular Plots Shape in Inventory (A study from Community Forests in Chitwan District, Nepal). Canadian Journel of Soil Science, 4(1), 448-454.
Rai, N.S. & Chalise, M. K.( 2014). Diurnal Activities of Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Eastern Nepal (A case study of Kusaha). 19th Wildlife week, Special Issues on Biod. Cons. Efforts in Nepal. DNPWC, Kathmandu, Nepal, pp. 104-112.
Regmi, S., & Chalise, D. M. K. (2019). Food habit and conservation threats of Wild Water Buffalo. Nature Khabar.
Sah, J. P. (1997). Koshi Tappu Wetlands: Nepal's Ramsar Site. IUCN.
Shah, R., Tripathi, S., & Bhatta, B. (2017). Translocation of Wild Asian Buffalo (Bubalis arnee): a way forward for conservation in Nepal. Proceedings of International Buffalo Symposium. Agriculture and Forestry University,Chitwan, Nepal, Nov. 15-18: 175-178,
Sharma, B., Chalise, M., & Solanki, G. (2012). Vegetation types and wildlife occurrence in Baghmara Buffer zone community forest. International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 2(2), 52-65.
Shrestha, T. K., Hecker, L. J., Aryal, A., & Coogan, S. C. (2020). Feeding preferences and nutritional niche of wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Ecology and Evolution, 10(14), 6897-6905.
Thapa, R., Neupane, B., Ranabhat, S., Poudel, M., & Panthi, S. (2020). Habitat suitability of wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Babai flood plain of Bardia National Park, Nepal. Global Ecology and Conservation, 23. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01172
Yadav, B., Dutta, I., Chilese, M., Williums, C., & Sharma, B. (2013). Habitat utilization by Asiatic Wild Elephant (Elephus maximus) in Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Ecoprint: An International Journal of Ecology, 20, 41-52.
Zobel, D., Jha, P., Behan, M., & Yadav, U. (1987). A practical manual for ecology, Ratna Book Distributors.
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