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GAUR COUNT 2008 IN PARSA WILDLIFE RESERVE |
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With the objectives of ascertaining the current status and distribution of Gaur Bos gaurus in Parsa Wildlife Reserve (PWR), a census was carried out between 23 and 27 May, 2008. The census was conducted by the PWR in coordination with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, WWF Nepal–Terai Arc Landscape Program, Naya Ranbhim Gulma of Nepal Army and Buffer Zone Management Committee. One day orientation workshop was organized at Adhabhar for observers prior to actual execution of the census. For the census, the probable Gaur area of the PWR was divided into 4 blocks. Sex, age, location, group size, habitat, time were recorded. Nine elephants, twelve recorders and 30 logistic personnel participated in the count. Global Positioning System (GPS), digital camera, binocular, maps, communication sets were used for the census purpose. Altogether 247.5 elephants working hours were spent for the actual count. The area covered during census includes Chiple Khola / Vedaha Khola in the east, through Mahadev Khola, Jamuniya Khola and Bhata Khola to Rambhori Khola/ Ghodemasan Khola in the west. The area north of Adhabhar-Charbhaiya fireline upto foothills of Churiya was covered during the census. The count was direct count. Effectively sampled area is ca. 170 square kilometer. The census recorded 37 gaurs. Of them, 28 were direct sightings and 9 were indirect counts. Of 37, 8 were male, 11 females and 18 unknown. According to age category, 17 were adults, 2 sub-adults, calf 9 and unknown 9. The area between Mahadev khola and Jamuniya Khola seems to be the appropriate habitat for Gaur. It may, perhaps be due to presence of water and low disturbance level. Most of the sightings were made in Sal forests and riverine forests. The area west of Ram Bhori/Ghodemasan Khola is left because no signs of Gaur were recorded between Bhata Khola and Ram Bhori Khola/Ghodemasan Khola. There were few past opportunistic sightings of Gaur from western sector of PWR. Therefore, the data on Gaur was collected during the course of prey-base monitoring and found 23 individuals of Gaur. The Chitwan National Park has 296 gaurs as per the census in 2007, showing an increase of 98 individual animals from the last count a decade ago. In Nepal, the gaur is listed as protected animal under National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029, as vulnerable in IUCN Red Data Book, and is listed in Appendix I of CITES. Gaurs are found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, southern China, and the Malay Peninsula. They inhabit tropical evergreen and deciduous forests. |
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