Table Of ContentWILD MAMMALS
OF THE SHUKLAPHANTA
NATIONAL PARK
LLAAXXMMAANN PPRRAASSAADD PPOOUUDDYYAALL
BBAABBUU RRAAMM LLAAMMIICCHHHHAANNEE
HHEEMM SSAAGGAARR BBAARRAALL
HHAARRII BBAASSNNEETT
WILD MAMMALS
OF THE SHUKLAPHANTA
NATIONAL PARK
LAXMAN PRASAD POUDYAL
BABU RAM LAMICHHANE
HEM SAGAR BARAL
HARI BASNET
Shuklaphanta National Park
&
Himalayan Nature
Published by
Shuklaphanta National Park Office
Kanchanpur, Nepal
&
Himalayan Nature
PO Box 10918, Kathmandu, Nepal
Copyright © 2020 Publishers and Authors
All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication in full or in part must mention the title
and credit the publishers and the authors.
ISBN 978-9937-0-6865-9
Front Cover: Chungba Sherpa, Sagar Giri, Aashish Joshi
Back Cover: Sagar Giri
Preferred Citation
Poudyal, L.P., Lamichhane, B.R., Baral, H.S., & Basnet, H. (2020). Wild Mammals of
the Shuklaphanta National Park. Shuklaphanta National Park Office and Himalayan Nature,
Kanchanpur and Kathmandu, Nepal.
Design and layout: Calligrafic Design Studio
Printed in Nepal
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
HABITATS 5
LIST OF MAMMALS OF THE PARK 9
REFERENCES FOR THE LIST OF MAMMALS 14
SPECIES ACCOUNT 15
PHOLIDOTA:Pangolins 16
EULIPOLYPHYLA:Shrews 24
CHIROPTERA:Bats 28
PRIMATES:Monkeys 38
CARNIVORA:Civets, Mongooses, Bears, Hyaenas, 44
Mustelids, Canids & Felids
PROBOSCIDEA:Elephants 98
PERISSODACTYLA:Rhinoceros 104
ARTIODACTYLA:Pigs, Deer & Antelope 110
RODENTIA:Mice, Rats, Squirrels & Porcupines 136
LAGOMORPHA:Hares & Rabbits 166
BIBLIOGRAPHY 172
INDEX OF ENGLISH NAMES 191
INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES 192
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Photographs: Aashish Joshi, Aditya Chavan, Alen Jbo, Ambika Prasad Khatiwada, Ansil B.
R., Babu Ram Lamichhane, Bharat Bandhu Thapa, Bijoy Venugopal, Chien C. Lee, Chiranjivi
Khanal, Chungba Sherpa, Dhiraj Chaudhary, Friedrich Esser, Gyan Chandra Gyani, Hardik
Patel, Hari Basnet, Indigo Taylor-Noguera, Janetand Phil, Kavi Raj Bohara, Kum Thakur, Laba
Guragain, Laxman Prasad Poudyal, Markus Lilje, Md. Zaber Ansary, Narayan Rijal, Sagar Giri,
Sanjay Tha Shrestha, Sarbjit Randhawa, Saroj Khadka, Sher Bahadur Pariyar, Sher Bahadur
Singh, ShNP, SMCRF, Sunny Josef, Tashi Rapte Ghale, Tika Giri, Tulshi Laxmi Suwal, Utsab Jung
Thapa, Vikram Tiwari, Yam Bahadur Rawat
Maps:Hari Basnet (global and national species distribution maps), Umesh Paudel (park level
species record maps) and Dr. Bhola Nath Dhakal (national park and buffer zone ward level
map).
Review:Tulsi Ram Subedi, PhD
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PREFACE
Shuklaphanta National Park (ShNP) in south-western Nepal is an important habitat for many
rare and threatened wildlife. It is a part of the transboundary Terai Arc Landscape that spans
the lowlands of Nepal and India. The park is an important part of the Terai-Duar Savanna and
Grasslands ecoregion and this vegetation covers 27% of its total area of this protected area.
The park is famous for the largest herd of Barasingha in the world. Being an ecologically
diverse area, several surveys focusing on different animals were carried out in the park since
its establishment in 1976. Studies based on intensive camera trapping targeting tigers in
recent decades have detected many rare wildlife, including several first records for Nepal.
For instance, recent studies recorded Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus, Ruddy
MongooseHerpestes smithii, Fishing CatPrionailurus viverrinus, Indian Flying FoxPteropus
giganteus, Greater Short-nosed Fruit BatCynopterus sphinx, Greater Asiatic Yellow House Bat
Scotophilus heathiiand Painted BatKerivoula pictain and the vicinity of the park; former two
are being the first records for Nepal and remaining the first records for the park.
However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding on the total mammalian species
of ShNP and their spatial distribution within the park. It is the first attempt to compile the
mammalian species recorded in the park with detailed species accounts of 56 mammalian
species. We believe a detailed species account will be a great asset for the park visitors,
scientific communities, naturalists as well as anyone interested in the mammalian species.
Furthermore, this initiation will provide a reference material for national park authorities for
conserving the faunal diversity of the park. This will also inspire other parks to develop similar
resources, which is lacking in most of the protected areas of Nepal.
The checklist was compiled using both the primary records obtained through camera traps
and review of the published records of mammalian species in the park. We reviewed published
books and checklists of mammals. Wild Mammals of Nepal by Baral & Shah (2008), The Status
of Nepal Mammals: The National Red List Series by Jnawali et al., (2011) and Enumeration of
the Mammals of Nepal by Suwal & Verheugt (1995) were the primary references for this book.
The systematic description of mammals is presented according to evolutionary development.
Within species ecology, we followed the latest taxonomy for scientific and common names of
species following the IUCN Red List of Threatened Category. Additionally, we have compiled
the local name of each species as much as possible. Within each species account, we have
provided global, national as well as distribution of species within ShNP, and prepared the global
as well as national map of the species. Global range map of each species is extracted from
the IUCN Red List site https://www.iucnredlist.org/ while the national map is based on the
Status of Nepal Mammals: The National Red List Series by Jnawali et al., (2011) and authors'
compilation of species distribution.
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We consulted many professionals as well as amateur photographers to get high quality photos.
Photos taken within the ShNP are preferred; however a few photos taken other parts of Nepal
or outside have been also used with credits to photographer. We are very much grateful to all
the photographers for providing such excellent images. The photos are presented to illustrate
the morphological characteristics of the species. Morphology, Ecology and Conservation Status
of the species are based on published and peer reviewed literature.
Shuklaphanta National Park offered us to write the manuscript. National Trust for Nature
Conservation- Biodiversity Conservation Center, Chitwan provided space for two workshops
each lasting three days. Chitwan workshops were held for initial and final compilation and
editing. We would like to thank the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation,
National Trust for Nature Conservation and Himalayan Nature for their constant support and
encouragement.
We would like to thank Ashok Kumar Ram, Rishi Ranabhat, Sanjan Thapa, Bishnu Prasad
Pandey, Dr. Naresh Subedi, Dr. Rabin Kadariya and Tulshi Laxmi Suwal for their contributions
in the manuscript for some species. We have put our best efforts in giving this book a pleasant
look and as much as informative. This is the property of far west Nepal. We are very much
thankful to former DFO Ramesh Chand, Chair of the Hotel Association of Kanchanpur district
Pramanand Bhandari, Bufferzone Committees, Bhimdutta and other peripheral municipalities,
Devidal Battalion of Nepali Army, park staff and local people for their support.
We look forward to your constructive suggestions for the next edition.
Laxman Prasad Poudyal
Babu Ram Lamichhane
Hem Sagar Baral
Hari Basnet
17 May 2020
iv
INTRODUCTION
Background
The Shuklaphanta National Park (ShNP) is situated at the southwestern corner of Nepal in
Kanchanpur district of Sudurpaschim Province. It lies between 28º 45' 47” - 29º 02’ 52” N
latitudes and 80º 05’ 45” - 80º 21’ 43” E longitudes. The altitude ranges from 175 – 1300 m
above sea level. It lies at the middle of the transboundary Terai Arc Landscape which extends
from Bagmati River in the east to Yamuna River in the west covering 14 protected areas of India
and Nepal (Chanchani et al., 2014).
Historically, the grasslands and forests of Shuklaphanta were famous hunting spots for royalties
of Nepal and their distinguished guests. It was declared as Royal Hunting Forest with an area
of 131 km2in 1969 (Yadavet al., 2000). Later it was promulgated as the Royal Shuklaphanta
Wildlife Reserve in 1976 covering an area of 155 km2and extended to the present size of 305
km2in 1994. The area of 243.5 km2surrounding the reserve was declared as buffer zone in
2004 to bring local people in conservation mainstream and support their development needs.
The Reserve’s status was changed as Shuklaphanta National Park in 2017. This protected area
is named after the largest grassland of lowland Nepal, theShuklaphanta,which is home to
the largest herd of the Swamp DeerRucervus duvauceliiduvauceliiin the world.
Swamp Deer herd at Shuklaphanta, Photo: Bharat Bandhu Thapa
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Poudyal, L.P., Lamichhane, B.R., Baral, H.S., & Basnet, H. (2020). Wild Mammals of the
Shuklaphanta National Park. Shuklaphanta National Park Office and Himalayan
Nature, Kanchanpur and Kathmandu, Nepal.
Shuklaphanta National Park and Buffer Zone: A Fact Sheet
Location District: Kanchanpur; Province: Sudurpaschim
Park boundary North: Siwalik ridge (Dadeldhura District boundary)
South: Nepal India Border
East: Syali River
West: Mahakali River
History 1969 – Royal Hunting Forest, Area: 131 km2
1976 – Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Area: 155 km2
(19 July 1976)
1994 – Area extension (East from Chaudhar River) 150 km2
(23 May 1994)
2004 – Buffer Zone declared, Area: 243.5 km2(22 May 2004)
2017 – Status Changed to National Park (20 February 2017)
IUCN Protected Area II - National Park; and VI - Buffer Zone
Category
Area National Park - 305 km2; and Buffer Zone - 243.5 km2
Physiographic Terai & Siwaliks
Zones
Altitude range 175 - 1300 m
Latitude 28º 45' 47” - 29º 02’ 52” N
Longitude 80º 05’ 45” - 80º 21’ 43” E
Floral Diversity 118 Family; 665 Species
Faunal Diversity Mammals 56
Birds 450
Reptiles 56
Amphibians 15
Fish 24
Buffer zone Municipals: 7; Buffer Zone User Committees: 9; Community
Forests: 42
The park is connected to Dudhwa National Park, India towards southeast via Laljhadi forest
corridor and Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary, India towards northwest via Boom-Brahmadev
forest corridor and Mahakali River.
2
Poudyal, L.P., Lamichhane, B.R., Baral, H.S., & Basnet, H. (2020). Wild Mammals of the
Shuklaphanta National Park. Shuklaphanta National Park Office and Himalayan
Nature, Kanchanpur and Kathmandu, Nepal.
