Hemant R. Ghimire

Despite the protected status of Yellow Monitor (Varanus flavescens), it is neglected in conservation program and less considered in researches in Nepal. As it mainly faces threats outside protected areas, the study was conducted in the Parasan VDC of Kanchanpur district. This study mainly deals with distribution, habitat separation with Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis), threats and possible conservation measures of the species through observation and interviews with the local people. This study reveals that the species is distributed all over the VDC but its distribution is believed to be declining. New global record of length (952mm) and weight (1450gm) of the species was found. This study indicates that ground cover is important for the species rather than trees. In the agricultural land, the species was found to be mostly associated with plant Besaram (Impomoea carnea). The habitat of Yellow Monitor and Bengal Monitor was found to be partially separated as former mostly observed in the southern slope and northern floodplain whereas later mostly observed in the main community forest.
Most of the people were found to be unaware of legal status and importance of the species and used to kill the species. This study reveals that local people kill the species mostly in agricultural land where it normally thrives. Students (children) were found to be more responsible for killing of the species than elder people. Habitat modification might not be the major threat of the species as compared to killing of the species. This study indicates that fear from the species is the main reason and use of the species as food, medicine and hide are other reason for killing of the species. It was estimated that 87 individuals of the species could have been killed in the study area in the study year. There was gender difference in attitude about the species and male were more responsible for killing of the species. The willingness to pay for conservation of the species was estimated as NRs 23.97 per year. This study suggests that raising awareness among local people about the legal status and importance of the species is the simple but efficient measure for conservation of the species, which is also helpful for increasing willingness to pay for conservation of the species.

Although the Bengal monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis) is considered to be a species of least conservation concern, its populations are thought to be decreasing. In Nepal, community forestry was initiated around 33 years ago but its actual impact on faunal biodiversity has been poorly studied. This study was conducted in Jana Jagaran Community Forest of Parasan VDC, Kanchanpur to investigate the impacts of community forestry on V. bengalensis by studying the habitat preferences of monitors in habitats created by community forestry management activities. Fencing has had a positive impact, whereas plantations did not have a significant impact on V. bengalensis. Most lizards were observed on the ground, but the presence of both ground cover and large trees were equally important for the species. To date, community forestry has had a positive impact on V. bengalensis in the Jana Jagaran Community Forest, but further studies on the impact of plantations are recommended.

The cause for rapid decline of the South Asian vulture population in 1990s was unknown for many years until diclofenac was proved to be the main reason for such decline in 2004.  The vulture populations from Nepal has also undergone rapid decline that causes low awareness among people about its ecological importance.  For declining species that have large range and are mostly associated with humans, people’s attitudes can have direct effects on their survival because of the multiple linkages and potential for both positive and negative impacts of human behaviour for these large scavengers.  However, little is known about vultures in the eastern mid-hills of Nepal.  Therefore, we conducted a study in Ramechhap, a district in the eastern mid-hills of Nepal, to assess the vultures’ status and human relations using transect and questionnaire surveys respectively.  Himalayan Griffons Gyps himalayensis and Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus were found in the area, and the majority of respondents interviewed had a positive attitude towards vultures (58.8%) and their conservation (47.3%).  Although neglected in previous studies, a neutral attitude (20% towards vultures and 15.8% towards vulture conservation) can be significant (largely related to ignorance) and can be readily turned to negative due to the vulture’s carcass consuming behaviour and lack of conventional appeal to many people, with implications for the success of a conservation programme.  In our study, carcass scarcity appeared to be an increasing concern with about 90% of the respondents reporting burying cattle carcasses, and that this practice has recently increased.  In the course of the study period, however, two (unburied) carcasses were observed.  Our study found that nimesulide, a potentially toxic NSAID for vultures, was used for veterinary purpose in the study area, which could be a serious threat to vultures.  Other human activities such as carcass poisoning pose threats to vultures in the study area.  Therefore, for long term vulture conservation, local attitudes and behaviour should be considered along with ecological aspects of vultures.

Although there is high potential for conservation of species outside protected areas, it is often neglected in researches and conservation programs. Protected species are legally protected even outside the protected areas and can be flagships for conservation in these areas, but their conservation aspects in these areas are poorly studied. We studied conservation aspects of a poorly known species, Yellow Monitor (Varanus flavescens), which is protected in most of its range countries, outside the protected areas in the Far-western lowlands of Nepal. We studied people's relationship, attitudes and threats to the species through questionnaire survey with adults and children in Parasan Village Development Committee of Kanchanpur District. We found that most of the adults were unaware about the protected status and importance of the species, and both adults as well as children killed the species. The study revealed that most of the killing occurred in agricultural land and children were more responsible for the killing than the adults. We found that monsoon vacation in schools increased the threat to the species. Our study revealed that fear from the species was the main reason and use of the species as food, medicine and hide were other reasons for killing of the species by adults. Low awareness was the major reason behind the killing by children as most of the killing was not related to any good reasons. We estimated that 87 individuals of the species could have been killed in the area in that year. Based on available evidences, we recommend further studies to predict the vulnerability of the species. Our study suggests that raising awareness among locals about its legal status and importance is the simple and efficient measure for the conservation of the species as well as for conserving other protected species outside the protected areas.

The Yellow Monitor, Varanus flavescens, is protected in most of its range, but there are few studies and little is known of its ecology. We studied Varanus flavescens in the southeastern part of Kanchanpur District in Parasan Village Development Committee to gather information on status and habitat ecology of this species. We assess the distribution, threats, and habitat characteristics of V. flavescens, and its habitat separation from the Bengal Monitor, Varanus bengalensis, using field observations and information from local people. Varanus flavescens was found to be distributed throughout the study area. We document new global records for total length (TL: 952 mm) and weight (1450 g) for the species. Indiscriminate killing is a major threat for survival of the species and most of the killing we found was done by children in agricultural land. Our study suggests that habitat modification might not be as serious a threat as first thought and the species seems to be able to tolerate habitat modification by agriculture. Ground cover was preferred by the species as compared to trees and the species was found to be associated closely with the shrub Impomoea carnea. The habitats of V. flavescens and V. bengalensis were found to be partially separated, with V. flavescens mostly associated with wetter areas and few large trees, whereas V. bengalensis was closely associated with large trees. As V. flavescens does not prefer forests with large trees, conservation programs focusing only on forest protection may not help conserve this species.

""Although the Bengal monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis) is considered to be a species
of least conservation concern, its populations are thought to be decreasing. In Nepal, community
forestry was initiated around 33 years ago but its actual impact on faunal biodiversity has been
poorly studied. This study was conducted in Jana Jagaran Community Forest of Parasan VDC,
Kanchanpur to investigate the impacts of community forestry on V. bengalensis by studying the
habitat preferences of monitors in habitats created by community forestry management activities.
Fencing has had a positive impact, whereas plantations did not have a significant impact on V.
bengalensis. Most lizards were observed on the ground, but the presence of both ground cover and
large trees were equally important for the species. To date, community forestry has had a positive
impact on V. bengalensis in the Jana Jagaran Community Forest, but further studies on the impact
of plantations are recommended.""