Habitat preference and distribution of Chinese pangolin and people's attitude to its conservation in Gorkha District, Nepal

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F86652079%3A_____%2F23%3A00572432" target="_blank" >RIV/86652079:_____/23:00572432 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216208:11310/23:10468054

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1081385/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1081385/full</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1081385" target="_blank" >10.3389/fevo.2023.1081385</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Habitat preference and distribution of Chinese pangolin and people's attitude to its conservation in Gorkha District, Nepal

Original language description

The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) has experienced a rapid population decline throughout its distribution. In Nepal, it mostly occurs outside protected areas, therefore, habitat degradation due to anthropogenic activities is one of the major threats to its survival. However, the scarcity of information on the ecology and distribution of pangolins impedes evidence-based conservation of this species in Nepal. Its habitat preferences and distribution and the factors influencing people's attitude to its conservation were studied in Gorkha District in central Nepal. Thirteen transects, each 0.5 km in length, were used for recording burrows indicating the presence of pangolin. In total, 124 burrows were recorded, of which 38 were new and 86 were old, which indicated a clumped distribution. Based on the highest percentage frequency of occurrence, most burrows occurred between 650 and 800 m a.s.l., in areas with a south-facing aspect, with moderate canopy cover, in forest, red soil and gentle terrain. The logistic regression model revealed that habitat type, soil type, crown cover, terrain, and distance to water were the most important factors affecting pangolin presence. In total, 87 households and 9 key informants were interviewed using questionnaires to determine the people's knowledge of pangolins and attitude to their conservation. More than 50% of the respondents had seen pangolin in the areas studied and had a general knowledge of their habitat and benefits. However, most of them were unaware that it was illegal to hunt pangolins and were involved in opportunistic hunting for meat consumption. Pangolins were mostly recorded in forest at altitudes 650-800 m a.s.l., with moderate canopy cover, red soil, and close to a source of water, habitat, soil, canopy cover, terrain, and distance to water were statistically significantly associated with the presence of pangolin burrows. This study revealed that an increase in public awareness (mainly through education) would help to increase the likelihood of pangolin survival. These results can also serve as guidelines for protecting pangolin habitats for use by local authorities.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10618 - Ecology

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2023

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

ISSN

2296-701X

e-ISSN

2296-701X

Volume of the periodical

11

Issue of the periodical within the volume

APR

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

12

Pages from-to

1081385

UT code for WoS article

000980903400001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85158058727