Habitat and Distribution of Chinese Pangolin (Manis Pentadactyla Linnaeus, 1758) in Nagarjun Forest of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal
Abstract
Pangolins belong to the least studied burrowing mammals whose information on distribution and ecology is still scarce in Nepal. Their distribution was studied in the Nagarjun forest of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) during April 2013. We surveyed 700×60 m2 strip transects for indirect data collection, 140 quadrates of 10×10 m2 were used for vegetation analysis. Total 235 burrows were recorded which were not uniform in distribution. Burrows were mostly distributed in the habitat dominanat by Schima wallichii, Castonopsis tribuloides, Castonopsis indica and Betula alnoides with canopy cover between 25-50% in brown soil and in northwest aspect in the elevation range between 1450-1550 m. Chi-square test revealed that there was a significant difference in the distribution of burrows according to different transects, altitude, aspects, soil, vegetation and crown cover. Wilcoxon test revealed there was a significant difference in the burrows dimension distributed in red and brown soil. Fresh burrows density was found to be 0.8333 burrows per hectare.
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