Our baseline study in Shaktikhor in 2019 and 2020 examined the critical relationship the Chepang community shares with nature and wildlife. Bats, in particular, are significant for this community for two reasons; 1. as a food source for the Chepang people and 2. as an important pollinator of Chiuri (Diploknema butyracea), or Butter Trees, one of the most important plants used by this community. Chiuri is used by Chepang for medicine, food, agriculture and cultural traditions. Bats, particularly medium-sized fruit-eating bats such as Rousettus leschenaulti, and Eonycteris spelaea are the major pollinators of Chiuri plants.

During our previous study, the Chepang communities reported the decline of Chiuri trees and bat population in their locality. It was also identified that the majority of Chepang people lacked knowledge about bat’s role in pollinating Chiuri. Results indicated anthropogenic and environmental factors to have a major impact on the bat population of Shaktikhor.