Understanding of ecological phenomena is the basic requirement for the conservation of targeted species particularly at present time when the landscape is fragmented and there is immense anthropogenic pressure for forest products and development is the priority of the government of developing countries. Poaching for bush meat and illegal trade of wildlife parts is another threat for the conservation of species. In this context, the proposed project attempts to explore and understand ecology of swamp deer in Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR), Nepal.

The project will systematically study the seasonal ranging behaviour and movement of swamp deer. Swamp deer is the largest prey (average weight more than 150kg) of tiger in SWR. The seasonal contribution of swamp deer to the diet of tiger is another important component that the project wants to explore. SWR is susceptible for tiger and prey poaching from two sides of the park. There are cases of wildlife parts (tiger and leopard, cases of poaching of deer including swamp deer for human consumption) seizure in 2014 and 2015 in those fragile areas of buffer zone of SWR.

The proposed project will also raise public awareness for conservation of tiger and its prey species in two areas of buffer zone which area fragile in terms of poaching. The project is expected to contribute for long term conservation of swamp deer by providing information on seasonal movement and underlying causes for such movement. Such information will be instrumental for designing management intervention strategies. Similarly, the project will be helpful in raising public awareness in the community for the conservation of last remaining population of swamp deer and tiger in Nepal.