Camera Trapping during field survey.

Information related to the canids are extremely lacking in Nepal. Due to low level of ecological data, no conservation initiatives have been carried out for canids in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (DHR). Generally, studies in Nepal are focused in flagship species such as Rhino, Tiger, and Snow Leopard. Species like Canids that have important role in keeping the healthy ecosystem by feeding carcass, and sick and old individuals, are largely ignored. In Nepal, Canid such as Grey wolf is considered nationally critically endangered, Wild Dog is considered nationally endangered, Red Fox is considered nationally data deficient, Golden Jackal is considered nationally least concern and Tibetan Fox is considered nationally data deficient.

Livestock depredation by red fox, wolf etc. and retaliatory killings of these carnivores by local livestock herders, are becoming serious issues for the conservation of these carnivores in DHR. In DHR high rates of poaching have been reported and news about loss of land due to forest encroachment is published regularly. Therefore, this project will generate information on status of canids and human canids conflict in DHR. The methods of preliminary survey, sign survey, camera trapping, key informant interview and group discussions will be carried out for achieving the objectives. This project will contribute for baseline information of canids in DHR and provide management recommendations for the long term survival of canids. The baseline information of this project will also fill the gap currently seen in “The status of Nepal’s mammal: The national red list series”.