Comparative Study in Habitat Suitability Analysis of Wild Water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Two Flood Plains of Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal

A comparative habitat suitability analysis for wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, identified the western sector grassland as a more preferable site (65.74% suitability) than the eastern sector (52.77%) for translocation efforts. The study assessed vegetation composition, slope, elevation, proximity to water sources, and human settlement, revealing Saccharum arundinaceum as the dominant tall grass species in both sectors, while tree dominance varied between Bombax ceiba (eastern) and Syzigium cumini (western). This research provides critical insights for conserving this endangered species, listed as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List since 1986, by guiding future translocation strategies to optimize habitat suitability.

(Ed.). (2019). Comparative Study in Habitat Suitability Analysis of Wild Water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Two Flood Plains of Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal. International Journal of Research Studies in Zoology, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.20431/2454-941x.0503001