Vertebrate fauna of Madhesh Province, Nepal: Diversity and conservation status

Abstract

Understanding the occurrence and distribution of vertebrate species provides basis for identifying potential threats, their roles in ecosystem services and their contributions to local livelihoods. However, information on vertebrate fauna in Madhesh Province, Nepal remains limited. Existing studies are scattered, and mostly focused to charismatic species, particularly in the Parsa National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, which hindered the development of targeted management and conservation action plans across the province. This study provides a comprehensive checklist of vertebrate fauna in Madhesh Province, compiling species occurrence and their conservation status. Data on vertebrate species, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals were collected from multiple survey methods such as cast nets, seine net, transect surveys, camera traps, mist nets, live traps, and sign observation, along with opportunistic survey from 2022 to 2026, and literature review.  In total, 147 fish species (one globally Endangered and three Vulnerable), 87 herpetofauna species comprising 19 amphibians (one globally Vulnerable) and 68 reptiles (three globally Critically Endangered, five Endangered, and five Vulnerable), 575 bird species (seven globally Critically Endangered, seven Endangered, and 13 Vulnerable), and 76 mammal species (one globally Critically Endangered, seven Endangered, and 10 Vulnerable) were documented across the Madhesh Province based on literature and our field  surveys. This study provides a consolidated baseline dataset of vertebrate diversity and conservation status for developing conservation plans and policies at local and provincial level.