Landscape-level habitat connectivity of large mammals in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal

The populations of many species of large mammals occur in small isolated and fragmented habitat patches in the human-dominated landscape. Maintenance of habitat connectivity in fragmented landscapes is important for maintaining a healthy population of large mammals. This study evaluated the landscape patches and their linkages on two carnivores (leopard and Himalayan black bear) and seven prey species (northern red muntjac, chital, sambar, wild pig, Himalayan goral, rhesus macaque, and langur) between Chitwan National Park (CNP) and Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) by using the least-cost path approach and the Linkage Mapper tool in ArcGIS. A total of 15 habitat patches (average area 26.67 ± 12.70 km2) were identified that had more than 50% of the total studied mammals. A weak relation among the habitat patches was found for chital and sambar (Cost-weighted distance CWD: Euclidean distance EucD >100), showed poor connectivity between the habitat patches, while the ratio of CWD and E..., Occurrence points collection
The study blocks were divided into four distinct blocks, namely A, B, C, and D considering landscape features, the main courses of rivers, and topographical features (Figure 2C). Block A covers the BCF, part of CNP, and surrounding areas of BCF (Kabilas, Jugedi, Kerabari, Chaukidanda, Simaldhap) up to the Mahabharat range (it runs closely parallel to the Chure range and separates the Terai with the Hill region, i.e., mid-hill) of Chitwan district. Block B covers human-dominated mid-hill landscapes such as Devghat, Bandipur, Abu Khairani Rural Municipalities, and Vyas Municipality of Tanahun district. It follows the Seti and Trishuli River basins along with mid-hills. Block C covers the Bhimad Municipality, parts of Rishing Rural Municipality, Ghiring Rural Municipality, Magde Rural Municipality and Shuklagandaki Municipality of Tanahun District, and Rupa Rural Municipality of Kaski District along the Seti River basin. Block D covers Bharatpokhari, Nirmalpokh..., , # Landscape-level habitat connectivity of large mammals in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal

Presence data for each species (Latitude and Longitude) in UTM. All files are CSV files.

Please note that presence data was edited to reduce precision to within 1 kilometer to protect threatened species.

#### Species:

* Chital
* Goral
* Wild pig
* Muntjac
* Rhesus
* Sambar
* Himalayan black bear
* Langur
* Leopard