Effectiveness of salt licking sites for wild animals in Bardia National Park, Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2025.1004012Keywords:
Camera traps, Salt licks, Significance, Species diversity, ThreatsAbstract
Salt licks are naturally occurring spots vital to numerous wildlife species worldwide. This study aimed to examine the use of natural salt licks by wild animals inside Bardia National Park (BNP), Nepal. Five camera traps were installed at five selected salt licks for a period of 18 days. A total 6 families and 10 species, were recorded at the salt lick sites were recorded during the investigation. The sites, Baghaura A and Baghaura C emerged as the most diverse salt licks in terms of species richness. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index was highest at Baghaura C, while the species evenness index was also highest there and lowest at Patthar Bandha South. The Simpson diversity index was highest in Patthar Bandha South and lowest at Baghaura B. Spotted deer, followed by rhino, were the most frequent visitors with the highest Capture Frequency (CF) and Relative Abundance Index (RAI). Carnivores and omnivores were least abundant. Temporal activity pattern was varied with species and habitat, with maximum activity during the day. The soil analysis also showed the highest pH and exchangeable sodium at Patthar Bandha South and the lowest at Baghaura A. Among the five identified threats, Habitat destruction and human interference were identified as the most severe threats. Disease transmission and poisoning ranked high and medium threats, respectively. Therefore, this study provides science-based evidence for the protection of salt lick sites for effective wildlife management in Bardia National Park, Nepal.
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