Globally, urban expansion has led to habitat fragmentation and altered resource availability, thus posing significant challenges for wildlife. The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a critically endangered species experiencing population decline due to illegal trade and habitat degradation. This study analyzed variables affecting habitat occupancy of Chinese pangolins using a single‐season occupancy model across 134 study grids (600 m × 600 m) in peri‐urban areas of Dharan Sub‐Metropolitan City, eastern Nepal. We identified termite mounds as a significant key factor (top model with AICwt = 1) in the detection probability of Chinese pangolin burrows (β_{Termite mounds} = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.89). Additionally, the Human Disturbance Index (HDI) emerged as the key variable for habitat use occupancy (AIC = 231.96, AICwt = 0.309), indicating a significant negative impact (β_HDI = −6.555, 95% CI = −11.324 to −1.7723). We observed a mean HDI of 0.475 ± 0.04 in the grids where Chinese pangolins were detected, with higher HDI values correlating with reduced Chinese pangolin occupancy. For the long‐term conservation of Chinese pangolins in urban landscapes, it is crucial to reduce anthropogenic activities and implement conservation measures to protect suitable habitats with abundant termite mounds.

Monitoring the impact of fishing pressure on the Singhiya River is critical for resource development and sustainability, and the present situation is alarming and causing critical concern among the public. This study aimed to identify fish community trends over time and space in the river, and to investigate the impact of environmental variables on fish abundance and dispersion. Monthly fish sampling was performed from October 2020 to September 2021 from the 5^th to 10^th of each month. We used three cast nets of various mesh sizes (0.5, 2, & 4 cm) and monofilament gill nets with mesh sizes of 6, 8, & 10 cm. A total of 7,593 fish were collected, representing 61 species from seven orders, 20 families, and 37 genera. Similarity percentage (SIMPER) analysis revealed 78.8% similarity among six stations, with the primary contributing species: Puntius chola (28.2%), Puntius sophore (13.5%), Pethia ticto (5.33%), Chagunius chagunio (3.76%), Barbonymus gonionotus (3.69%), Puntius terio (3.46%), Opsarius shacra (2.2%), and Opsarius bendelisis (2.1%). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) on canonical correspondence analysis revealed that four of the seven selected environmental variables had significant relationship with the fish assemblage such as water parameters velocity, temperature, pH, and hardness. Overfishing and direct discharge of industrial waste into water resources may be the primary causes for the decline in fish diversity in Singhiya River.

Jalthal Forest (62.6 km²) is a remnant forest patch of a once continuous, lush and dense area of sal Shorea robusta and mixed deciduous vegetation in eastern lowland Nepal that is now surrounded by a dense human population. The forest is one of the last remnants of suitable habitat for the Critically Endangered yellow-headed tortoise Indotestudo elongata. This study explored the distribution of and conservation threats facing the yellow-headed tortoise in Jalthal Forest through field surveys in 20 community forests and structured interviews with 80 members of 22 community forest user groups and local people during September–November 2021. We surveyed 11.3 km² of the forest and observed only four individuals of I. elongata, indicating a population density of 0.35/km². Local people perceived that the species is decreasing mainly because of hunting (42%) and habitat deterioration from incursion of invasive species (30%). Based on the interviews with local people involved in hunting, an annual mean of 6.8 tortoises were killed during 2017–2021. The purposes of hunting were consumption (70%) and ethnomedicinal uses (30%) by the Meche and Sathar communities. Awareness campaigns and networks of communication amongst all stakeholders are required to conserve this species in Jalthal Forest.

The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), a Critically Endangered (CR) species, faces numerous threats across its range. Yet, the ecological and anthropogenic factors affecting its conservation in fragmented habitats remain poorly understood. This study integrated field surveys and community questionnaires to assess the distribution drivers and local perceptions, such as attitudes, knowledge, conservation practices, and perceived threats, in the Jalthal Forest, one of the last remnants of suitable habitat for the elongated tortoise in eastern Nepal. Using ArcMap, we established 138 randomly selected grids (500 m × 500 m) to evaluate the environmental covariates of tortoise occurrence and anthropogenic pressures. Generalized linear models revealed that tortoise occurrence was negatively associated with dense ground cover (β = −3.50, p = 0.017) and human disturbance (β = −8.11, p = 0.019). Surveys of local residents from community forest user groups (n = 236 respondents) indicated strong local support for tortoise conservation (69% willing to protect the species). Despite this, the respondents identified persistent threats, including hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine (74%), habitat degradation (65%), and forest fires. While 60% of the respondents recognized the threatened species status, significant knowledge gaps regarding that status and ongoing illegal exploitation persisted. These findings underscore the need for targeted habitat management, reduced anthropogenic pressures, and community-led initiatives to align local attitudes with conservation actions. This study provides critical baseline data for conserving the elongated tortoise in human-modified landscapes and emphasizes the necessity of integrated ecological and socio-cultural strategies for its long-term survival.

| The Stinging catfish ( Heteropnuestes nani ) was described in 2013 from the Noakhali of Bangladesh through detailed morphological characterization. They differ significantly from their congeners based on small size, completely separated pectoral spine from rays bearing 9–10 serrae along the inner edge and united anal-caudal fin. In Nepal, only one species of Heteropnuestes , i.e., H. fossilis has been reported. Based on the morphometric and meristic characteristics, this study reports the first-ever record of another species ( H. nani ) under the genus from eight locations in Jhapa District, eastern lowland Nepal, along with H. fossilis records . The two species distinctly differ, with H. nani conspicuously smaller than H. fossilis . Heteropnuestes nani has been recorded from nutrient-rich, shallow, and turbid water bodies with abundant invasive aquatic macrophytes ( Eichhornia crassipes , Hydrilla verticillata , and Ceratophyllum submersum ). The type locality of the H . nani in Bangladesh and the newly reported locality in Nepal share similar tropical monsoon climates and river connectivity that might have facilitated their dispersal. Further studies are warranted to understand the detailed taxonomy and distribution pattern of H. nani in Nepal.

The evolutionary history of the Himalayan biota has been shaped by geological and climatic changes over time. The Himalayan bent‐toed geckos, Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), is an ideal group to study the phylogeography of the Himalayas due to its early origin, wide distribution, and ongoing diversification across its range. However, the specific impact of geological events on the diversification of Central Himalayan Cyrtodactylus has not been fully investigated. In this study, we sampled Cyrtodactylus from the Central Himalayan region and analyzed concatenated mitochondrial (NADH dehydrogenase 2, 1038 bp) and nuclear (phosducin [PDC], 393 bp, and recombination activating gene, 861 bp) DNA sequences totaling 2292 bp. We complemented these by the sequences from the Himalayan and the Indo‐Burma regions. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Cyrtodactylus samples from the Himalayan region are grouped into four major groups: C. lawderanus group, C. fasciolatus group, C. peguensis group, and C. khasiensis group. The geckos sampled in this study from the Central Himalayas belonged to the C. fasciolatus and C. khasiensis groups. Our results indicate that Cyrtodactylus underwent radiation events from the early Eocene to the late Pleistocene, with a relatively constant rate of divergence but a significant deviation from a constant rate of lineage accumulation. These findings establish a complex relationship between gecko diversification and the orogenic process of the Himalayas, which created a diverse landscape, global climate changes that led to different environments, intermittent arid conditions, shifting south Asian monsoon patterns, and the evolution of rivers. These factors facilitated allopatric speciation in the Himalayan region. Our results support a west to east diversification pattern within the range of Cyrtodactylus . Further extensive sampling and integrated genetic and ecological analyses are warranted to understand the evolution of the least studied herpetofauna of the Central Himalayan region.