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.

Background: Freshwater snails serve as intermediate hosts for trematode parasites and play a key role in transmitting various parasitic diseases. Snail‐borne trematodiases pose important public and veterinary health risks in South Asia, where freshwater snails sustain transmission in agricultural and periurban waters. However, data from the Kathmandu Valley remain limited and fragmented across habitats and seasons. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the diversity and distribution of cercarial larvae in freshwater snail species from the southwestern part of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Methods: From July to October 2023, a total of 1893 snail samples were collected from grazing swamps, ditches, paddy fields, and canals. The samples represented five genera within four families: Lymnaea acuminata and Radix spp. (Lymnaeidae), Gabbia orcula (Bithyniidae), Physa acuta (Physidae), and Indoplanorbis exustus (Planorbidae). Cercarial infections were examined using the light‐induced shedding method. Results: Four of the five snail species examined harbored trematode cercariae, with an overall prevalence of 3.01% (57/1893), while Radix spp. showed no infection. Nine cercarial morphotypes were identified: Amphistome, Mutabile, Cercariaeum, Echinostome, Gymnocephalus, Cystophorous, Parapleurolophocerous, Xiphidiocercariae , and Brevifurcate apharyngate distome cercariae . The infection prevalence varied significantly by month (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.001), peaking in July (5.56%), August (4.95%), and by habitat ( p = 0.001), with the highest prevalence in grazing swamps (4.91%). A significant positive correlation was observed between snail length and infection rate ( r = 0.781, p < 0.001), with medium‐sized Lymnaea (18–26 mm) and Gabbia (10–13.9 mm) exhibiting the highest infection rates. Conclusions: Elevated infection occurred in July‐August and among larger swamp‐dwelling snails. The presence of diverse trematode cercariae, including zoonotically important types, underscores potential public and veterinary health risks and highlights the need for further studies on definitive hosts and control strategies. These patterns provide actionable guidance for risk mapping and prioritizing seasonal, habitat‐focused surveillance and control in the Kathmandu Valley.

Freshwater turtles play vital roles in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems by supporting ecological balance, nutrient cycling and regulating prey populations. Unfortunately, they are among the most threatened species worldwide. Habitat fragmentation, illegal trade, overharvesting for meat, and use in ethnomedicinal practices have severely endangered freshwater turtle populations, including softshell turtles Nilssonia spp. We investigated environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing the occupancy of three endangered softshell turtle – N. gangetica , N. hurum and N. nigricans – in the eastern lowlands of Nepal. We conducted 95 site surveys between March and September 2024, recording detection histories across four replicate visits. Using single‐season occupancy models, we assessed the effects of water depth, pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), habitat type (river, pond, wetland), connectivity, and a human disturbance index (HDI) on turtle occupancy while accounting for imperfect detection. Detection probability was significantly higher at night (0.48 ± 0.08) than during the day (0.22 ± 0.06), confirming nocturnal behavior and justifying time‐dependent detection in all models. Among 17 candidate occupancy models, three received strong support (ΔAIC ≤ 2), cumulatively accounting for 88% of AIC weight. Model‐averaged estimates revealed that occupancy was positively associated with water depth (β = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.33–4.42) and negatively associated with HDI (β = −1.66, 95% CI: −2.75 to −0.57). Occupancy increased with water depth across all HDI levels, with the strongest response at low disturbance sites, and declined sharply with increasing HDI, particularly in shallow waters. Potential habitats for these species in eastern Nepal are deteriorating due to intense human pressures such as electrocution, poisoning, overexploitation of aquatic resources, and habitat modification, which signifies the need for immediate and effective conservation actions.