Deer for the Tiger: managing subtropical monsoon grasslands for preserving a flagship species

Summary

The subtropical monsoon grasslands of Asia also known as 'Terai-Duar Savanna and Grasslands', once extending from Myanmar in the East into Pakistan in the West, are now largely confined to some isolated protected areas in Nepal and India. The reduction in the spatial extent of these Terai-Duar grasslands has led to a severe decline in the populations and ranges of many species that are now becoming vulnerable to extinction. In my PhD research, I report on the status of forage quality in Nepal’s existing subtropical monsoon grassland, and I explore mechanisms for improving subtropical monsoon grassland management through multi-year experiment in the core area of Bardia National Park of Nepal. The practical applications of these findings extend to the management of highly productive subtropical monsoon grasslands within the protected areas of Asian countries which serve as critical habitats for tigers and their prey.