Habitat and Anthropogenic Determinants of Chinese Pangolin () Burrow Occupancy in Udayapur, Eastern Nepal: Implications for Site-Specific Conservation.

Chinese pangolins are found from lowlands to mid-hills in Nepal and are increasingly vulnerable to extinction due to extensive illegal trade and habitat fragmentation, particularly outside the protected areas network. The information about their ecological preferences in human-dominated landscapes beyond protected areas is essential for effective habitat management and conservation. This study aimed to assess the density and characteristics of Chinese pangolin burrows, and analyze the key ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing their burrow occurrence in Katari municipality, Udayapur District, Eastern Nepal. We employed a total of 52 strip transects, each of 500 m long and 20 m wide, divided into two 250-m sections on either side of the main transect and spaced 200 m apart to examine the pangolin burrows. We recorded a total of 124 active burrows and 114 inactive burrows, with a density of 2.38 active burrows per hectare. A higher number of burrows (80.25%) were recorded in the forest habitat, suggesting a discrepancy in burrow distribution across the study area. The majority of the burrows were distributed at 601-800 m above sea level (33.61%), 35°-45° slope (53.78%), and 0%-25% canopy cover (52.94%). The Welch Two-Sample -test suggested that there was a significant difference in the burrow opening diameter between feeding and resting burrows. Among the 15 pre-determined ecological parameters measured during the study, a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) identified 9 ecological parameters as significant variables influencing the Chinese pangolin burrow occurrence in the study area. These were elevation, habitat type, canopy cover, livestock grazing, anthropogenic disturbance, presence or absence of fire, and nearest distance to water sources, roads, and settlements. Long-term habitat management plans and strategies are recommended, with an emphasis on minimizing anthropogenic disturbances both in forest and farmland areas, and proper preservation of nearby water sources.