Material and Methods
Study area
Geographically, Nepal is divided into three regions: Western (west to
83°E); Central (83°E to 86°30’E); and Eastern Nepal (east to 86°30’E)
(Banerji 1963; Stainton 1972). Our study area included seven districts
of Western Nepal: Kalikot, Mugu, Jumla, Jajarkot, Rolpa, Rukum Easr and
Rukum West, and Dolpa (Map 1) and three protected areas i.e. Rara
National Park, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, and Shey-Phoksundo National
Park in Western Nepal.