Fish species in Shuklaphanta reserve up twofold: Study

By Abinash Chaudhary,Dhangadhi, Jan. 28: Altogether 53 species of fish have been added to Shuklaphanta National Park (SNP) in Sudurpaschim Province. The number of species has reached 88 now in the park, which is also called Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. A study conducted by the park in 2020 has shown that fish species have increased almost by twofold from previous study, which confirmed that there were 35 species of fish there. 

The study was conducted by a team including Lakshman Paudyal, the then chief conservation officer of Shuklaphanta National Park (currently working in Shivpuri Nagarjuna National Park, Kathmandu), Dr. Ganesh Bahadur Thapa, head of Natural Science Museum and a team working in Zoology Department of Amrit Science Campus including Bishal Poudyal.

A joint article related to the study conducted by all three researchers has been published in ‘Research Gate’.

One of the researchers Lakshman Paudyal said that they published an article after studying every fish species found in lakes, rivers, and lakes within the SNP. “We have caught most of the possible species and studied them. We have added species after reviewing some old literature as well,” he added.

Suyatra Ghimire, Yama Bahadur Rawat, Dharmajit Saund, Devraj Joshi, Sunil Dangaura and Rabindra Chaudhary assisted in the study of fish species. Similarly, two fishermen, Umesh Sunaha and Prakash Rana helped in finding and catching fish for the study.

The ‘Golden Mahashir’ fish, which is disappearing in the Mahakali River, has also been found in the Shuklaphanta reservoir. A detailed study of fish has been done only after almost two decades in the area. Earlier, 21 species of fish were found in the Shuklaphanta area before the formation of the reserve. Tej Kumar Shrestha led the study at the time and found 35 species of fish in the Reserve.

Mahakali River, Chaudhar, Bahuni, Sally, Radha River, Rani Lake, Sikari, Tara Lake, Kalikich, Lami, Solgaudi Lake and various small waterfalls are the main habitats of Ghol fish (A black-spotted croaker fish) and aquatic animals in the Reserve area. Fish species were studied in these rivers and lakes.