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This paper investigates the possible relationship between solar activity and monthly rainfall in Pokhara and Kathmandu cities in Nepal from the year 1968 to 2023. The study uses Cross Correlation Analysis (CCA) and wavelet analysis, the Cross-Wavelet Transform (XWT) and Wavelet Transform Coherence (WTC), to analyze the time series data. The CCA shows a strong positive correlation between the solar cycle and rainfall trend, with correlation coefficients of 0.77 and 0.76 and time lags of 18 months and 14 months at Pokhara and Kathmandu, respectively. The p-values, calculated to be < 0.0001 through the t-test, indicate that the observed correlations are statistically significant. The XWT results show a long-term ∼ 11-year common periodicity in solar cycle and rainfall. The WTC analysis confirms the local correlation between these two time series in time–frequency domain at a common periodicity. The results indicate that the monthly rainfall pattern in Nepal is closely related to the solar cycle pattern. Thus, solar activity likely plays a role in influencing rainfall trends in Nepal. This study shows that solar-climate interaction on a regional scale is complex and emphasizes the importance of understanding these relationships for predicting and managing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, biodiversity is declining due to habitat loss and degradation, over‐exploitation, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and infrastructure development. These threats affect the populations of large waterbird species, such as Sarus crane (Grus antigone), which inhabits agricultural–wetland ecosystems. Despite the burgeoning built‐up areas and diminishing agricultural and wetland spaces, scant research investigates the impact of these changing land uses on the globally vulnerable Sarus crane in Nepal. During the pre‐breeding season from April to June 2023, our comprehensive study meticulously scrutinized Sarus crane population status and factors associated with the occurrences and conservation challenges across 10 specific districts of Nepal. Our study documented a total of 690 individuals of Sarus cranes in five districts. The Lumbini Province has 685 individuals, occupying 11 roosting sites. Conversely, the remaining five districts have no Sarus cranes presence during this period. Wetland, farmland and built‐up areas exhibited a significantly positive influence on Sarus crane occurrences in the Lumbini Province. Additionally, we recorded 47 fatalities of Sarus cranes over the past 13 years in the Lumbini Province due to electrocution and collisions. Our study provides a baseline dataset crucial for developing conservation policies, particularly during the dry season when Sarus crane populations tend to congregate in larger flocks. The adaptation of the Sarus crane to urbanized landscapes exposes them to several anthropogenic threats in the coming days. Therefore, protecting wetlands and farmland areas and adopting transboundary conservation approaches are imperative for the long‐term conservation of the Sarus crane and its habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding factors associated with coexistence of human and wildlife in human‐dominated landscapes is crucial for effective species conservation. Among the wildlife species, the sloth bears Melursus ursinus are found both inside and outside the protected areas of Nepal, and with increasing cases of human and bear conflicts in both areas. This highlights the necessity for a comprehensive understanding of anthropogenic and ecological factors that affect the occurrence of sloth bear. The understanding of these factors is important for its coexistence and conservation in human‐dominated areas through establishing management and conservation action plan. We studied the sloth bear's occupancy and their coexistence in human‐dominated environments with other large predators in the Parsa–Koshi Complex of Nepal using camera traps from December 2022 to March 2023. We identified the occupancy and detection probability of the sloth bear as 0.12 and 0.31, respectively. Our analysis reveals a positive relationship between sloth bear occurrence and the presence of large predators (βpredators = 3.104 ± 0.968), such as tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (Panthera pardus), as well as the number of humans detected (βhuman = 1.428 ± 1.216) and canopy cover percentage (βcc = 1.002 ± 0.737). However, the number of livestock detected shows a negative interaction with the occurrence of sloth bears (βlivestock = −2.240 ± 1.467). There was insignificant interaction between sloth bear occupancy and distance to human settlements, roads, and water bodies. These findings underscore the complex dynamics between sloth bears, humans, large predators, and livestock in human‐dominated landscapes. To ensure the long‐term survival of sloth bear populations and promote species conservation, comprehensive conservation strategies that account for both ecological and socio‐economic factors are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]