The hispid hare, Caprolagus hispidus, is an endangered elusive mammal that dwells in the tall grassland of the Himalayan foothills across Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The species has faced serious threats from anthropogenic activity and seasonal flooding in the various protected areas, leading to population decline. Most work on the species has been conducted in the grasslands of Shuklaphanta National Park, but only one study has been conducted in Bardia National Park over the past decade. Here, we aim to evaluate current distribution pattern of the hispid hare in the Babai Valley of Bardia National Park, identify the environmental factors that influenced distribution, and assess existing threats to the species. We conducted a field survey in December 2020 before grassland burn and May-June 2021, after a grassland burn. A total of 428 transects (50 m * 2 m) in a 1 km x 1 km grid were conducted across 1048.55 hectares of grassland in the valley. Hispid hare pellets were recorded in the grassland of Kalinara, Guthi, Sano Shree Phanta, Chitaale Phanta, Ratomate, Rhino Release Site (Babai), and Mulghat (Chepang) in Bardia National Park. The distribution pattern of the pellets was found to be clumped in the Babai Valley. We recorded higher pellet density post-grassland burn than the pre-burn, which indicated higher population density in summer in comparison to winter. The best-fit model suggested that grass density, grassland burning, and annual precipitation have influenced the distribution of hispid hare. Results suggest the species prefers the riverbank in winter but short grassland in summer, while the forest and edge between the grassland and forest were avoided. The grassland patches in Babai (preferred hispid hare habitat) comprised 14 grass species in Babai dominated by Imperata cylindrica, Schharum spontaneum, and Cynodon doctylon. Seasonal grassland burn, summer flood, invasive species, vegetation succession, and predators were major threats in the field. Our findings can help park officials in the management and restoration of degraded grassland of the park and guide the developing management and species action plan. We recommend conservation efforts focus on protecting and managing grasslands that provide suitable habitat for the hispid hare.

Data data were collected in the pre and post-grassland burning in the park. All the data were collected in transects of the grid-based survey. 

All these data were processed in Excel, and statistical analyses were performed in logistic regression in R programming.