New Record of Civets at Bharatpur, Chitwan and a Review of the Species Diversity in Nepal

Civets are alluring nocturnal carnivores having variant external features with different coat colors, stripes and spots, carpal and metatarsal pads, closed or open peri-anal scent glands in both sexes which have great taxonomic value and make these animals acclimatize in a wide range of geographical land-scapes from hilly areas to patchy gardens and thin forests of the low land (Terai) located in or near the human settlement areas. The range of Head Body Length (HBL) and Tail Length (TL) in Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp. distinguishes civets from felids. The study of civets was carried out by direct observation and videos and/or photographs were taken in the sighted places with the record of geological coordinates as evidence. For the record of civets, four wards (i.e. 7, 10, 11 and 12) were selected from Bharatpur Metropolitan City by lottery methods from the purposively selected 15 wards out of 29. These selected wards were visited randomly once or upon call in a month riding on a motorbike at the speed of 10 to 20 kilometer per hour in average speed and was crossed 2400 kilometers during four years beginning from January, 2016 to December, 2019. As a result, 11 civets of three Species, six Subspecies and two genera (i.e. Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp.) were recorded. Among these animals, four subspecies were from Paradoxurinae and two were from Viverrinae subfamilies. Likewise, Paradoxurus jerdoni caniscus were reported, 9.09% (n = 1); Paradoxurus hermaphroditus clining in an alarming rate due to the threats of vehicle and electric accidents, snaring and random killing by the people.


Introduction
Civets are small, nocturnal and charismatic carnivore mammals having civet musks or peri-anal scent glands and belonging to the Order Carnivora, Family Viverridae and subfamilies Paradoxurinae (e.g. Paradoxurus spp.) and Viverrinae (e.g. Viverricula spp.) [1] [2] [3] The Family Viverridae comprises seven subfamilies (i.e. Viverrinae, Paradoxurinae, Hemigalinae, Fossinae, Galidinae, Herpestinae and Cryptoproctinae) with 36 genera and 70 species [3] enlisted from southwestern Europe, Southern Asia (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos) [4] [5] [6], the East Indies, Africa and Madagascar [3]. Besides, scanty studies on civets in the world, species diversity, distribution patterns, ecological behaviors and population status in ex-situ and in-situ habitats are yet to substantiate in Nepal through validated and ample researches. The study on the distribution of civets in the globe has accomplished in several countries which may not suffice to generalize the habitat preference of these listless carnivores. In contrary, several natural and environmental entities can influence habitat selection and hence Nepal is a virgin area for the specific study of civets to prioritize biodiversity conservation.
The vegetation types have a strong influence on the living of civets [7] [8] although these animals have learned to live near or in human habitats. Paradoxurus spp. prefers to live close to human dwellings of rural and urban areas where there are fruit bearing trees to get foods [5] [9] [10], bushy and open places to hide and roofs of quiet and abandoned houses to rest on safely. However, Viverricula indica prefers to live in the forest with tall grasses and shrubs as well as paddy fields [11]. Generally, civets feed on flowers, nectars and fruits like nuts, berry, coconuts, papaya, banana, litchi and mangoes, etc., among plant products and small animals like frogs, lizards, rodents and eggs or babies of birds as well as the human fetus as anomalous feeding behaviors [12]. Such recurrently living of civets in and around human occupancy can develop human-civets conflict in some residential areas causing harm to poultry and pets. The great risk for civets is also associated with vehicle accidents in Nepal due to fearless lashing locomotion in search of foods at dawn and dusk.
The civets have great importance in prospect to human health harboring different parasites, bacteria and viruses [13] [14] [15] [16] and as an ecological regulator. The civets are also used for materials of animal products like natural scents, skins, fur and bones, etc. The secretion of peri-anal glands called civet musk is used as the basic gradients in valuable natural perfumes for the pleasant odor. The civet musk collection and export are the national income source in Ethiopia [17] and yet, Nepal has no such practices despite illegal exports of skins and bones by poachers. The indiscriminate killing of civets can lead to a dramatic decline in population to the verge of extinction. Therefore, to unveil the urgency of conservation strategies, the current distribution, population status and species diversity is crucial to report through the research works.

Review of Civet Species in Nepal
The extensive study on mammals of South Asian countries began in nineteenth century nevertheless very little works have been completed in Nepal. The Species and Subspecies diversities of civets reported from protected (i.e. National Parks, Conservation Areas) and non-protected areas (i.e. human settlement areas, community forests) of Nepal, are reported differently in diverse journals [12] [ These Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp. were reported with the help of anecdotes prepared from the skins kept in museum and the skins abducted from the poachers although the distribution can be just anticipated. In addition to this, the premier study accomplished by [12]

Materials
The normal camera-Nikon COOLPIX S6400 of 16 Megapixel and 12X zoom was used to take photographs and/or videos of the Civets. The Observation Data Sheets were used to note time and date of records. The pen, pencil, erasers and measuring tape were also used to keep records and to measure Head Body Length (HBL) and Tail Length (TL).

Collection of Data
All the data were collected by direct observation of live or dead civets taking whether the dead animals were civets. Dead civets were photographed from all possible dimensions to ease identification. However, the body parts of all dead civets were not measured to escape from foul smell and to prevent viral or parasitic infections, except P. hermaphroditus minor and P. jerdoni caniscus which were measured during taxidermy in the laboratories. In spite of these works, few shots of civet photographs were missed in low light of the evening due to use of normal camera (Nikon COOLPIX S6400, 16 megapixels and 12X wide zoom).
The civets missed in photographs were not included in the results in absence of evidences.

Analysis of Data
The collected data were tabulated (Tables 1-3) and were analyzed using MS-Excel.   was managed manually as well as using free version "Mendeley" software. In confirming Species and Subspecies of the civets, the distinguishing characteristics were thoroughly examined and verified.

Identification and Classification
The

Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus hermaphroditus)
The common palm civets differ from Small Indian Civets having no patterns in the neck and tail. The neck hairs are long and shaggy, directing backwards. The body color varies from creamy white to brownish black or jet-black markings. The dark or black spots coalesce into three dorsal stripes on both sides and continues up to the base of the tail. The stripes are visible in close inspection and

Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus minor)
Presence of definite dorsal stripes and lateral spots on the coat, contour hairs long and shaggy, frequently concealed by the black hair tips, the neck hairs directed backwards, black vibrissae in the face, closely resembling to pallassi in contour and pattern but skull and teeth smaller with less distinct white areas on the mask, muzzle patches absent, brow band typically obliterated by black, and smaller than laotum in size with narrow muzzle, less robust body, ground color more brighter and ochreos, mask dominantly black instead of white. HBL is 447 to 503 mm and TL is 432 to 508 mm with body weight 4.5 kg (Figure 2) [3].

Little Civets or Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica baptistae)
The Small Indian Civets are the mammals of carnivore having buff to grey body colors with small dark spots on the fore quarter and larger spots tending to run to posterior side, stripes all over the flanks associated with 3 to 5 dark dorsal lines. The tail is black and white ringed with 6 to 10 dark bands with a pale tip. The animals are smaller in size and lack dorsal crest of long hairs that differs from Malabar Civets and have less developed scent glands. The ears are small, round and closely set on the top of head similar to cats while legs are dark and longer. The body is elongated in low-slung unlike cats and the muzzle is short and pointed with white patches on cheeks and indistinct white spots between the eyes. The throat is creamy white with two dark cross bands with a bold dark spot on the anterior band which is located at the beginning of the neck connecting each other dorso-laterally with dark cross band located at the end of neck. Two thin and incomplete dark bands also begin from dorso-lateral dark lines that begin from the postero-lateral sides of each ear. The HBL ranges from 450 to 630 mm, TL 250 to 430 mm with body weight 2 to 4 kg (Figure 3) [3] [24].

Little Civet or Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica mayori)
The Small Indian Civets are the mammals of carnivore having buff to grey body colors with small dark spots on the fore quarter and larger spots tending to run to posterior side as stripes all over the flanks associated with 3 to 5 dark dorsal lines. The tail is black and white ringed with 6 to 10 dark bands with a pale tip. The animals are smaller in size and lack dorsal crest of long hairs that differs from Malabar Civets and have less developed scent glands. The ears are small, round and closely set on the top of head similar to cats while legs are dark and longer. The body is elongated in low-slung unlike cats and the muzzle is short and pointed with white patches on cheeks and indistinct white spots between the eyes. The throat is creamy white with two dark cross bands with a bold dark spot on the anterior band which is located at the beginning of the neck connecting each other dorso-laterally with dark cross band located at the end of neck. Two thin and incomplete dark bands also begin from dorso-lateral dark lines that begin from the postero-lateral sides of each ear. The HBL ranges from 450 to 630 mm and TL 250 to 430 mm with body weight 2 to 4 kg ( Figure 3) [3].

Recorded Behaviors
The civets were found aggressive for searching foods like Litchi, Mangoes, Papaya, Coconut, Berries etc., and easy pet animals such as poultry and poppies that made these animals unable to detect risk at hunger. The restless behaviors lead to tragic cases like electric shocks, vehicle accidents and also were killed by people while trying to steal poultry and injured pet dogs. The P. hermaphroditus minor which was killed in electric shock had produced offensive odor from scent glands that was persistent for three weeks in the AESS Biology Lab where taxidermy was made.
The civets were found walking comfortably on small branches of trees, in the electric wires and in the outlet pipes of the tin roofs. These animals were found living carelessly at day time in the nest of birds after dine of eggs and under the tin roofs that can invite threats and became gradually active with frequent yawning while the darkness was increasing. Two babies were observed sleeping carelessly from 12 Noon and became fully active at 7 PM and one more baby was appeared at 7:15 PM with them. These babies and the mother became invisible making noise in tin roofs as the darkness was increased (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

Discussion
Recording of the civets in the wild is hard slog due to nocturnal behavior of these timid animals and yet two genera, three Species and six Subspecies of the Chitwan due to availability of fruit bearing plants and organic kitchen garbage.
Like non-matching predicted behaviors of wildlife, some aberrant behaviors of civets were observed during field works. The animals were careless from the risk at day time, especially babies. The restless behaviors at dawn and dusk lead to tragic cases like electric shocks, vehicle accidents, and were killed by people while making noise on/under the tin roofs and trying to dine poultry and injure pets as well (Figure 2) [34].
The Lesser Oriental Civet (Viverricula indica mayori); Brown Palm Civet, Paradoxurus jerdoni caniscus and Common Palm Civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus minor; appears to be the first record from central and low lands (Terai) of Nepal. Although some species like Paradoxurus hermaphroditus hermaphroditus and Paradoxurus hermaphroditus pallasii were reported from the Terai and Central and Eastern hilly regions [3] [12] [33]. The Viverricula indica baptistae was described to exist in erratic place of hills in Nepal [32] and there were cynical descriptions about distribution and records in absence of photographic evidences. Still there are some published books from Nepal listing up to Species level of Common Palm Civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and Little Indian Civets (Viverricula indica) [23] [25] [26] which are limited in description to the Species and proper recorded time, date and localities are missing, although South-east Asia contributes in the largest scale to publish papers regarding small mammals including civets [13].
The civets are also the reservoirs of different parasites, bacteria and Viruses [36] [37] [38] [39] which can spread epidemics of bacterial, viral and zoonotic diseases. The similar case was experienced by the researcher as there was symptoms of Covid-19 such as mild fever, heavy head, taste loss, smell loss, muscle pain and throat sore within third and fifth days of taxidermy of both Paradoxurus jerdoni caniscus and Paradoxurus hermaphroditus minor in the Zoology Laboratory of Birendra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University and AESS at Bharatpur, Chitwan, respectively. In contrary to it, the disease was impossible to confirm at that time in Nepal due to lack of sophisticated laboratory facilities ( Figure 3).

Conclusion
The primarily reported species diversity of civets in the low land (Terai) and sporadic records from the hilly regions of Nepal, from thin gardens of fruiting trees and on/under the tin roofs of human houses in the city areas, have created human-civet conflicts as the civets cause potential harm to poultry, pets, etc., and acts as significant reservoir hosts for parasites, bacteria and viruses like Covid-19 Virus as well. The increased threats of vehicle accidents, snaring and random killing of civets by the people have also created alarming situations in the conservation of fascinating animals (civets) in spite of the Data Deficient (DD) population status throughout the country.

Recommendations
The emphasis should be given in the listing of civet Species throughout the country to recognize the population status that helps to develop conservation strategies to mitigate alarming threats of the civets and to protect human health from possible zoonoses in the future. Therefore, plantation of fruit bearing plants in the urban areas is highly recommended in addition to developing awareness in conservation to the community level.