Vegetation shifts in the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), in which wetlands are transitioning to grasslands and grasslands are transitioning to forests with invasive species, are threatening tiger habitat, and these transitions may be exacerbated by future climate change. If habitat is degrading due to climate change, prey base will change, and tigers may be forced to move to new habitat. This project will assess how climate change is impacting tiger habitat and movement, including habitat selection, colonization, and mobility. Our research will also include an assessment on the public perception of tiger conservation and the potential for tiger breeding in buffer zones and corridor area in TAL. This PhD project will be executed through strategic collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) and Division Forest offices, buffer zones and corridors, and local communities.
