Factors Influencing the distribution of spotted deer (Axis axis) in isolated forest patches of Hetauda, Central Nepal

Habitat fragmentation and rapid urban expansion are increasingly affecting wildlife populations in peri-urban landscapes. This study investigated the distribution pattern and habitat determinants of chital (Axis axis) in two isolated forest patches Forestry Complex Forest and Brindaban Forest in Hetauda, central Nepal. A systematic grid-based sampling design was employed, and species occurrence was recorded through indirect pellet group surveys. Environmental variables including vegetation structure (grass and canopy cover), elevation, and distances to water sources and human settlements were measured. Spatial distribution was mapped using GIS, and habitat associations were analyzed using a Poisson Generalized Linear Model (GLM), with model selection based on Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). Results showed that chital distribution was highly non-random and strongly concentrated in grassland and secondary Shorea robusta forests. The GLM indicated that proximity to water sources and higher grass cover significantly increased chital occurrence, while greater distance from settlements also positively influenced distribution, reflecting avoidance of human disturbance. Canopy cover showed a significant negative effect, ‘whereas elevation was not a significant predictor. Human activity was strongly negatively correlated with species sign abundance, further highlighting disturbance sensitivity. Overall, the findings suggest that fine scale habitat characteristics and resource availability play a more critical role than topographic factors in shaping chital distribution in fragmented urban forest ecosystems. Conservation efforts should prioritize maintaining grass-dominated understories, protecting water resources, and reducing anthropogenic pressure to support the long-term persistence of A. axis in peri-urban landscapes.