# Avoidance of Water Bodies by Gaur at Parsa National Park (PNP): Real Ecology of the Species or Methodological Shortfalls?

## TL;DR

This paper critiques a 2025 study on Gaur ecology in Nepal, pointing out significant methodological and analytical flaws that could impact conservation efforts.

## Contribution

The paper highlights critical scientific limitations in a prior study on Gaur ecology, emphasizing the need for rigorous methodology in conservation research.

## Key findings

- The 2025 study failed to randomize sampling and used convenience sampling for camera trap placement.
- The study did not account for detection probability in its occupancy model.
- Inclusion of credible intervals revealed questionable responses of Gaur to environmental variables.

## Abstract

Gaur (
Bos gaurus
) is one of the largest and threatened ungulates in Nepal with limited ecological researches. To address the gap, Bhattarai et al. have published the article in 2025. However, the paper has many scientific limitations that could mislead the investment made in conservation of species. Their limitations include the issues related to referring gaur as preferred prey despite existing literature referring them as the prey species often avoided by tiger, failure to randomize the sampling necessary to acquire the answer to their research questions and selection of site for placement of camera traps using convenience sampling. Furthermore, despite using the occupancy model, they have failed to account detection probability. Issues of model checking and consideration of credible interval in the response curve have been ignored. When credible interval is included, the response of the species to the given variables becomes questionable. Details of the comments have been explained in the full text.

In 2025, an article by Bhattarai et al. ignored the basic ecology of Gaur. There are methodological and analytical shortcomings, which are not mentioned in the journal. The adequacy of the model has not been tested. There are issues with interpretation of data.