Influence of Agricultural Expansion and Human Disturbance on the Encounter Rates of Nocturnal Mammals in Tropical Hill Forests in Bangladesh

Agricultural expansion has had a detrimental effect on tropical forests and the animal communities that depend them. Agroforestry systems, however, with their more complex tree plant communities, have been shown to be important habitats for range of globally threatened species, including nocturnal animals. Here, we present novel data encounter rates seven species mammals in relation agroforestry systems within four national parks associated plantations Bangladesh examine if were influenced by human population density, presence plantations, access as represented Human Influence Index anthropogenic disturbance. We walked 70.3 km transects only semi-natural forest, 26.9 forest gardens, 21.7 monocultures over 55 nights from 2017–2019. Of detected, all Satachari National Park, whereas six occurred Lawachara Rajkandi Forest Range, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Within these parks, three (Bengal slow loris, large Indian civet, particolored flying squirrel) frequently recorded areas disturbance, especially plantations. With declining cover Bangladesh, highlight here potential emerging species. encourage long-term studies lesser-studied taxa understand fully capacity order support conservation.