Fish are members of paraphyletic group of an organism that consist of all gills bearing aquatic carniates which lacks limbs with digits. Fish are considered as an important natural food resource, worldwide specially that of animal protein. Fishes are considered auspicious and symbolize as sign of fertility, power and prosperity in Nepal. There are about 185 fish species in Nepal belonging to 79 genera, 31 families and 11 orders (Shrestha. J.2001). 232 species of Fishes are found in Nepal (Shrestha T.K 2008). Among them 217 species are Indigenous and 15 species are exotic. The rivers of Nepal are really rich in fish fauna which need to be explored scientifically (shrestha. J.N.2001). My study will deals with fish species present in kankai river of Jhapa district, which is largest and holiest river of jhapa district originated from george of mountains, flowing southward to low land of east terain. My research objective is to study the diversity of fish species in kankai River. To study the fish resources in kankai River, the condition of water will analyze with the help of water analysis kit. The fish will be collected with the help of local fishermen. The collected fish will be analyze in Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus Lab.

1. FISH DIVERSITY IN KANKAI RIVER OF JHAPA
DISTRICT,EASTERN NEPAL
Umesh Acharya
Roll no: 477
Batch: 2071-2075
Department of zoology
Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus
Kathmandu, Nepal
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Geeta Sharma
Acharya
Co-supervisor: Om H. Shrestha (Asst.

2. INTRODUCTION
 Nepal is rich in natural water resources, contains
more than 6000 river and streams(Gubhaju, 2011).
 Fish occupy almost all major aquatic habitats of
Nepal.
 Extreme varied topography of Nepal, generates a
wide variety of aquatic habitats, yields a rich diversity
of fishes (Rajbanshi 2005).
 The distribution and ecology of fishes are remains to
study in many Asian countries (Dudgeon 1999).

3.  Shrestha,J.(2001) recorded 182 indigenous
fish species from Nepal. Rajbanshi (2005)
prepared a checklist from the published
literature and reported 187 species,
Shrestha,T.K.(2008) recorded 217
indegenous fish species from Nepal.
 The aquatic lives of the precious water
resources of the nation are mostly
threatened when compared with other
ecosystems
(Rai,2008).

4.  High diversity fishes in the rivers of Nepal calls
for concerted efforts to preserve them for
posterity.
 The native fish decline is associated with poor
knowledge, priority, investment; and water
quantity and quality (Shrestha, 2011; Gurung &
Baidya,2012).
 The knowledge on fish taxonomy and
identification is highly desirable to state
unrecorded new native fishes before they might
peril and become extinct.

5. OBJECTIVE
 To explore the diversity of fish fauna of
Kankai River of Jhapa district of eastern
Nepal.

6. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
 The rivers of Nepal are really rich in fish fauna which
need to be explored scientifically and conserved
them (J.N Shrestha, 2016).
 The exploitation of Nepalese native fishes is
increasing enormously.
 Some of the important threats of Nepalese native
fishes are; over fishing, pollution, alteration of natural
habitats and poor understanding of fish diversity and
ecology.
 Therefore, my research significance is to obtain
knowledge about fish diversity of kankai River to
overcome knowledge gaps, It will contribute to
biodiversity profile of fish diversity of Nepal

7. STUDY AREA
Map showing Kankai River
Source: Google Earth

8. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials required
 Formalin(8%
and 40%)
 Plastic jars
 Cast Net
 Fishing rods
 Portable water
analysis kit
Photo world.comCast
net
Fishing rods
Portable water analysis
Clipatrix.com

9. METHODS
 Fish sampling sites (3-5 based on abundance
of fishes in particular area) in the Kankai River
will be selected.
 Portable water analysis kit will be used to
analyze water temperature, dissolve oxygen,
pH, CO2, and water velocity of the sampling
sites.
 Fishes from each fishing site will be collected
with the help of local fishermen by cast net and
local tools for 9 months.

10.  The collected fishes,
will be preserved in
formalin(8%to 40%)
making their head
upside down so
as to protect the
caudal fin.
 Fish will be analyzed in the lab of Trichandra-
Multiple Campus, Department of zoology.
 They will be identified using standard method of
K.C.Jayaram (1999) and Shrestha (2001, 2008).
Fishes preserving in formalin

11. EXPECTED OUTCOMES
 The number of fish species found in Kankai
River of Jhapa district will be identified. It will
contribute to the biodiversity profile of fish
diversity of Nepal.

12. TIME FRAME OF THE STUDY
SN Heading
s
sep oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr may
1 Data
collection
2 Lab work
3 Submission

13. REFERENCES
 Gurung, T.B. and Baidhya, A.P. 2012. Ex-situ
breeding performance using pond reared
broods of endangered Himalayan Mahseer (Tor
putitora) in Nepal, ICIMOD working paper, 6-8.
 Shrestha, J. and Sharma, C.M.2001. Fish
diversity and fishery of the Tinau River, western
Nepal. Ecological society, 78-83.
 Shrestha, T.K. 2008. A study of fishes of the
Himalayan waters. Himalayan Ecosphere, 1-
388.

14.  Shrestha, J.N.2016. Fish diversity of Triyuga
River, Udayapur district of Nepal. Our nature,
124-134.
 Shah, P. 2016 Study of Fresh water fish
diversity of koshi River of Nepal. International
Journal of fauna and biological studies, 78-
81.
 Shrestha, J., Singh, D.M. and Saund, T.B.
2009. Fish diversity of Tamor River and its
Tributaries of Eastern Himalayan Region of
Nepal. Nepal journal of Science and
Technology, 219-223.