PHARPHING TUNNEL

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A more than 200 m long, man-made tunnel of the power house at Pharphing or Pharping (note 1) contains not only perennial space and occasional water but also serves as a home (habitat) or day-roosting site of bats. ETYMOLOGY: The Gorkhali (Nepali) -ping- is a swing. SITUATION: At an unspecified location somewhere south of Kathmandu. CAVE LIFE: The tunnel served on 29th and 30th December 2009 as a day roost for bats (THAPA, S 2010.05.15: 29) and at least one adult male and an adult female Rhinolophus affinis Horsfield 1823 (Chiroptera: Microchiroptera: Rhinolophidae) enjoyed a term of cave roosting and was also found roosting (hibernating) in pair inside the tunnel, 200 m from the entrance, at Pharping Power house. The flight emergence was noted 18:38-21:40 (mistnetted) … Produces frequent chirping sound and restless during handling. All individuals were inundated by numerous ecto-parasites (THAPA, S 2010.05.15: 29-30).A more than 200 m long, man-made tunnel of the power house at Pharphing or Pharping (note 1) contains not only perennial space and occasional water but also serves as a home (habitat) or day-roosting site of bats. ETYMOLOGY: The Gorkhali (Nepali) -ping- is a swing. SITUATION: At an unspecified location somewhere south of Kathmandu. CAVE LIFE: The tunnel served on 29th and 30th December 2009 as a day roost for bats (THAPA, S 2010.05.15: 29) and at least one adult male and an adult female Rhinolophus affinis Horsfield 1823 (Chiroptera: Microchiroptera: Rhinolophidae) enjoyed a term of cave roosting and was also found roosting (hibernating) in pair inside the tunnel, 200 m from the entrance, at Pharping Power house. The flight emergence was noted 18:38-21:40 (mistnetted) … Produces frequent chirping sound and restless during handling. All individuals were inundated by numerous ecto-parasites (THAPA, S 2010.05.15: 29-30).