Global mammalian diversity is declining rapidly due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and weak enforcement of conservation measures, raising fundamental questions about species persistence in human-modified landscapes. Protected areas serve as critical refuges, yet many in South Asia are small, degraded, and embedded within heavily human-dominated settings. In Bangladesh, Inani National Park supports iconic mammals, including the Endangered Asian Elephant and the Western Hoolock Gibbon. Despite serving as a corridor, the refuge’s conservation efficacy under increasing pressure remains poorly understood. To assess drivers of persistence and inform spatial management, we conducted a year-long survey (November 2022–November 2023) combining systematic line transects and extensive camera trapping (4771 trap-days). We documented 23 wild mammal species, including three globally Endangered and four Vulnerable taxa. Habitat gradients strongly shaped persistence: shrublands supported the highest richness, peaking in the monsoon, whereas plantations and modified habitats were least rich and diverse. Occupancy modelling revealed sharp contrasts in site use: the Asian Elephant showed near-complete occupancy (ψ = 1.00), whereas elusive carnivores such as the clouded leopard were rarely detected (ψ = 0.24; p = 0.04). Our findings highlight INP’s role as a key refuge and corridor, but also threats from deforestation, encroachment, and livestock grazing. Conservation priorities include restoring degraded habitats with native vegetation, strengthening boundary protection in high-diversity zones, and implementing community-based measures to mitigate human-elephant conflict. Targeted, evidence-based interventions are essential to secure the long-term persistence of Bangladesh’s priority mammal community.

This study presents the first assessment of seed biology in Centaurea pangaea, a narrow endemic species of Mt Pangeon (Greece). Seed production was quantified at both the capitulum and plant levels, and their morphometrics were measured. The seeds were categorized into naturally occurring color classes (white, beige, brown, and black), and their embryo viability was assessed. Germination was tested under cold stratification, gibberellic acid, kinetin, and control conditions. Nonparametric comparisons showed significant differences among classes, largely driven by the white class, as beige, brown, and black overlapped morphometrically. White seeds formed a distinct small-size class and were mostly non-functional, with only a minor fertilized fraction. Among colored seeds, fertilization rates were high (beige ≈58%, brown ≈78%, black ≈80%), but their viability was significantly lower (beige ≈35%, brown ≈50%, black ≈51%). Germination responses revealed a clear dormancy gradient indexed by color: beige seeds benefited from cold stratification, whereas both brown and black seeds behaved as essentially non-dormant, germinating well without pre-treatments. Therefore, color serves as a practical cue for dormancy status. The findings clarify seed biology in a narrowly distributed Mediterranean taxon and support future conservation actions.