Increased snow leopards leading to conflict

JAJARKOT: Every year sheep and mountain goats reared by the farmers here are falling prey to snow leopards.

Between 2017 to 2022, snow leopards from the She-Foksundo National Park in Upper Dolpa have reportedly attacked and killed more than 2,000 sheep and goats grown by the locals, according to the statistics of the park.

Animal husbandry is the main source of income in Upper Dolpa, which is covered with snow half the time of the year.

Chandrajung Hamal, research and field program officer of WWF Nepal, said that the local residents are working hard to become financially prosperous by rearing between 50 to 500 sheep and goats per household.

Officer Hamal said that 42 percent of the snow leopard’s natural diet is domesticated animals. Due to village located inside the park, animals here are often preyed upon by snow leopards.

Hamal informed that since old snow leopards are unable to hunt wild animals, they hunt domestic animals for survival. The park authorities are working together with the local residents to protect the livestock.

For the compensation of the killed cattle, She-Foksundo National Park has been providing relief according to the Wildlife Damage Relief Assistance Guidelines, 2069 (Third Amendment 2075).

Tenzing Glazen Lama, a local farmer, said use of improved cages has helped in reducing the risk from wild animals.

Animal insurance is another way farmers are covering for their losses.

Officer Hamal said that if the animal insurance program run by the community can be integrated with the Nepal Government’s Wildlife Damage Relief Support Guidelines, 2069, the families affected by wild animals will be relieved.

It has been found that the number of snow leopards has increased in She-Foksundo National Park.

According to a survey conducted using advanced technology in 2009, there were around 110 to 130 snow leopards. The results of the survey conducted in 2019 have not been made public.

Although the data of the survey is not made public, it is estimated that the number may have increased by at least 70.