MUSTANG: A snow leopard attack in Marpha, Jomsom, left 16 sheep and 3 goats dead on Thursday night, according to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Jomsom.
The predator entered the livestock shed of local resident Santosh Pariyar, located near the Temperate Horticulture Development Centre in Gharapjhong-2, and killed the animals.
According to ACAP Jomsom chief Rajesh Gupta, Pariyar had 45 sheep and goats in the shed, of which 19 were killed in the attack. The initial loss has been estimated at over Rs 600,000.
Gupta said representatives from ACAP Jomsom and a team from the District Police Office are heading to the incident site for inspection and verification.
Authorities say human–snow leopard conflict has been increasing in recent years. During winter, reduced grass availability in grazing areas pushes prey species closer to settlements, drawing snow leopards toward villages in search of food. This often results in livestock losses for local herders.
Climate change has further intensified these challenges, conservationists say, making it harder to maintain coexistence between humans and snow leopards. As a result, some farmers in Mustang have already begun abandoning livestock rearing due to repeated losses.
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