JOMSOM: A snow leopard attack has killed 21 sheep and Himalayan goats in Chumjung village of Lhomanthang Rural Municipality in Upper Mustang.
According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Office in Lhomanthang, the attack left 21 livestock dead and seven injured. The incident occurred on Saturday night when a snow leopard entered the barn of livestock farmer Ghyacho Gurung and killed 10 Himalayan goats and 11 sheep.
Chief of the ACAP Office in Lhomanthang, Umesh Paudel, said Gurung had been rearing a total of 315 Himalayan goats and sheep in the barn.
A joint team comprising representatives from ACAP, police from the District Police Office Mustang and livestock officials from the rural municipality visited the site on Sunday to assess the damage. A preliminary assessment estimates the loss at around Rs 455,000.
Snow leopard attacks have been reported repeatedly in Upper Mustang in recent years, reflecting increasing human–wildlife conflict in the region. During winter, snow leopards move closer to human settlements in search of prey due to limited grazing areas. As they follow prey animals near villages, livestock often become targets.
Officials say climate change has further complicated efforts to maintain coexistence between humans and snow leopards. As a result, some farmers in the district have begun abandoning livestock farming.
Following the latest incident, the ACAP Lhomanthang Office has installed three CCTV cameras at the site to monitor snow leopard activity. Cameras have also been installed across all five rural municipalities in the district to help identify potential habitats for the snow leopard census.
ACAP officials said affected farmers would receive compensation after an assessment under the Wildlife Damage Relief Guidelines.
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