Philippine E-Journals

Assessment of the effectiveness of human-snow leopard conflict mitigation measures in Ghunsa and Yangma Valley of Kangchenjunga conservation area, Nepal

Prabhakar Guragain | Dinesh Bhandari

 

Abstract:

Livestock predation appears to be the single most important cause that has brought Snow leopards into direct conflict with human populations in Kanchanjunga Conservation Area of Nepal. In an effort to attenuate human–wildlife conflict and promote conservation of charismatic mega fauna, compensation programs for wildlife damages have been implemented in many regions. Purposively, the study was carried out in Ghunsa and Yangma valley, in the month of November and December, 2009, which has severe Human-Snow Leopard conflict. Human-Snow leopard conflict was the most serious issue in the high mountains of Nepal’s Himalaya. Animal husbandry is one of the most important economic enterprises in Ghunsa and Yangma of KCA where serious conflict between the community and the wild predators occurs. Thus for the effectiveness of adopted mitigation measures there should be the provision of predator proof corrals during the night time and herders should be monitored for their guarding practice during the grazing and day time. A community based livestock Insurance program was initiated in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area in 2005 by WWF-Nepal in collaboration with locals to create communal effort for Snow Leopard Conservation. Similarly, the number of predator proof corrals should be increased on required sites to reduce depredation rate of livestock.