2.6 Subsistence prey: naur and livestock
Based on local knowledge and alleged dispersal barriers such as high
peaks, deep gorges and glaciers, we divided the study area into four
blocks (Fig.2) to survey naur and livestock within potential snow
leopard habitat in the KCA. Each block was selected as follows:
1. Gola block; comprising the western border of Walangchung Gola and
extending up to Tiptala in northern China, to the Nup Himalayan range in
the east.
2. Yagma block; comprising the Nup Himalayan range along with Khangla
along the northern border of China, to Nanggola in the east.
3. Khambachen block; extending from Nanggola to the Jhonu Himalayan
range in the east.
4. Ramjer block; extending from the Jhonu Himalayan range to Ratong La
and Khang La along the eastern border of India.
In spring of 2012, we performed direct counts of Naur from appropriate
vantage points (also known as a fixed-point count) within the four
blocks of the KCA. The total number of individuals in a group was
counted and classified by sex and age. To classify the sex and ages of
Naur, a Snow Leopard Monitoring Guideline (Thapa, 2007) was utilized
(adopted from Wegge, 1979). Observations were made with 8-24x binoculars
and 15-60x spotting scope early in the morning (06.00am -10.00am) and
afternoon (14.00pm-17.30pm) at Nepal Standard Time (NST) when Naur are
known to be most active. Naur densities were estimated by dividing the
total number of animals observed by the total area sampled within four
blocks. Sampled area was obtained by adding up areas of all surveyed
blocks. The area of each block was obtained by demarcating them on a GIS
platform (i.e., Google Earth Program) post survey by the team of
surveyors.
For domestic livestock information, opportunistic counting of livestock
numbers was made in the pasture and consultation with key informants
were used to verify the data obtained during the study.