Assessing prey selection of snow leopard in Mt. Kangchenjunga,
Nepal
Kamal Thapa, 1Tribhuvan University- Institute of
Forestry, Kritipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Natalie Schmitt, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical
Research, McMaster University, Canada
Narendra M. B. Pradhan, International Union for the Conservation
of Nature (IUCN), Kathmandu, Nepal
Hem Raj Acharya, Department of National Parks and Wildlife
Conservation, Babar Mahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Santosh Rayamajhi, Tribhuvan University- Institute of Forestry,
Kritipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
1Corresponding author’s name: Kamal Thapa, Tribhuvan
University- Institute of Forestry, Kritipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. Telephone
(Mobile): 977 9840851551.
Email:dreamerhimalaya@gmail.com
Abstract In spring of 2012, we studied the feeding habits of
snow leopard using a comprehensive approach that combines fecal genetic
sampling, macro and microscopic analysis of snow leopard diets and
direct observation of Naur and livestock in Kangchenjunga Conservation
Area of east Nepal. Out of collected 88 putative snow leopard scat
samples from 140 transects (290 km) in 27 (4*4 km2)
sampling grid cells, 83% were confirmed to be from snow leopard. The
genetic analysis accounted for 19 individual snow leopards (10 male and
9 female) with a mean population size estimate of 24 (95% CI: 19- 29),
and an average density of 3.9 snow leopards/100 km2within 609 km2. Total available prey biomass of Naur
and Yak was estimated at 355,236 kg (505 kg yak/km2and 78 kg Naur/km2). From the available prey biomass,
we estimated snow leopards consumed 7% annually which was comprised of
wild prey (49%), domestic livestock (45%), and 6% unidentified items.
The estimated 47,736 kg Naur biomass gives a snow leopard-Naur ratio of
1: 59 on a weight basis. The proportion of young Naur was estimated at
17%, with an almost double predation rate at 28%. Predators such as
common leopard and wolf share the same habitat and might compete with
snow leopard for prey which will likely influence future predator-prey
associations in KCA. Along with livestock insurance scheme improvement,
there needs to be a focus on improved livestock guarding as well as
engaging and educating local people to be citizen scientists on the
importance of snow leopard conservation, involving them in long-term
monitoring programs and promotion of ecotourism.
KEY WORDS common leopard, fecal, genetic analysis, naur, wolf,
yak
INTRODUCTION
Sustainable snow leopard conservation must necessarily involve the local
people; however, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for humans
and snow leopards to coexist peacefully in an increasingly human altered
ecosystem (Ale et al., 2007; Jackson, 2015). Despite their abundant wild
prey, snow leopard often kill livestock (Khanal et al., 2020; Jackson,
2015) as they are highly detectable and easy to capture (Lovari &
Mishra, 2016), but are often the primary livelihood source for many
agropastoral communities. As a result, retaliatory killing of snow
leopard by herders are common (Lovari & Mishra, 2016; Jackson & Lama,
2016; Ale et al., 2010) and practical solutions are becoming more
challenging (GoN, 2012; Wegge et al., 2012; Ale et al., 2014). A key
contributing factor to these continuing threats may be the difficulty in
implementing conservation strategies (Ale et al., 2016) because of the
lack of reliable information, both scientific and socio-economic
(Jackson & Lama, 2016). In Nepal or elsewhere, snow leopard is one of
the poorly understood threatened species especially with respect to
their distribution, home range, abundance, and feeding behavior (Wegge
et al., 2012; Jackson et al., 2002). This is largely because snow
leopard is sparsely distributed with low density in remote, highly
rugged terrain (KCA, 2019) which can be logistically challenging and
places constraints on methodology. As such, conservation planning and
strategy in Nepal, especially for snow leopard, has been largely based
on anecdotal evidence (DNPWC, 2017). 30 years ago, Oli (1993) conducted
a detailed study on snow leopard diet, and subsequently by Wegge et al.
(2012), where they predicted a sustainable predator-prey ratio with the
presence of abundant small livestock breeds around Manang in the
Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) of west Nepal. However, unlike west
Nepal, Lovari et al., 2009 reported that where small livestock breeds
were not present in the Everest region, eastern Nepal, Himalayan tahr
populations were becoming more suppressed as snow leopard were targeting
young individuals preferentially. In Nepal, most studies on snow leopard
status, their prey base and feeding behavior were concentrated around
Dolpa in the west, Annapurna and Manslu in the Centre (Khanal et al.,
2020; Shrestha et al., 2019; Chetri et al., 2019, 2017; Shrestha et al.,
2018; Ale et al., 2014; Wegge et al., 2012; Thapa, 2005; Oli, 1994; Oli
et al., 1993; Schaller, 1973) and around the Mt. Everest region in the
east (Shrestha et al., 2018; Lovari & Mishra, 2016; Lovari et al.,
2013, 2009; Ale et al., 2007). However, no systematic study on snow
leopard status, prey abundance and feeding behavior has been undertaken
in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) in the far eastern region
of Nepal, a critical snow leopard habitat to maintaining connectivity
across the eastern snow leopard range and stands to suffer the greatest
impact from climate change (MoFSC, 2017). Gurung et al. 2011 reported
that snow leopard numbers had dramatically increased and there were no
reports of retaliatory killing in the far east mainly because of
successful implementation of community-managed livestock insurance.
A comprehensive understanding of the impact of snow leopard predation on
wild ungulates and the role livestock play in their diet, is essential
to devising strategy to reduce human- snow leopard conflicts. In the Mt.
Kangchenjunga region, a human-altered mountain ecosystem in the far east
of Nepal which is transboundary snow leopard habitat with India and
China (KCA, 2019), we combine genetic sampling to estimate snow leopard
abundance, both macro- and microscopic analysis to assess their diet,
and an assessment of prey population dynamics. Based on comprehensive
field data, we discuss status of snow leopard, abundance of wild prey
and feeding behavior of snow leopards and recommend further conservation
implications.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area
KCA is part of the Taplejung District located in the far north-eastern
part of Nepal. Bordering the state of Sikkim in India to the east and
the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China to the north, the district
(200 24’- 27056’ N & 87 0 39’-
880 12’ E) covers mid-hills to high
mountain terrains including Mt. Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), the world’s
third highest peak (Fig. 1). On 21 July, 1997, it was declared a
conservation area spanning 2,035 km2. The climate is
alpine and harsh in the upper parts, above 3,000 m, and below this
elevation, mixed temperate and sub-alpine climate is prevalent. The
lower part of the study area receives snow fall for a few months and the
upper range, heavy snow in winter every year. The topography is steep
and rugged with mountainous terrain. The major fauna in KCA includes
snow leopard, blue sheep Pseudois nayaur (here forth Naur), wolfCanis lupus , red fox Vulpes , pikas (Ochotona spp.), common
leopard Panthera pardus , clouded leopard Neofelis
nebulosa , red panda Ailurus fulgens , musk deer Moschus
fuscus , and assamese monkey Macaca assamensis including many
others (KCA, 2019; Thapa et al., 2013).
The study area comprises the headwaters of the Tamor River system and is
characterized by rugged topography, with deep river canyons cutting
through the lower reaches. Here rough boulder and scree-dominated
hillsides intersperse alpine grasslands and meadows. Because of the
abundant pastureland in the region, local people of upper Tamor have
been practicing their livestock rearing for more than 150 years (Hooker,
1854). Yak, Dzo and cattle are common livestock kept for rearing in the
area. Unlike western Nepal, domesticated small livestock are almost
non-existence especially within snow leopard habitat.