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.