2.2 Survey design for snow leopard DNA sampling
The study area of this project was selected based on the potential habitat of snow leopard, as outlined by WWF Nepal (2009). The altitudinal range of the study was chosen between 3000 and 5400m (using a 1:50000 topographic map), consistent with the range both snow leopard and Naur have been detected across the Nepal Himalaya (Jackson & Hunter, 1996).
The target study area included all suitable snow leopard habitat within the KCA. However, due to the immensity of this area, the steep terrain and numerous cliffs, it was not possible to cover all suitable habitat. Snow leopards are difficult to detect directly and are a wide-ranging species with an estimated annual home range of 1031.6 km2 for males and 470 km2 for female in the KCA (KCA, 2019). These estimates are significantly higher than home range estimates in other regions of Nepal such as the Longu valley and Manang (12 to 39 km2; Oli, 1997; Jackson & Ahlborn, 1989) but comparable to Mongolia for females (up to 500 km2; Johansson et al., 2016; McCarthy et al., 2005). Because of the high variation in home range estimates, numerous sampling grids were used to divide up (each cell: 4*4 km; 16 km2; Fig. 1) potential snow leopard habitat within the KCA. A relatively large survey cell was used to allow for areas that might be inaccessible. Multi-stage sampling (Janecka et al., 2011) was employed to ensure high interspersion of primary grids and more precise sampling cells (transects). Transects (following trail segment) were distributed within an altitudinal range of 4,195m to 4,928m in sites that were most likely to be visited by snow leopards, especially narrow ridgelines, cliff bases, passes, and the valley base at or immediately adjacent to frequently scent-sprayed rocks and scrape sites.