2.7 Food habits of snow leopard
From known snow leopard scat samples derived from DNA analysis, a total of 73 collected scat samples were dried in the shade, labeled with a unique code and stored in an envelope for laboratory analyses. The samples were washed with tap water through a fine mesh sieve and oven-dried at a temperature of approximately 60°C. Each sample was further cleaned in an ethanol- alcohol mixture (1:1).
Food items from scat samples were identified mainly from the macro- and microscopic structure of hairs. For this purpose, cuticular scale patterns of hairs were analyzed and further validated by medullary structure and cross-section (Koppikar & Sabnis, 1976; Joslin, 1973). In order to compare hair samples with reference samples, reference images of available prey species from the study site were developed using microscopic images from a model B K Biological Trinocular Microscope (10x, 100x, 400x and 1000x) with DCM510 digital camera and further verified with reference samples developed by Oli (1993). For further accuracy, local reference samples were collected from each study site. Diet was analyzed through identification of 10 random hairs taken from each scat sample. Identification was further verified from the remains of bones, claws and hooves from prey species of interest also found within the scat samples. Remaining materials such as plants, rock, bones, and feathers were noted but not included in the analysis of diet. Results were expressed as the relative frequency of prey species found in the samples.