Upper Mustang: The monitoring of rare wildlife species, the snow leopard, has begun in upper Mustang. The monitoring assisted by camera trapping method at three locations of Mustang is expected to present the existing status of the animal and its number.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the rising cases of human-snow leopard conflict here have prompted the monitoring. Annapurna Conservation Area Project Office Chief, Umesh Paudel, stated that 12 cameras have been fitted in the area around Baragung Muktikshetra-3, above the Thurlungphant of Lomanthang, and above the Lomanthang market.
The initiative aims to determine further measures for protecting the animal by managing human-animal conflict. There are concerns over inconveniences caused by the animals to locals, including the losses of their livestock. The snow leopard, known as the Queen of Himalayas, has a significant contribution to the ecosystem, with carrying the religious, cultural, and biological values here.
It is said there is an urgent need to protect the animal and the traditional livestock farming simultaneously with the implementation of new measures for the management of the snow leopard. “The locals have been practicing livestock farming for centuries, and now is the time to implement new programmes for sustainable management of the animal, keeping the farming safe and undamaged,” Paudel said.
Prior to this, the ACAP had been monitoring the status of the animal at various locations in the district with the help of 31 cameras. It is reported that the lifestyle of the animal has changed due to the impact of climate change. The reports are that the snow leopards come down to the lower altitude areas following their prey, mainly Naur (The Himalayan Blue Sheep), which has started shifting down in the absence of alpine grassland in the highlands as a result of climate change.