Monitoring of rare snow leopard begins in upper Mustang

Mustang, March 25: 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.    

The rising cases of human-snow leopard conflict here have prompted the monitoring.    

Annapurna Conservation Area Project Office Chief, Umesh Paudel, said 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 annuals to locals including the losses of their livestock    

The snow leopard knows as the Queen of Himalayas, has a significant contribution to the ecosystem, with carrying the religious cultural and biological values here.    

It is said it has been an urgent need to protect the animal and the traditional livestock farming here simultaneously with the implementation of new measures for the management snow leopard. "The locals have been practicing livestock farming for centuries, and now is the time to implement new programmes for sustainable management of animal, keeping the farming safe and undamaged," he 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 said 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 its prey, mainly Naur (The Himalayan Blue Sheep), that has started shifting down in the absence of alpine grassland in the high lands as a result of climate change.  (RSS)