Unplanned road development in Baitadi puts clouded leopard at risk

By Gokarna Dayal,Baitadi, Nov. 15: The endangered clouded leopard, locally known as chari baag, inhabiting the protected forest of Baitadi district, now faces serious risks due to unplanned road development within its habitat.

Recently, a clouded leopard was discovered unconscious in a roadside drain near the Gwalek Protected Forest and subsequently succumbed while receiving medical care.

According to Madan Joshi, Information Officer at the Baitadi Division Forest Office, the animal was discovered near the roadside adjoining Dasharathchand Municipality-9, close to the Gwalek Protected Forest. He said that unplanned road expansion around the area has disturbed the leopard’s natural habitat.

The Gwalek Protected Forest in Dasharathchand Municipality and the Sigas Protected Forest in Sigas Rural Municipality are the habitats of the clouded leopard. Forest officials said that the area provides suitable prey and living conditions for the species, although its exact population remains unknown.

Last year, automatic cameras installed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) for leopard research in the district captured images of a clouded leopard in Gwalek Protected Forest, said NTNC Shuklaphanta Office Chief Laxmiraj Joshi.

“Since 2011, human-leopard conflicts in Baitadi have claimed 28 lives, while an equal number of leopards have died after being trapped in snares,” Joshi said. 

“In our latest month-long camera survey using 50 automatic cameras in conflict-prone areas, we recorded both leopards and a clouded leopard.”

While leopards are increasingly entering human settlements in search of food, the clouded leopard has not caused any harm to people so far. However, experts warned that unregulated construction activities in forest areas are disrupting the ecological balance.

The NTNC has been conducting studies in Gwalek, Melauili Municipality, and Shivnath and Pancheshwar rural municipalities to reduce human-wildlife conflict. It has launched community-level livelihood programmes to support affected families and discourage harmful practices.

In Bishalpur village of Melauili Municipality-9, locals are being trained to understand that leopards are not their enemies. The NTNC has provided Rs. 3.2 million to 36 families for alternative livelihoods, such as goat farming, ginger and turmeric cultivation, and agricultural collection centres.

Two community forest user groups in leopard-affected areas have also received Rs. 1.8 million loans at a low-interest rate (6 per cent) to promote income-generating activities, according to Ward Chairperson Lokraj Bhatt.

Despite growing awareness about the need to protect wild cats, some locals still set traps to protect their crops, causing the death of leopards and clouded leopards.