Where blue sheep thrive, snow leopards follow

 By Hari Krishna Sharma,Mustang, Dec. 4: Snow leopards -- often called the ‘Queen of the Mountains’ -- are regularly sighted in the high Himalayan areas of Chhoser in Lo-Manthang Rural Municipality-1, where their main prey, the blue sheep (naur), is found. 

In search of food, snow leopards roam across Bharcha Lekh and Nenyul in Chhoser, and are also seen in the Himalayan region of Korala, which borders China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.

According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) field office in Lo-Manthang, snow leopards have been recorded near herds of blue sheep in several locations, including Chhusang in Waragung Muktichhetra-3, Saangta-5 and across upper Mustang’s Lo-Manthang and Lho-Gekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipalities.

Umesh Paudel, chief of ACAP in Lo-Manthang, said their camera traps have captured both blue sheep and snow leopards in these areas. “Our efforts to protect the snow leopard’s prey species have shown good results. Blue sheep are now being seen in the core habitat areas,” he said.

To protect both predators and prey species, ACAP runs various programmes each year and also monitors snow leopard movements online across their habitat zones.

A previous study in upper Mustang found that snow leopards prey on pikas (phyau musa) after blue sheep, followed by Himalayan hare, pheasants such as monal, and other small mammals. Blue sheep, however, remain their preferred prey, though hunting them requires significant effort.

Paudel said that improving rangelands and managing habitats helps reduce human-snow leopard conflict. Regular surveys are also carried out to prevent a decline in snow leopard numbers and to maintain prey habitats.

Rajesh Gupta, chief of the ACAP field office in Jomsom, said snow leopard tracks and droppings have been found near blue sheep herds in Waragung Muktichhetra’s high Himalayan areas. “Where there are blue sheep, snow leopards are nearby,” he said.

During a recent survey, ACAP conservation assistant Dipak Oli reported that camera traps installed in Lupra (Waragung Muktichhetra-1) captured images of a blue sheep herd. 

Oli said that ACAP’s 15 camera traps installed for two months have recorded blue sheep and several other wildlife species across the region. This study, which began in Waragung Muktichhetra, will also cover Gharpajhong, Thasang, Lho-Gekar Damodarkunda and Lo-Manthang. ACAP Jomsom said the findings from summer and winter surveys will be used to design further conservation activities.

Adult snow leopards sometimes wander into settlements to avoid attacks from dominant males. Male cubs, too, can be aggressive. Mustang still lacks exact population data for snow leopards.

The elusive species typically inhabits elevations between 3,500 and 5,500 metres above sea level. Found in just 12 countries, including Nepal, snow leopards are considered indicators of a healthy mountain ecosystem. However, experts remain concerned about their future due to climate change and forest fires.