Snow Leopard
Vanishing tracks
on the Roof of the World
The return of the Snow Leopard to Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal
PREMISES
It was the Christmas Eve of 2003, when the team of Ev-K²-CNR researchers headed by Prof. Sandro Lovari - in Nepal to study the ungulates – met the snow leopard for the first time. The snow leopard was laying down under a tree, watching his pray, captured the day before. It was an historical meeting, considering that the snow leopard disappeared from the Everest area in the Sixties, for still unknown reasons.
Later, some traces were found only during the Eighties, after that Everest territory was declared declared a National Park. But there were no photographic proofs.
THE SNOW LEOPARD
In the world, the total effective population size of the snow leopard “Uncia uncia" is estimated at below 2,500 mature breeding individuals, with a declining trend due to habitat and prey base loss and persecution. Within the Sagarmatha National Park, there could be 4-5 snow leopards.
The snow leopard is an endangered species essentially because of three reasons. The first one is the human presence on the territory. Altering its natural habitat and hunting his wild prey, men have someway forced the great predators like the snow leopard to replace their usual prey with the livestock, causing persecution reactions.
This species has also the problem of living in semi-desert and fragile ecosystems, with low resources available (like mountains and plateaus of Central Asia).
Further on, the global warming is threatening all the species living in cold environments, favouring their substitution with competitors specialized to live in warmer ecosystems.
AIMS OF THE PROJECT
To assess the effects of the return of the snow leopard on its wild prey populations (Himalayan tahr, musk deer, large pheasants) To estimate the present numbers of snow leopards, Himalayan tahr and musk deer in Sagarmatha National Park.
- To collect data on the movements and habitat use of snow leopard, possibly through GIS analysis and remote sensing (using satellite radiotracking data).
- To develop initiatives to make the return of the snow leopard acceptable to the local human community.
- To suggest adequate management measures
- To prevent/discourage predation of snow leopard on livestock.
Besides the scientific research, this project will carry out several initiatives for the promotion and the preservation of the snow leopard.
RESEARCH AREA
The main study area lies between Namche (3440 m a.s.l.) and Phortse (3849 m a.s.l.) villages, as well as Gokyo Lake (4750 m a.s.l.), where a minimum density of 1-3 snow leopards/100 Km² has been estimated in nov. 2004 (Ale and Lovari 2005). This area encompasses the upper catchment of the Dudh Kosi river (Bothe Kosi and Imja Khola streams), as well as the lower part of the Cho-Oyu Valley.
PARTNERS
On March, 24th 2006, the Ev-K²-Cnr Committee signed an important agreement with Wwf Nepal to protect the endangered species of the Sagarmatha National Park. The agreement was signed by the president of the Ev-K²-CNR Committee and Dr. Chandra Gurung, Country Representative of Wwf Nepal at Wwf’s Baluwatar office in Kathmandu. The two associations are going to undertake research, monitoring and protection initiatives for the conservation of snow leopards living in the area and their prey. The snow leopard is the most charming and endangered feline in the world.