http://jang.com.pk/thenews/jan2011-weekly/nos-30-01-2011/foo.htm#2
Recently, during a two-month long night camera trapping session at the Khunjerab National Park (KNP) near the Pakistan-China border in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, three snow leopards were spotted in a single shot. A survey ‘Human-Cat Interaction and Signs’ was conducted in November and December 2010, by the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) Pakistan in collaboration with the directorate of KNP, the Forest and Wildlife Department of Gilgit-Baltistan, local community organisations including Khunjerab Villagers Organisation (KVO) and Shimshal Nature Trust (SNT) and WWF.
For the locals in Gilgit-Baltistan, this is like a miracle. They call it ‘pes’, a female supernatural beautiful denizen of the high mountains. The snow leopard is considered a mysterious animal that stays away from humans, and so hardly a case has been reported where a snow leopard has attacked a human being. Whereas, many cases have been reported when snow leopard has attacked livestock but herdsmen have beaten it to death. Unlike other big cats of Africa and Asia, they do not roar instead have a sort of sneezing, chuffing sound.
In Pakistan, habitat of snow leopard is spread over an area of 81000 sq kilometres in the Hindukush, Himalaya and Karakoram mountain ranges. Interestingly, latest information on the population of snow leopards in Pakistan is lacking. The recent estimates of its population (between 150-300) are made on the basis of surveys undertaken by Dr. George Schaller in the early 1970s. He also took the first-ever picture of a snow leopard in the wild in Chitral Gol National Park in early 1970s.
The recent study aims at estimating the population of the snow leopards in KNP. Around 643 images of animals of different species were photographed during this intensive camera trapping session. But it was the photograph of three snow leopards – two young adults with their mother – all sitting grandly together that caught the eye. This photo has once again brought this endangered animal in the focus. Pakistan is among the few countries where snow leopards can be found in the snowbound northern areas.
The camera trapping project records data about snow leopards and other carnivores that share snow leopard habitat. “The recent surveys in KNP were part of our ongoing research programme of assessing the status, distribution, population, and threats to snow leopards and other carnivores in KNP,” says Jaffaruddin, Program Manager, Snow Leopard Foundation.
“We promote snow leopards as flagship for the conservation of mountain wildlife of Pakistan and support the government in improving the functionality and management of protected areas,” he explains.
According to Jaffaruddin, who has been working on the conservation of this big cat for over a decade, the sub-objectives of the survey included testing the response of carnivores to each lure and the first-time introduced ‘Occupancy Modelling’ technique for snow leopards in Pakistan.
Over 1,400 sq kilometres area of the KNP has been scanned during the surveys and 150 focal (snow leopard droppings or scat) samples have also been collected for genetic analysis.
“Once data analysis is completed, the study will provide more reliable estimates of snow leopards in the park besides highlighting existing management and monitoring limitations. This will ultimately help manage the park resources and increase awareness among locals about the importance of this beautiful animal in ecosystem. Snow Leopard Trust and Panthera provided financial support for this study,” says Jaffaruddin.
Khunjerab National Park being a snow leopard habitat is also home to other endangered species like marco polo sheep and Himalayan ibex, both important snow leopard preys. “According to initial findings, about 10-15 snow leopards are present in KNP. The most encouraging sight is the presence of 5,000-6,000 of ibex (primary prey) and around 80 marco polo sheep.
The presence of primary prey in good number indicates the presence of this big cat that sits on top of food chain. “This animal plays a key role in maintaining the mountain ecosystem. Its absence can trigger environmental changes such as the denudation of vegetation cover and soil erosion”, says an official of KNP.
The official tells TNS that lack of resources is the major constraint in making real efforts for conservation of this beautiful animal in the park. “We don’t allow all international NGOs working on conservation of snow leopards to work in KNP because it is a sensitive place situated close to the Chinese border,” he reveals.
Experts think that man poses a major threat to the survival of snow leopards. Besides loss of prey, killings of snow leopards in response to or in prevention of livestock losses were reported as the prime danger to the species. Mining, logging, and industrial development degrade and fragment snow leopard habitat. They are forced to go to less suitable areas, where the climate may be harsher, prey scarcer and conflicts with humans more likely to occur.
As the population grows people hunt ibex and blue sheep for food. As wild sheep and goat populations decline, snow leopards go hungry and chances of its attacking the livestock multiplies.
“Killing of snow leopards in this area is driven by two main objectives: the desire to protect domestic livestock from predator cats and the desire to trade in the animal or its parts,” says an official.
SLP has already done a similar survey in Chitral district. After data analysis, it is estimated that 36 big cats are present in the district. Livestock depredation reports collected from the area during study reflected 138 cases affecting 102 families in a period of eight years between 2001 and 2008 – indicating existence of the human-snow leopard conflicts. Sensitising the local communities on the importance of this beautiful animal in the ecosystem and for the environment can help a lot to conserve it.
Representatives of local community appreciate efforts of SLF and other organisations trying to conserve snow leopard but “The increase in population of this animal in our area means we have been providing space for it to thrive. We have been trying to conserve this animal since 1989 despite strong reservations of our community,” Rehman Posh, Chairman KVO tells TNS on phone.
“We really love this big cat but as its population has been increasing, the number of attacks on livestock of local herdsmen has also been increasing. Two months back it attacked a herd and killed 50 goats and sheep in KNP. The government or NGOs did not compensate the affected herdsman. This incident has increased hatred for the animal in our area. We are about to reach a point where we will have to choose between conservation and livelihood. I hope some government departments and NGOs will come forward and start compensating locals before they turn into enemy of this beautiful animal,” says a very concerned Posh.
