The Snow Leopard jflif{s klqsf c+s–#, h]7 @)&$ lxp“lrt'jf Volume 3, May 2017 Reflections on the GSLEP Meeting First Radio-tracking Study held in Kathmandu of Snow Leopard Snow Leopard in Nepali Currency Note k[i7 1 l lxp“lrt'jf Editorial epal supports a significant population of Snow In January 2017, the Nepal Government hosted the 2nd Leopard, and has a commendable record for Steering Meeting of the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Nprotecting this rare cat. The Snow Leopard & Protection Program (GSLEP), involving all 12 snow Conservancy (SLC), is proud to partner with the Nepal leopard range countries – Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, government and local NGOs. Rodney Jackson, SLC’s Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Founder Director, was the first person to radio-collar snow Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. leopards (see story on page 6). Participants discussed the status of management plans to Three decades later, Nepali scientists from the Department secure 20 snow leopard “landscapes” by year 2020. These of National Parks (DNPWC) and Wildlife Conservation, landscapes are to be located in all 12 range countries, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), and WWF cumulatively covering an area of 500,000 sq. km., and Nepal attached GPS collars to three snow leopards, including are intended to provide habitat and prey of sufficient the first female cat, in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. quality enabling each to support viable populations of These cats have been moving between Nepal, India and 100 breeding snow leopards. Four issues emerged as China (Tibet), highlighting the importance of international requiring immediate attention: 1) resource mobilization; collaboration for their conservation. 2) capacity building; 3) illegal wildlife trade; and 4) climate SLC is now partnering with three NGOs- NTNC, Global change adaptation. Primate Network (GPN) and Mountain Spirit (MS) - to A highlight of the Steering Committee Meeting was the implement the following activities; (i) savings & creditg appearance of Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, groups, where the interest on micro-loans supports who pledged a contribution of $500,000 from the Nepali conservation activities, (ii) construction of predator-proof government for snow leopard conservation. corrals to prevent loss of livestock and retaliatory killing of snow leopards; (iii) testing of electronic deterrents like We hope that the third edition of “The Snow Leopard Foxlights and solar-electric fencing; (iv) outreach programs Magazine”, which focuses on Nepali efforts to conserve for youths, including “Snow Leopard Scouts” & (v) Snow snow leopards, will inform and entertain you and in the leopard-themed radio program reaching 200,000+ rural and process, promote recognition for Nepali efforts to conserve urban listeners-. snow leopards. ;DkfbsLo cfk"msxfF kfOg] lxpFlrt'jfsf] pNn]vgLo ;ª\VofnfO{ g]kfnn] cys ;g\ @)!& hgj/fLdf g]kfn ;/sf/n] lxpFlrt'jf jf;:yfg If]q /x]sf] k|of; u/]/ hf]ufP/ /fv]sf] 5 . :gf] n]k8{ sGh/e]G;L -P;Pn;L_, g]kfn g]kfn ;lxt !@ d'n'sx¿ ck\muflg:tfg, e'6fg, ef/t, sfhfls:tfg, ;/sf/ / :yfgLo u}/;/sf/L ;+:yfx¿;Fu ;xsfo{ ug{ uj{ ub{5 . lslu{:tfg, d+uf]lnof, g]kfn, kfls:tfg, /l;of / pHj]ls:tfgnfO{ /8\gL HofS;g, P;Pn;Lsf ;+:yfks lgb]{zs klxnf] JolQm x'g\ h;n] ;xefuL u/fO{ ljZj lxpFlrt'jf kof{j/0f ;+/If0f sfo{qmd -lhP;PnOkL_ lxpFlrt'jfnfO{ /]l8of] sn/ u/] -k]h ^ x]g'{xf];\ ._ sf] lgb]{zs ;ldltsf] bf];|f] j}7s cfof]hgf u¥of] . tLg bzskl5 /fli6«o lgs'~h tyf jGohGt' ;+/If0f ljefu, /fli6«o k|s[lt pQm j}7ssf ;xefuLx¿n] ;g\ @)@) ;Dddf lxpFlrt'jfsf] @) j6f ;+/If0f sf]if, 8An'8An'Pkmsf g]kfnL j}1flgsx¿ / cGo ;/f]sf/jfnf …e"kl/lw If]qÚ ;'lglZrt ug{ Joj:yfkg of]hgfsf] cj:yf dfly 5nkmn ;+:yf / JolQmx¿sf] ;xof]udf s~rgh+3f ;+/If0f If]qdf Ps kf]yL ;lxt u/] . oL …e"kl/lw If]qÚ x¿ lxpFlrt'jfsf] jf;:yfg ePsf] d'n'sx¿df tLgj6f lxpFlrt'jfx¿nfO{ lhlkP; sn/ nufOof] . oL lxpFlrt'jfx¿ /xg] / k|To]s If]qdf plrt jf;:yfg, k|of{Kt dfqfdf cfxf/fsf ;fy} g]kfn, ef/t / rLg -ltAat_ If]qdf cf]x/bf]x/ ul//x]sf 5g\ h'g pgLx¿sf] !)) j6f jo:s lxpFlrt'jfsf] ;ª\Vof sfod /fVg'sf ;fy} lxpFlrt'jfsf] ;+/If0fsf] cGt/f{li6«o ;xsfo{sf] Wofgfsif{0f klg xf] . jf;:yfgsf] nflu % nfv ju{ lsld ;d]6\g] p2]Zo /flvPsf] 5 . j}7ssf] clxn] P;Pn;Ln] tLgj6f u};;x¿ Pgl6Pg;L, Unf]an k|fOd]6 5nkmndf rf/j6f d'Vo d'2fx¿ p7fOof] h;df cljnDa Wofg s]lGb|t g]6js{ / dfp06]g :kLl/6;Fu lgDg sfo{qmdx¿ sfof{Gjogsf ul/g' h?/L 5M !_ ;|f]t kl/rfng, @_ Ifdtf j[l4, #_ jGohGt'sf] cj}w nflu ;xsfo{ ul//x]sf] 5M s_ art tyf C0f ;d"x hxfF n3' C0fsf] Jofkf/ / $_ hnjfo' kl/jt{g cg's"ng . 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The Snow Leopard|Page 2 Seemingly Unusual Nature of Snow Leopard 4 Reflection on the First Radio- tracking study of Snow Leopard 6 Protecting the Enemy 11 Predator Proof Corral Reduced Livestock Depredation 24 The wolves of Manang 26 Snow Leopard in habits some of the most difficult terrains in the world 30 Tracking Lapchhemba in the Mystique of Kangchenjunga 37 Articles/Reports Himalayan Vulture: The Natural Scavenger of the Himalaya 41 Snow Leopard in Nepali Currency Note! 46 GSLEP Meeting held in Kathmandu 50 Photo: Anil Adhikari/SLC Lament of Red Panda 10 Field is the Class Room Snow Leopard’s Call 45 Students working in the Snow Leopards Scouts Camp. Poems APPA Workshop held in Sagarmatha Nationl Park Buffer Zone 14 A Dead Snow Leopard Cremated! 16 New Partner to Carry out Snow Leopard initiatives in Nepal 17 A Vulture sat on a tree doing nothing......... Foxlights distributed in Manang & Upper Mustang 18 News International Snow Leopard Day When a Rabbit thought to do same Celebrated in ACA 19 and sat on the ground. Tibetan Argali Sighted in Upper Dolpo 20 Nepal Celebrated International A Snow Leopard came and ate. Snow Leopard Day 21 Moral : To sit and do nothing, Landscape level conservationis prominent to the apex and flagship you need to be on TOP. species like Snow leopard 33 Interview Foxlight scares the Snow Leopard 22 I Saw the Snow Leoppard's Pug-mark ! 23 The Facts About Snow Leopard 29 The Plant Snow leopard Just Love to Chew on 49 Others Art: Raj Man Maharjan Art: The Snow Leopard Conservancy Nepal Program 54 Red Panda Network 55 The now Leopard S magazine Editors: Prof. Karan Bahadur Shah, Dr. Rodney Jackson, Anil Adhikari | Advisors: Dr. Naresh Subedi, Darla Hillard English Translators: Kasi Raj Bhandari, Ganga R. Regmi, Anil Adhikari Comments/Recomendations: Kurt Zimmerman, Ganga R Regmi, Rinzin P. Lama Cover Photo: Tashi R. Ghale |Design and layout: Printall ([email protected]) National Trust for Nature Conservation Khumaltar, Lalitppur, Phone 977-01-5526571, Email: [email protected], URL: www.ntnc.org.np Snow Leopard Conservancy 75 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, California, 95476, USA, Phone + 1 (707) 938-1700, URL: www.SnowLeopardConservancy.org k[i7 3 l lxp“lrt'jf Article Seemingly Unusual Nature of SNOW LEOPARD Karan Bahadur Shah I came across an interesting incident while conducting research and study on Snow Leopard in Langu valley of Mugu district in 1984. That day, early morning while I was observing various activities of a group of more than 30 Himalayan Tahrs using a spotting scope, I saw an adult snow leopard closing in on these Himalayan Tahrs. When the snow leopard reached near these Himalayan Tahrs, about within a distance of 30 meters, it started to slowly crawl on its stomach wagging its tail. As these Tahrs were grazing and slowly climbing uphill, within 5 minutes the Snow Leopard reached precariously close to them for an attack. I guessed that the snow leopard would then any minute run and attack one of the unaware Himalayan Tahrs. But contrary to my assumption, the Snow Leopard did not attack them but rather than crawling on the ground, it resumed its normal position and started to walk uphill to that very direction from where it came. It walked on the snow-covered ground, approximately 300 meters, and disappeared on the other side of the cliff. It is said that if a large predator like snow leopard is not hungry, it would refrain from unnecessary killing of its prey species. I think that was the main reason the snow leopard did not attack these Himalayan Tahrs.