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Koju, N. P., Gosai, K. R., Bashyal, B., Byanju, R., Shrestha, A., Buzzard, P., Beisch, W. B., Khanal, L. (2023). Seasonal Prey Abundance and Food Plasticity of the Vulnerable Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) in the Lapchi Valley, Nepal Himalayas. Animals, 13(3182), 1–16.
Abstract: Conservation strategies for apex predators, like the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), depend on a robust understanding of their dietary preferences, prey abundance, and adaptability to changing ecological conditions. To address these critical conservation concerns, this study presents a comprehensive evidence on prey availability and preferences for snow leopards in the Lapchi Valley in the Nepal Himalayas from November 2021 to March 2023. Field data were collected through the installation of twenty-six camera traps at 16 strategically chosen locations, resulting in the recording of 1228 events of 19 mammalian species, including domesticated livestock. Simultaneously, the collection of twenty snow leopard scat samples over 3800 m above sea level allowed for a detailed dietary analysis. Photo capture rate index and biomass composition analysis were carried out and seasonal prey availability and consumption were statistically analyzed. A total of 16 potential prey species for the snow leopard were documented during the study period. Himalayan musk deer (Moschus leucogaster) was the most abundant prey species, but infrequent in the diet suggesting that are not the best bet prey for the snow leopards. Snow leopards were found to exhibit a diverse diet, consuming eleven prey species, with blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) being their most consumed wild prey and horses as their preferred livestock. The Pianka’s index of dietary niche overlap between the summer and winter seasons were 0.576, suggesting a pronounced seasonal variation in food preference corroborating with the prey availability. The scarcity of larger preys in winter is compensated by small and meso-mammals in the diet, highlighting the snow leopard’s capacity for dietary plasticity in response to the variation in resource availability. This research suggests for the utilization of genetic tools to further explore snow leopard diet composition. Additionally, understanding transboundary movements and conducting population assessments will be imperative for the formulation of effective conservation strategies.
Keywords: apex predator; flagship species; micro-histology; niche overlap; prey preference
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Singh, P. B., Saud, P., Aryal, P. C., Rai, P., Muntifering, J. R., Hu, H., Karki, A., Hu, Y., Mainali, K. P. (2025). Decades of leopard coexistence in the Himalayas driven by ecological dynamics, not climate change. Global Ecology and Conservation, 57(e03401), 1–13.
Abstract: The interaction between two predators in overlapping habitats with distinct habitat requirements poses critical challenges for conservation and management strategies. This study explores the ecological dynamics and coexistence of common leopards (Panthera pardus) and snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in the Himalayan regions, explicitly focusing on their spatial and temporal distribution as well as factors influencing their habitat overlap. Utilizing historical accounts dating back to the 1950s and our winter sighting data from trail cameras from 2016 to 2023 in the trans-Himalayan part of Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal (3100–4696 m), we provide substantial evidence of the common leopard’s established residency at high altitudes traditionally associated with snow leopards. This challenges the notion that the co-occurrence of these species is a recent
phenomenon attributable to climate change. Instead, our findings suggest a long-term adaptation of common leopards to high-altitude environments, demonstrated by their ability to survive and breed in cold temperatures as low as − 18◦C. We show that the likelihood of co-occurrence of the two leopard species increases with proximity to open forest canopy, farmland and greater distances from snowline. In contrast, steep terrain negatively impacted the likelihood of co-occurrence, highlighting the snow leopard’s specialized adaptations to rugged landscapes. Our analysis reveals a considerable overlap between common and snow leopards in sub-alpine mixed forest and alpine scrub. This overlap extends to dietary habits along the altitudinal range, with both species preying on similar wild and domestic animals, highlighting the potential for interspecies competition, especially during the winter months when prey availability decreases. |
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Jackson, R., Hunter, D.O. (1995). Snow leopard Survey and conservation handbook (First edition).
Abstract: The objectives of this handbook (First edition) are to provide standard procedures for conducting snow leopard status and distribution surveys; suggest uniform methods for assessing the status and relative abundance of large prey species (ungulates such as blue sheep, argali, markhor, Himalayan tahr, urial, ibex, red deer, and roe deer); offer guidance in evaluating habitat quality and identifying the major environmental factors affecting species welfare; and provide standard forms for reporting the results of these field surveys, and a process for feeding information developed by the International Snow Leopard Trust into Snoe Leopard Information Management System (SLIMS).
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