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Author Karki, A., Panthi, S. url 
  Title Factors affecting livestock depredation by snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in the Himalayan region of Nepal Type Journal Article
  Year 2021 Publication PeerJ Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 9 Issue e11575 Pages 1-14  
  Keywords Conflict,Habitat,Himalaya,Livestockdepredation,Modeling,Snowleopard,Wildlife management  
  Abstract The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) found in central Asia is classified as vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Every year, large number of livestock are killed by snow leopards in Nepal, leading to economic loss to local communities and making human-snow leopard conflict a major threat to snow leopard conservation. We conducted formal and informal stakeholder’s interviews to gather information related to livestock depredation with the aim to map the attack sites by the snow leopard. These sites were further validated by district forest office staffs to assess sources of bias. Attack sites older than 3 years were removed from the survey. We found 109 attack sites and visited all the sites for geo location purpose (GPS points of all unique sites were taken). We maintained at least a 100 m distance between attack locations to ensure that each attack location was unique, which resulted in 86 unique locations. A total of 235 km2 was used to define livestock depredation risk zone during this study. Using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling, we found that distance to livestock sheds, distance to paths, aspect, and distance to roads were major contributing factors to the snow leopard’s attacks. We identified 13.64 km2 as risk zone for livestock depredation from snow leopards in the study area. Furthermore, snow leopards preferred to attack livestock near livestock shelters, far from human paths and at moderate distance from motor roads. These identified attack zones should be managed both for snow leopard conservation and livestock protection in order to balance human livelihoods while protecting snow leopards and their habitats.  
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  Call Number Serial (down) 1640  
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Author Bhatia, S., Suryawanshi, K., Redpath, S. M., Mishra, C url 
  Title Understanding people's responses toward predators in the Indian Himalaya Type Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Animal Conservation Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 1-8  
  Keywords human-wildlife conflict; human attitudes to wildlife; value orientation; carnivores; tolerance; human-wildlife relationships; risk perception; Himalaya  
  Abstract Research on human–wildlife interactions has largely focused on the magnitude of wildlife‐caused damage, and the patterns and correlates of human attitudes and behaviors. We assessed the role of five pathways through which various correlates potentially influence human responses toward wild animals, namely, value orientation, social interactions (i.e. social cohesion and support), dependence on resources such as agriculture and livestock, risk perception and nature of interaction with the wild animal. We specifically evaluated their influence on people's responses toward two large carnivores, the snow leopard Panthera uncia and the wolf Canis lupus in an agropastoral landscape in the Indian Trans‐Himalaya. We found that the nature of the interaction (location, impact and length of time since an encounter or depredation event), and risk perception (cognitive and affective evaluation of the threat posed by the animal) had a significant influence on attitudes and behaviors toward the snow leopard. For wolves, risk perception and social interactions (the relationship of people with local institutions and inter‐community dynamics) were significant. Our findings underscore the importance of interventions that reduce people's threat perceptions from carnivores, improve their connection with nature and strengthen the conservation capacity of local institutions especially in the context of wolves.  
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  Call Number Serial (down) 1630  
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Author Tiwari, M. P., Devkota, B. P., Jackson, R. M., Chhetri, B. B. K., Bagale, S. url 
  Title What Factors Predispose Households in Trans-Himalaya (Central Nepal) to Livestock Predation by Snow Leopards? Type Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Animals Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 10 Issue 2187 Pages 1-14  
  Keywords human-snow leopard conflict; livestock predation; Narphu valley; trans-Himalaya  
  Abstract Livestock depredation across the trans-Himalaya causes

significant economic losses to pastoralist communities. Quantification

of livestock predation and the assessment of variables associated with

depredation are crucial for designing effective long-term mitigation

measures. We investigated the patterns and factors of livestock

depredation by snow leopards (Panthera uncia) using semi-structured

questionnaires targeting herders in the Narphu valley of the Annapurna

Conservation Area, Nepal. During the two years (2017/18 and 2018/19),

73.9% of the households interviewed (n = 65) lost livestock to snow

leopards, with an annual average loss of two livestock per household. Of

the total depredation attributed to snow leopards, 55.4% were yak

(mainly female: 79%), 31.7% goat, 6.8% sheep, 3.2% horse and 2.8%

cattle. Results from applying Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs)

revealed the total number of livestock owned and the number of larger

bodied livestock species as the main explanatory covariates explaining

livestock depredation. Forty-one (41%) of all herders considered snow

leopard’s preference for domestic livestock as the main factor in

livestock predation, whereas only 5% perceived poor herding practice as

the main reason for the loss. Our study found poor and changing herding

practices in the valley, whereby 71% herders reported careful herding as

a solution to snow leopard depredation, and 15% of herders considered

the complete extermination of snow leopards as the best solution to the

problem. Tolerance levels and awareness among herders towards snow

leopard conservation is increasing, mainly due to the Buddhist religion

and strict law enforcement within this protected area. We recommend the

effective implementation of a community-based livestock insurance scheme

to compensate the economic loss of herders due to predation and improved

herding practices as the recommended mitigation measures for ensuring

livestock security and snow leopards’ conservation in the valley.
 
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  Call Number Serial (down) 1624  
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Author Chetri, M., Odden, M., Devineau, O., McCarthy, T., Wegge, P. url 
  Title Multiple factors influence local perceptions of snow leopards and Himalayan wolves in the central Himalayas, Nepal. Type Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication PeerJ Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 1-18  
  Keywords Panthera uncia, Canis lupus chanco, Perceptions, Large carnivores, Trans-Himalayas  
  Abstract An understanding of local perceptions of carnivores is

important for conservation and management planning. In the central

Himalayas, Nepal, we interviewed 428 individuals from 85 settlements

using a semi-structured questionnaire to quantitatively assess local

perceptions and tolerance of snow leopards and wolves. We used

generalized linear mixed effect models to assess influential factors,

and found that tolerance of snow leopards was much higher than of

wolves. Interestingly, having experienced livestock losses had a minor

impact on perceptions of the carnivores. Occupation of the respondents

had a strong effect on perceptions of snow leopards but not of wolves.

Literacy and age had weak impacts on snow leopard perceptions, but the

interaction among these terms showed a marked effect, that is, being

illiterate had a more marked negative impact among older respondents.

Among the various factors affecting perceptions of wolves, numbers of

livestock owned and gender were the most important predictors. People

with larger livestock herds were more negative towards wolves. In terms

of gender, males were more positive to wolves than females, but no such

pattern was observed for snow leopards. People’s negative perceptions

towards wolves were also related to the remoteness of the villages.

Factors affecting people’s perceptions could not be generalized for the

two species, and thus need to be addressed separately. We suggest future

conservation projects and programs should prioritize remote settlements.
 
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  Call Number Serial (down) 1615  
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Author Maheshwari, A., Sathyakumar, S. url 
  Title Patterns of Livestock Depredation and Large Carnivore Conservation Implications in the Indian Trans-Himalaya Type Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Journal of Arid Environments Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 1-5  
  Keywords Large carnivores Livestock depredation Participatory approach Snow leopard Kargil Himalaya  
  Abstract Livestock is one of the major sources of livelihood for the

agro-pastoral communities in central and south Asia. Livestock

depredation by large carnivores is a wide-ranging issue that leads to

economic losses and a deviance from co-existence. We investigated the

grass root factors causing livestock depredation in Kargil, Ladakh and

tested the findings of diet analysis in validating reported livestock

depredation. Globally vulnerable snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and more

common wolf (Canis lupus) were the two main wild predators. A total of

1113 heads of livestock were reportedly killed by wolf (43.6%) followed

by unknown predators (31.4%) and snow leopard (21.5%) in the study site

from 2009 to 2012, which comes to 2.8% annual livestock losses. Scat

analysis also revealed a significant amount of livestock in the diet of

snow leopard (47%) and wolf (51%). Poor livestock husbandry practices

and traditional livestock corrals were found to be the major drivers

contributing in the livestock depredation. Based on the research

findings, we worked with the local communities to sensitize them about

wildlife conservation and extended limited support for predator proof

livestock corrals at a small scale. Eventually it helped in reducing

conflict level and conserving the globally threatened carnivores. We

conclude that a participatory approach has been successful to generate

an example in reducing large carnivore-human conflict in the west

Himalaya.
 
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  Call Number Serial (down) 1609  
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Author Suryawanshi, K. R., Khanyari, M., Sharma, K., Lkhagvajav, P., Mishra, C. url 
  Title Sampling bias in snow leopard population estimation studies Type Journal Article
  Year 2019 Publication Population Eccology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 1-9  
  Keywords camera trap, Central Asia, Himalaya, meta-analysis, monitoring, Panthera uncia, population ecology  
  Abstract Accurate assessments of the status of threatened species and their conservation

planning require reliable estimation of their global populations and robust monitoring

of local population trends. We assessed the adequacy and suitability of studies

in reliably estimating the global snow leopard (Panthera uncia) population. We

compiled a dataset of all the peer-reviewed published literature on snow leopard

population estimation. Metadata analysis showed estimates of snow leopard density

to be a negative exponential function of area, suggesting that study areas have generally

been too small for accurate density estimation, and sampling has often been

biased towards the best habitats. Published studies are restricted to six of the

12 range countries, covering only 0.3�0.9% of the presumed global range of the

species. Re-sampling of camera trap data from a relatively large study site

(c.1684 km2) showed that small-sized study areas together with a bias towards

good quality habitats in existing studies may have overestimated densities by up to

five times. We conclude that current information is biased and inadequate for generating

a reliable global population estimate of snow leopards. To develop a rigorous

and useful baseline and to avoid pitfalls, there is an urgent need for

(a) refinement of sampling and analytical protocols for population estimation of

snow leopards (b) agreement and coordinated use of standardized sampling protocols

amongst researchers and governments across the range, and (c) sampling

larger and under-represented areas of the snow leopard's global range.
 
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1477  
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Author Hanson, J. H., Schutgens, M., Baral, N. url 
  Title What explains tourists support for snow leopard conservation in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal? Type Journal Article
  Year Publication Human Dimensions of Wildlife Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 1-15  
  Keywords Flagship species; Himalayas; knowledge-attitude-practice model; Panthera uncia; protected area management; tourism  
  Abstract Wildlife tourism is increasingly important for the conservation of

threatened species such as snow leopards. However, what tourists

know or value about snow leopards, and to what extent they support

the conservation of this species, has received limited empirical attention.

This paper investigates tourist knowledge about snow leopards,

beliefs and values toward the species, and support for its conservation

in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. Survey data were

collected from 406 foreign tourists between March and May 2014.

Although knowledge about snow leopards varied among respondents,

there was widespread support for their conservation.

Knowledge about snow leopards was best explained by education

level and environmental organization membership. Improved knowledge

about the species, and a variety of intrinsic conservation values,

were found to increase tourist support for snow leopard conservation.

These results provide important insights to help tailor tourism

initiatives to support the conservation of snow leopards.
 
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1474  
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Author Sharma, R. K., Bhatnagar, Y. V., Mishra, C. url 
  Title Does livestock benefit or harm snow leopards? Type Journal Article
  Year 201 Publication Biological Conservatio Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue 190 Pages 8-13  
  Keywords Panthera uncia, Trans-Himalaya, Pastoralism, Large carnivores, Livestock grazing, Co-existence  
  Abstract Large carnivores commonly prey on livestock when their ranges overlap. Pastoralism is the dominant land use type across the distributional range of the endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia. Snow leop- ards are often killed in retaliation against livestock depredation. Whether livestock, by forming an alter- native prey, could potentially benefit snow leopards, or, whether livestock use of an area is detrimental to snow leopards is poorly understood. We examined snow leopard habitat use in a multiple use landscape that was comprised of sites varying in livestock abundance, wild prey abundance and human population size. We photographically sampled ten sites (average size 70 sq. km) using ten camera traps in each site, deployed for a period of 60 days. Snow leopard habitat use was computed as a Relative Use Index based on the total independent photographic captures and the number of snow leopard individuals captured at each site. We quantified livestock abundance, wild prey abundance, human population size and terrain ruggedness in each of the sites. Key variables influencing snow leopard habitat use were identified using Information Theory based model selection approach. Snow leopard habitat use was best explained by wild prey density, and showed a positive linear relationship with the abundance of wild ungulates. We found a hump-shaped relationship between snow leopard habitat use and livestock stocking density, with an initial increase in habitat use followed by a decline beyond a threshold of livestock density. Our results suggest that in the absence of direct persecution of snow leopards, livestock grazing and snow leopard habitat use are potentially compatible up to a certain threshold of livestock density, beyond which habitat use declines, presumably due to depressed wild ungulate abundance and associated anthropogenic disturbance.  
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1426  
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Author Mishra, C., Suryawanshi, K. url 
  Title Managing conflicts over livestock depradation by Large Carnivores Type Book Chapter
  Year 2014 Publication SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION – Human-Wildlife Conflict in the Mountains of SAARC Region – Compilation of Successful Management Strategies and Practices Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 27-47  
  Keywords Snow leopard Panthera uncia, wolf Canis lupus, Himalayas, Central Asia  
  Abstract Managing wildlife-caused damage to human interests has become an important aspect of contemporary conservation management. Conflicts between pastoralism and carnivore conservation over livestock depredation pose a serious challenge to endangered carnivores worldwide, and have become an important livelihood concern locally. Here, we first review the primary causes of these conflicts, their socio-ecological correlates, and commonly employed mitigation measures. We then describe a community-based program to manage conflicts over livestock depredation by snow leopards Panthera uncia and wolves Canis lupus. A threats-based conceptual model of conflict management is presented. Conflicts over livestock depredation are characterized by complex, multi-scale interactions between carnivore and livestock behavioral ecology, animal husbandry, human psyche, culture, world-views, and socio-economic and education levels of affected peoples. A diversity of commonly employed conflict-mitigation measures is available. They aim at (i) reducing livestock depredation through better livestock herding, use of physical, chemical or psychological barriers, removal of carnivores, and use of livestock guard animals, (ii) offsetting economic losses through damage compensation and insurance programmes, and (iii) increasing peoples’ tolerance of carnivores through indirect approaches such as conservation education and economic incentives. For effective management, conflicts need to be understood along two important dimensions, viz., the reality of damage caused to humans, and the psyche and perceptions of humans who suffer wildlife caused damage. The efficacy of commonly used mitigation measures is variable. A combination of measures that reduce the level of livestock depredation, share or offset economic losses, and improve the social carrying capacity for carnivores will be more effective in managing conflicts than standalone measures  
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1424  
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Author Kohli, K., Sankaran, M., Suryawanshi, K. R., Mishra, C url 
  Title A penny saved is a penny earned: lean season foraging strategy of an alpine ungulate Type Journal Article
  Year 2014 Publication Animal Behaviour Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue 92 Pages 93-100  
  Keywords blue sheep, grazing, herbivore, mountain ungulate, optimal foraging, Pseudois nayaur, trans-Himalaya  
  Abstract Lean season foraging strategies are critical for the survival of species inhabiting highly seasonal environments

such as alpine regions. However, inferring foraging strategies is often difficult because of

challenges associated with empirically estimating energetic costs and gains of foraging in the field. We

generated qualitative predictions for the relationship between daily winter foraging time, body size and

forage availability for three contrasting foraging strategies including time minimization, energy intake

maximization and net energy maximization. Our model predicts that for animals employing a time

minimization strategy, daily winter foraging time should not change with body size and should increase

with a reduction in forage availability. For energy intake maximization, foraging time should not vary

with either body size or forage availability. In contrast, for a net energy maximization strategy, foraging

time should decrease with increase in body size and with a reduction in forage availability. We contrasted

proportion of daily time spent foraging by bharal, Pseudois nayaur, a dimorphic grazer, across

different body size classes in two high-altitude sites differing in forage availability. Our results indicate

that bharal behave as net energy maximizers during winter. As predicted by the net energy maximization

strategy, daily winter foraging time of bharal declined with increasing body size, and was lower in the

site with low forage availability. Furthermore, as predicted by our model, foraging time declined as the

winter season progressed. We did not find support for the time minimizing or energy intake maximizing

strategies. Our qualitative model uses relative rather than absolute costs and gains of foraging which are

often difficult to estimate in the field. It thus offers a simple way to make informed inferences regarding

animal foraging strategies by contrasting estimates of daily foraging time across gradients of body size

and forage availability.
 
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1409  
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