MUSTANG, APRIL 6
At least 21 livestock were killed and seven injured in a snow leopard attack in Upper Mustang, highlighting rising human-wildlife conflict in the region.
The incident occurred on Saturday night at Chumjung village of Lhomanthang Rural Municipality-4, where a barn belonging to local farmer Ghyacho Gurung was attacked, according to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project.
ACAP's Lhomanthang office chief Umesh Paudel said 10 Himalayan goats and 11 sheep were killed in the attack. Gurung had been rearing a total of 315 livestock.
A joint team of ACAP officials, police and local livestock technicians inspected the site on Sunday. Preliminary estimates put the loss at around Rs 455,000.
Officials said such incidents have become increasingly frequent in Upper Mustang, particularly during winter when snow leopards descend closer to human settlements in search of prey due to shrinking grazing areas.
The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC)-ACAP Lhomanthang office said the absence of predator-proof corrals has contributed to repeated livestock losses from predators such as snow leopards and Himalayan wolves.
It stressed that strengthening predator-proof livestock enclosures, improving herd management practices and increasing community awareness are essential to reduce conflict and prevent retaliatory harm to wildlife.
ACAP has also installed CCTV cameras in affected areas and across all five rural municipalities in Mustang to monitor snow leopard activity and support population studies.
The office said affected farmers will receive compensation as per the Wildlife Damage Relief Guidelines following a detailed assessment.
(With inputs from RSS)
