Demonstration of the field kits in the field.

The main conservation issue with snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and associated species in Kargil is the most common problem with the large carnivore’s worldwide i.e. retaliatory killing of snow leopard and decline in natural prey-base. This is an on-going project, two phases of this project have provided information on status and distribution of snow leopard, co-predators and their prey with special emphasis to large carnivore-human conflicts in Kargil and pilot mitigation strategy through supporting predator proof livestock corrals. Also, based on these findings potential habitats for snow leopards and high conflicts zones have been identified which need immediate attention to mitigate the conflict to conserve globally threatened species. Now, this proposed project will be focusing on the mitigation strategies which have been devised and practiced during previous phases of this project. Kargil is home of the globally threatened species such as snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear (Ursus acrtos isebellinus), Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco), Asiatic ibex (Capra ibex), Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and associated mountain wildlife of southern Asia. With this project, we aim to provide a ‘protected habitat’ for these imperial wildlife and ‘win-win’ scenario to the local communities and wildlife in the Kargil Himalayas.

Clear difference between traditional and improved corral.

As a pioneering work in the previous phase of this overall project has proven, success will breed sustainability! To explain, during the earlier phase of this programme, to mitigate large carnivore-human conflicts, predator proof livestock corrals has been a great success and we aim to continue this support, as this works at the grassroots level to reduce retaliatory killing of snow leopard and other wildlife. So, we expect to support predator proof corrals in this project which will maintain almost 2000 livestock across villages in Kargil.

Further, we need to have long term solutions and strategies to monitor wildlife in Kargil. Previous phases of the project were executed in the collaboration with the Department of wildlife Protection, Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir.

The front-line staff will be benefited from carrying out wildlife monitoring exercises with proper support and training. In this project, we aim to provide them proper training in monitoring wildlife, tackling hunting issues, conducting socioeconomic and large carnivore- human conflict surveys regularly. This will eventually assist in making the Department independent and self-sustaining to conduct wildlife studies.