Snow leopard sighted by Bishnu Devkota in Dolpa.

The snow leopard is possibly a barometer for assessing environmental health and biodiversity conservation in high mountainous areas. Its population is declining throughout its range due to various survival threats. Snow leopards dependency on domestic livestock increases conflict with the local communities and has resulted in increased retaliatory killing. This has been an important issue in snow leopard conservation throughout its range.

Team leader monitoring prey species of Snow Leopard.

This project aims to mitigate human snow leopard conflict for effective conservation of snow leopard. Conservation education will raise the level of awareness among local people and develop better understanding of wildlife conservation. Establishment of snow leopard information centre will also help to attract tourists and increase tourism in the area, aiding to the enhanced livelihood of the local people. Law enforcement staffs will get opportunity to upgrade their skill to mitigate human snow leopard conflict. Compensation program such as livestock insurance scheme is assumed to lessen the negative behaviour of people towards wildlife. Management and record keeping training for local leaders involved in livestock insurance scheme will help to institutionalize such scheme and encourage to be implemented in other parts of the country. Along with this, a strong coordination will be developed between the national park/conservation area authorities, community based organizations and local people for effective implementation of conservation activities in different part of the country.