The blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) is the principal prey for the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in Bhutan. The domestic yaks and horses are as widely distributed as the blue sheep, sharing the same habitat and possibly diet. There is a myth that these domestic animals could potentially displace the blue sheep, but it has to be scientifically verified. However, there has not been a single study on dietary composition and possibility of grazing competition between these two herbivore groups in Bhutan. Therefore, I would like to investigate the degree of grazing competition between blue sheep and domestic ungulates.

In order to study the botanical composition of herbivore diet, a consistent method that is applicable to all of blue sheep, yaks, and horses will be used for meaningful one to one comparison. Therefore, after thorough literature review, I have decided to use "feeding site examination" as a feasible method for studying dietary composition.

My research will demystify the existence of grazing competition between blue sheep and domestic ungulates in the alpine region. It could be possible that these two ungulates may be harmoniously coexisting or displacing one another. Either of these scenarios needs to be confirmed through my research. Anyhow, the output of my research will help in blue sheep conservation and alpine rangeland management. In either of the aforementioned two scenarios, my research will point towards the need to determine the carrying capacity of the alpine rangelands. Doing so would mean limiting the population of domestic yaks and horses. If the former scenario is proven true, I would embark on a mission to educate the livestock owners not to feel bad about the blue sheep and kill them.

This research will also develop database on the list of plant species that are eaten exclusively by blue sheep or commonly eaten by blue sheep and domestic ungulates. This will be very educative to the plant and wildlife researchers as well as the pasture developers and rangeland managers.

My study will directly help in the conservation of the endangered snow leopard whose populations are rapidly dwindling in many of the range countries. Bhutan is one of the strongholds for snow leopard conservation in the Himalayas, and my research will help in maintaining this status by helping in conservation of the blue sheep which is the principal prey of this top carnivore.