Spatio-temporal distribution, diet and human conflict of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in the Khunjerab National Park, Gilgit Baltistan

Abstract

Apex predators play a critical role in ecosystem dynamics, exerting top-down control over prey populations and influencing biodiversity. The current study focused on the distribution, diet menu and human conflict of Snow leopard (Panthera uncia), one of the apex predators in the Khunjerab National Park (KNP), Gilgit-Baltistan. We used camera trapping as well as field survey techniques for determining the distribution of the species in the study area. The diet of snow leopard was investigated through scat analysis while human conflict was investigated through self-designed questionnaires. Results showed that snow leopards are distributed in different areas of the park at various elevations ranging between 3075 m(lowest) and 6293 m (highest). The camera traps captured a total of 20 capture “events or encounters” of snow leopard, among overall 550 photographs taken at various sites. Analysis of these capture data revealed that the activity pattern of snow leopard was bimodal, and it showed peak activity during dawn and dusk times. Scat analysis revealed that snow leopards take 72 % of their diet from wild prey, of which Himalayan Ibex makes up a large portion, and the remaining 28 % from the domestic prey, of which Yak is consumed at a high rate. Questionnaire data analysis revealed that depredation by snow leopard on livestock mostly occurs in the valley locations (88.5 %), with grazing areas accounting for 11.4 % of the total. The attacks occur mostly at night, and in the months of May and June, respectively, In the KNP, apex predators attack yaks by 82.2 %; while depredation rates for sheep, goats, and cows were 8.3 %, 6.25 %, and 3.12 %, respectively. The study concludes that depredation on livestock is the main cause of conflict between humans and the snow leopard in the study area, and it is the biggest challenge for conservationists.