Spatio-temporal interactions between snow leopards, prey, and livestock- implications for coexistence

Livestock grazing is one of the most intense human activities worldwide, even within protected areas. Understanding the survival characteristics of wildlife and livestock is fundamental to species conservation. Long-term studies of wildlife-livestock interactions are needed to better explore the roots of wildlife-livestock conflict and provide effective protection suggestions. Here, we deployed infrared camera traps in snow leopard habitat in Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China from 2015 to 2022 and analyzed the interactions among snow leopards, blue sheep, and domestic yaks over time with respect to three aspects: spatial distribution, daily activity patterns, and habitat use patterns. We found a high spatial overlap among all three species (average 65.4 %). Snow leopards were crepuscular, while blue sheep and domestic yaks were diurnal. Domestic yaks showed evidence of an overall lower adaptive capacity than blue sheep, with more pronounced shifts in activity patterns over time than the wild species, as well as a more divergent habitat use pattern in choosing areas at lower elevation and with gentler slopes. Changes in daily activity patterns, habitat use and occupancy probability over time were cyclical and suggest complex shifts in niche over time among species. To mitigate wildlife-livestock conflicts in the future, we recommend 1) controlling the number of livestock, 2) improving the carrying capacity of the environment, and 3) optimizing policies to allow for niche differentiation between livestock and wildlife. Our study is helpful for guiding future research directions and formulating effective livestock management policies worldwide.