Over the past year, seven leopards have been found dead across various locations in Parbat District, according to the Division Forest Office.
Jhamnath Sapkota, the Chief of the Division Forest Office, reported that the leopards were discovered between Poush 1 and Jestha in the previous fiscal year. The locations and dates of these findings are as follows: a young leopard was found on Poush 1 in Barrachaur, Bihadi Rural Municipality-2; a male and a female leopard were found on Poush 9 in Chuwa, Kusma Municipality-8; and two leopards were discovered on Poush 12 in Bajung, Modi Rural Municipality-5. Additionally, a male leopard was found on Baishakh 18 in Chinnekhola, Katuwachowpari, Kusma-9, and a female leopard was found on Jestha 13 in Khurkot, Kusma-2.
Sapkota explained that the increase in leopard numbers in the district is attributed to the growth of forest areas and improvements in habitat and food availability. However, he speculated that some deaths might be related to attacks on livestock during nighttime or due to food shortages. The nature of the leopard deaths did not suggest external attacks, and some deaths were attributed to starvation or drowning.
The presence of dead leopard cubs indicates that the mothers might have ventured out in search of food, leading to the cubs’ deaths due to lack of nourishment. The shortage of grasslands and declining numbers of prey animals like deer and antelope may also contribute to food scarcity for the leopards.
In the fiscal year 2079/80, nine leopards were rescued dead in Parbat, with two found alive. The Division Forest Office continues to monitor and manage wildlife in the region to address these challenges.
