Snow leopard monitoring has started in three locations of Upper Mustang through camera trapping. The initiative aims to track the leopard population and movement due to increasing human-wildlife conflict.
According to Umesh Poudel, head of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) office, 12 cameras have been installed in Waragung Muktikshetra-3 (Samar area), two near Lo Manthang, and one above Lo Manthang market.
The monitoring seeks to determine the number and locations of leopards and reduce conflicts with local livestock. ACAP Lo Manthang has also initiated a study to protect snow leopards and other wildlife while ensuring the safety of local livestock. Previously, ACAP had installed 31 cameras in various locations, including Sangda La, Tiri, and Kagbeni, for snow leopard monitoring and research.
Experts are analyzing the impact of climate change on the ecosystem, as declining grasslands in Himalayan regions are forcing prey species like blue sheep to move closer to human settlements, bringing leopards along with them.
