Common leopards pose threat to snow-leopards
The existence of snow-leopard, a beautiful creature and popularly known as the ‘Dog of the God’ is in the verge of extinct. With the increase number of common leopard at Sagamatha National Park (SNP), which is listed in the World Heritage Sites, and due to the similar type of prey as practiced by both the creatures, the snow-leopard’s existence has been pushed towards extinction, according to the experts.
Snow Leopard (file photo)
According to Bed Dhakal, chief warden at the park, the common leopard was found to prey with male musk deer at the height of 3400m, probably unsound to its nature as it was accustomed to roam at the height of 2500 meter earlier.
Stating that it was the research study for the scholars to see the common leopard at the natural habitat of snow-leopard, speculated Dhakal, adding, ‘The common leopard might have come there to prey Jharal (Himali Thar) which is the sole quarry of the snow-leopard. Dhakal said there would be conflict between two creatures while preying, posing great threat to the cubs of the snow-leopard.
‘The study of the state of snow-leopard at SNP is required’, Dhakal added. The number of the common leopards at SNP has been increasing since it was first spotted in 2007 for the first time, experts say. According to them, common leopard traveled to mountainous region after the swelling activities of human being in lower belt of Solukhumbu.
Kamal Thapa, research officer at WWF said the trace of snow-leopard could not be seen at Namche, Feriche, Thamey and Gokyo these days. Thapa further guessed that snow-leopard moved upward the mountains and towards Tibet due to threat of carnivorous animals. He also had made follow up study on snow-leopard at SNP in August, 2010.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna (CITES) has included the snow-leopard with top priority in its two indexes.
Thapa also suggest that the Nahur should be brought from Dhorpatan Wildlife Reserve to replace common leopard from SNP. Likewise, the situation of the snow-leopard may be evaluated in better condition with the increased number of Jharal inside the park area. According to the data taken in 2009, there are three to five snow-leopards and one hundred and ninety Jharals at the SNP. However, the numbers of Jharals have gone down these days.
Common Leopard (file photo)
Beside high belts of Nepali mountainous region at Mt. Ganesh, Rolbaling and Makalu Barun National Park, Rara lake and Kanchanjanga are the appropriate habitat for snow-leopard.
Som Ale had first spotted this extinct creature in 2004 at SNP. So far, the animal has been spotted in 12 nations of central Asia.
