In order to assess the distribution and relative abundance of snow leopard and its prey and the threats faced by these species in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh in India, Tata Housing through its conservation partner conducted a detailed reconnaissance surveys in the month of June 2014 in the high altitude Trans-Himalayas in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh to identify areas for detailed studies on snow leopards. Several existing and emerging threats to the snow leopard habitats were also noted. We also utilized this opportunity to interact with local communities and get their opinions on the issues surrounding human wildlife conflict, wildlife conservation and livelihoods. Based on these reconnaissance surveys, we designed the large scale study on snow leopards that we undertook in the peak of winters in January 2015. We have also designed social surveys that will run concurrently with the biological survey and help us devise better frameworks for stakeholder participation, conflict management and promoting co-existence of people and wildlife.
In order to undertake measures for managing snow leopard human conflict we have developed predator proof cattle-pens in Kargil. Three corrals/livestock stocking pens were built in partnership with the local community and the Department of Wildlife Protection Government of J&K. Taking into consideration the local knowledge, these corrals are also designed to be energy efficient and improve the quality of livestock management by keeping the interiors warm especially during winters when the temperatures go down to – 30 degrees Celsius. Except for the door and wire mesh, only the locally available material has been used in building the corrals. We will be monitoring these corrals to see whether they help in preventing livestock depredation by wolves and snow leopards which brings these endangered carnivores in conflict with local people. Retaliatory killing of snow leopards by local people is one of the key threats to their survival. Snow leopard is one of the important species in balancing the ecosystem in snow clad mountains. Only around 400-700 snow leopards are estimated to be found in India and around 7000 world-wide.