Living with large carnivores: predation on livestock by the snow leopard (Uncia uncia)

摘要: Livestock predation by large carnivores and their retaliatory persecution pastoralists are worldwide conservation concerns. Poor understanding of the ecological social underpinnings this human?wildlife conflict hampers effective management programs. The endangered snow leopard Uncia uncia is involved in with people across its mountainous range South Central Asia, where pastoralism predominant land use, widely persecuted retaliation. We examined human-snow at two sites Spiti region Indian Trans-Himalaya, livestock outnumber wild ungulates, acute. quantified leopard's dependence on assessing diet that differed relative abundance ungulates. also surveyed indigenous Buddhist community's attitudes towards these sites. Our results show a relatively high leopards livestock. A higher proportion (58%) was area (29.7 animals km?2) lower ungulate (2.1?3.1 bharal Pseudois nayaur km?2), compared 40% (13.9 (4.5?7.8 ibex Capra km?2). found community experiencing greater levels losses comparatively more tolerant leopard. This discrepancy explained presence conservation-incentive program site, differences economic roles between communities. former dependent cash crops as source income while latter livestock, thereby less These data have implications for strategies. They indicate densities prey may be reasonable predictors extent However, itself not an adequate measure intensity even apparently similar cultural settings.