Effectiveness of non-lethal predator deterrents to reduce livestock losses to leopard attacks within a multiple-use landscape of the Himalayan region.

摘要: Lethal measures are widely adopted by local communities and governments to manage human-wildlife conflicts. Such lead large scale decline of carnivore populations globally with trophic cascades on ecosystems questionable impacts Mitigating human-carnivore conflicts through non-lethal will protect endangered predators secure livelihoods. However, information the effectiveness such extremely limited hence cannot be applied in developing scientific evidence. Further develop coexistence models, it is important for community members, biologists wildlife managers actively participate conservation programs. We evaluated response a visual deterrent (i.e. fox lights) deter leopard attacks livestock within multiple-use landscape western Himalaya engagement. monitored 16 experimental sites 17 control 27 villages recorded data depredation leopards between April 2018 2019. A multivariate analysis was conducted determine influence predictors animal husbandry practices vicinity human settlements. found that deterrents discouraged common predate (cows goats). also demonstrated based initiatives successful mitigating semi-natural landscapes. suggest site specific strategies adopting safeguard carnivores, humans shared