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| Baral, K.; Bhandari, S.; Adhikari, B.; Kunwar, R.M.; Sharma, H.P.; Aryal, A.; Ji, W. | |
| Prey selection by leopards (_Panthera pardus fusca_) in the mid-hill region of Nepal | |
| 2024 Ecology and Evolution (14): e10924 | |
Information on prey selection and the diet of the leopard (_Panthera pardus fusca_) is essential for leopard conservation. We conducted an investigation into the prey species and the proportion of each species in the leopard's diet in a human-dominated mid-hill region of Nepal. The analysis of 96 leopard scats collected between August 2020 and March 2021 revealed that leopards consumed 15 prey species, including small- and medium-sized mammals and livestock. In addition to these prey species, we also found plastic materials, bird feathers, and some unidentified items in the leopard scats. Wild ungulates (such as barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak and wild boar, Sus scrofa) constituted only 10% of the biomass in the scats, while livestock contributed 27%, and other wild prey contributed 50%. Among all species, domestic goats had the highest relative biomass in the scats, followed by the jungle cat (_Felis chaus_), domestic dog (_Canis familiaris_), and large Indian civet (_Viverra zibetha_). Similarly, the Indian hare (_Lepus nigricollis_) had the highest proportion of relative individuals present in the scat samples, followed by the jungle cat and the large Indian civet. A lower proportion of biomass from wild ungulates in the leopard's diet and a higher dependency of the leopard on domestic prey and other wild prey indicate a shortage of medium-sized wild prey, such as barking deer and wild boar, in leopard habitats. Therefore, the conservation of wild prey species, especially medium-sized prey, is crucial for reducing the leopard's dependence on livestock and mitigating human-leopard conflicts in the future. |
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