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| Ahlborn, G.G.; Jackson, R. | |
| A survey of Sagarmatha National Park for the endangered Snow leopard | |
| Full Book | |
A survey was undertaken of selected parts of Sagarmatha National Park to determine whether snow leopard was present, using techniques developed during a recent in-depth study of the species in west Nepal, using radio-telemetry. Although the species was considered to have been extirpated from the park in the 1970's, occasional reports have originated from trekkers who reported "seeing a snow leopard near Mount Everest (Sagarmatha)". Sagarmatha is considered one of the great parks of the world, being situated around the world's highest peak. Established in 1976, it was designated a World Heritage Site three years later. The Nepalese Government, under the auspices of the Department of National parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), set about the difficult task of controlling excessive deforestation and livestock grazing, while addressing the concerns of local residents who felt their traditional rights were being usurped. Ten years later, there is sign that protective measures are beginning to pay off: numbers of Himalayan tahr and the very endangered musk deer have increased dramatically, and this survey detected probable snow leopard sign in the upper Dudh Kosi valley, around the seasonal settlements of Gokyo and Thagnak. Snow leopard sign, estimated from 3-10 months of age, was found along 4 (13 %) of the 31 transects conducted. The sign consisted of scrapes, feces and prey remains, all found within reach of the strategic Renjo La that leads into the relatively sparsely populated Bhote Kosi valley above Thami. We judge the sign was made by a transient cat. The relatively dense and diverse prey population is probably a significant factor in explaining the presence of snow leopard. An intensive search of the uninhabited Hongu Valley, which adjoins the south-eastern boundary of the National Park, revealed no leopard sign, despite rumors that it supported the species (see report titled, "A high-altitude survey of the Hongu valley with special emphasis on snow leopard" by Rodney Jackson and Gary Ahlborn). We believe the absence of snow leopard is attributable to an imbalanced prey base (no resident herbivores) and excessive human disturbance (in the form overgrazing by livestock). There is no reason why livestock, tahr, snow leopard and man cannot share the same habitat, provided ecologically balanced land-uses are maintained. Given continued protection, and assuming no adverse sentiment or action on the part of the Sherpa's residing in Sagarmatha National Park, we would expect a small snow leopard population to eventually establish itself in the area. These animals could serve as a founder population for contiguous areas like the Hongu Valley. His Majesty's Government is presently entertaining a proposal to nearly double the size of the park, by incorporating the uninhabited portions of the Hongu, Barun and associated valleys within the boundaries. The resultant park will be contiguous with nearly 2,000 square miles of protected areas in Tibet (China) along the border with Nepal. The high valleys and drier mountains encompassed by this "Heart of the Himalayas Conservation Programme" will provide substantial habitat for the snow leopard and the associated plants and animals of the high Himalaya. By endorsing this proposal, and by aggressively tackling the problem of managing the presently overgrazed alpine rangelands, HMG is moving toward a milestone in integrating development with conservation. |
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