Livestock farming faces threat after increasing leopard attacks in upper Mustang

Mustang, March 2: The livestock farming in upper Mustang is at increasing risk owing to snow leopard attacks.

The snow leopard attacks have been frequent recently, killing domestic animals and panicking locals. With this, the livestock farming that has been done for long has been endangered. Domestic animals are killed in pastures and enclosures by the Himalayan beast in the area under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).

However, there is no well-managed data on the loss of property on it. The frequency of attack and subsequent loss of animals on the one hand and the decline in pasture due to climate change have posed a serious threat to livestock farming in the Himalayan region.

The grasslands are getting bare with thinning stubble to graze cattle. Similarly, the blue sheep, a major prey of the snow leopard, is coming downhill in search of grass and fodder. The beast not only trails the blue sheep heading downhill but also preys on the cattle in pastures and enclosures.

Moreover, the snow leopard, having upper hills as its habitat, is coming down to the street and near human settlements in Mustang. Last year, two such beasts were spotted near Kagbeni village. The locals have worried about how they could save horses, yaks, sheep, and goats from the leopards prowling near settlements.

As many as 79 Himalayan goats owned by Mingmar Gurung of Dhakmar village were killed by the leopard two years back. The enclosure was breached, and the cattle were killed by it. In the first week of this month (Falgun) alone, livestock farmer Nawin Kumar Gurung from Baragung Muktichhetra-3 lost four Himalayan goats in the leopard’s attack.

Office chief of ACAP at Lomanthang, Ramesh Paudel, informed that 13 domestic animals were killed in the last 10 months. In the fiscal year 2079/80, 13 households from the Mustang district bore the loss of 65 domestic animals. The people, especially from Lomanthang, Loghekar Damodarkunda, Baragung Muktichhetra, Ghapajhong, and Thasang, are bearing much loss.

Animal husbandry is the major source of income in the upper hilly and Himalayan regions of Nepal. It is not only an occupation but also linked to the Himalayan culture. —RSS