Field Verification of Kimathanka Corridor for Snow Leopard (Panthara Uncia,Schreber,1775) Identified in Makalu Barun National Park , Nepal

Abstract

The landscape analysis and mapping of Snow Leopard has identified 14 habitat corridors and 11 critical sites in Eastern Himalaya landscape. Among 14 identified habitat corridors Kimathanka is one of them which lie in core area and buffer zones of Makalu Barun National Park (MBNP). Through spatial analysis and habitat mapping the MBNP is believed to have total 852 km 2 favourable habitats for Snow Leopard. The study was carried out for the field verification of the identified Kimathanka corridor in Eastern Himalaya Landscape (EHL). Indirect sign survey method for assessing habitat occupancy, line transects method for prey survey and HHs questionnaire survey & FGD for Socioeconomic survey were applied during survey period. Total 13 survey grids of each 16 km 2

were overlaid on most potential habitat of Snow Leopard in Kimathanka corridor out of which only 10 survey grids were accessible. Ten lines transects of total 21.6km length was followed during the survey period. Total 46 carnivore signs were collected in survey period out of which seven signs (Scat) were identified as signs of Snow Leopard with encounter rate 0.324 per km. Twenty two scats and 11 pugmarks of carnivores remained unidentified as most of the signs were destroyed by the rainfall as the survey was conducted in monsoon season (23 rd June - 2 nd August 2018). Fourteen types of prey species were encountered. The domestic animals were most abundant in the study area. The signs of Wild Boar were encountered the most with encounter rate 0.509 per km. The economic loss per household in Hatiya (NRs. 21,937 per year) was high, followed by Chumsur with NRs. 6,253 per year and Kimathanka with NRs. 2,725 per year. Economic loss per household per year for livestock was high in Chumsur (NRS. 38,333) than Kimathanka (NRs. 16,500) and Hatiya (NRs. 7,600).