Assessing Human-Common Leopard Negative Interaction: Mitigating Poaching and Illegal Trading of its Products in Eastern Himalaya

Abstract

The Common Leopard (Panthera pardus) populations are isolated due to anthropogenic pressure resulting in increased human-common leopard conflicts. The human-wildlife negative interaction is augmenting in Bhutan due to the fact that most of the farm/crop land is now being left fellow and abandoned letting wildlife to enter human settlement. Managing socio-economic needs of farmers and ecological conservation is a challenge. Intensive studies were done for large carnivores like tiger and snow leopard but the leopard received less attention. The study was carried out to document the livestock depredation, identify threats and create conservation awareness. The study area is known for the habitats of common leopards. Prior to the field survey, Villagers were met to get general information on leopards and their habitat. The data were collected by collectively involving people participatory. The total respondents were 340 and most of them were elderly villagers and pastoral nomads. The study revealed that 242 livestock were lost to predators and maximum attack was in the year 2018. The Common leopard was the predator that killed maximum livestock in the study area. The leopard entering into the human settlements is in rise and the conflicts are even more critical with rural communities living nearby forest. Killing leopard was considered as a form of revenge by the villagers against livestock depredation and to trade its parts for various purpose. The foresters and managers were given inputs on monitoring and conservation. Involvement of local communities through widespread local community awareness immensely supported the conservation of leopards.