Summary

• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: livestock; snow leopard; Uncia uncia; wolf; Canis lupus; conflict; Himalaya; Indian
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.473.5075; http://www.snowleopardnetwork.org/bibliography/Mishra_Conflict_1997.pdf

Livestock depredation by the snow leopard, Uncia uncia, and the wolf, Canis lupus, has resulted in a human-wildlife conflict that hinders the conservation of these globally-threatened species throughout their range. This paper analyses the alleged economic loss due to livestock depredation by these carnivores, and the retaliatory responses of an agro-pastoral com-munity around Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary in the Indian trans-Himalaya. The three villages studied (80 house-holds) attributed a total of 189 livestock deaths (18 % of the livestock holding) over a period of 18 months to wild predators, and this would amount to a loss per house-hold equivalent to half the average annual per capita income. The financial compensation received by the villagers from the Government amounted to 3 % of the perceived annual loss. Recent intensification of the conflict seems related to a 37.7 % increase in livestock holding in the last decade. Villagers have been killing the wolf, though apparently not the snow leopard. A self-financed compensation scheme, and modification of existing livestock pens are suggested as area-specific short-term measures to reduce the conflict. The need to address the problem of increasing livestock holding in the long run is emphasized.