Nepal – नेपाल

The Himalayan Wolf Canis lupus L., a top predator of the Third Pole, is proposed to be of a distinct wolf lineage (C. himalayensis) relative to the Holarctic Grey Wolf as described by mtDNA analyses. A biodiversity survey organized by the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) has captured images of wolves in three different regions, and the study team has observed wolf scats in five additional regions above the tree line in Rolwaling Valley. Further, interviews with local herders provided evidence of wolf depredation of livestock in the area. The Rolwaling Valley in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area was the study area which was divided into 12, 4 x 4 km (16 km²) grid cells, each supplied with one camera trap operated continuously from June to November 2019 (only 6 out of 12 cameras functioned for the duration of our study). Wolf detections were recorded by camera traps from Yalung Pass (4,956 m), Tsho-Rolpa glacial Lake (4,536 m) and the Dudhkunda ridgeline (5,091 m). The photo capture rate index (PCRI) for wolves was 0.71. Our study reports the first photographic evidence of the Himalayan Wolf in the Rolwaling Valley.

Human-wolf conflict has been one of the major issues in the Himalayan region of Nepal. It has obstructed the sustainable management initiatives in Annapurna Conservation Area. The aim of this study is to assess the status of human-wolf conflict, conservation threats to wolf and people’s perception towards this endangered carnivore. Questionnaire survey was conducted in different wards of three rural municipalities (RM) of the Upper Mustang. Similarly, key informants were interviewed followed by several discussions with stakeholders. The results indicate “wolf’s preference for domestic livestock” as the most probable cause of depredation with IRR value 0.91. The number of victims was found highest in Lomanthang RM (ward number 2) where 90% of respondents reported to be victims. However, in terms of the loss in monetary value, Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda RM (ward number 4) ranked highest with the loss of NRs. 55,880 (≈$479.1)/HH/year and Barhagaun Muktichhetra (ward number 3) is the least affected. Similarly, by number, mountain goat casualties (172) were highest in last 5 years, but the maximum economic loss was due to the horse depredation (NRs. 68,00,000 or $57,347.20) among sampled households. The results indicate that the negative perception of local people is the major threat to wolf. Active participation of local people in conservation and awareness program can play a vital role to reduce and mitigate the human-wolf conflict at community level.

Study was objectively conducted to assess status, trend, confiscated and seized trophy of wildlife fauna and its legitimate deed. Division forest offices of Kathmandu, Lalitpure and Bhaktapur were taken for study area. The dimensions of the captured trophies were measured, 25 key informants were interviewed. Similarly, documents like register, cases filed and decision register were reviewed. Result showed that, Panthera tigris, Uncia uncial, Neofelis nebulosa, Canis lupus, Prionailurus bengalensis and Gavialis gangeticus were key illegally traded species. Altogether 327 wildlife trophies were captured in Kathmandu valley. Illegally captured fauna were 12 mammals, 1 bird, 3 reptiles falls under endangered categories of IUCN Red List and 7 species were listedunder endangered of IUCN Red list following by CITES I. Total 97 trophies (32%) fall under mega carnivores. Total weight of confiscated scales of Pangolin was 47.74kg in Kathmandu valley. It was 140cm length and 36cm breadth of captured leopard in Kathmandu district. Kruskal Wallis test showed that, there was significant difference in number of confiscated body parts captured in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts at 95% confidence level.Total 381 cases were recorded in Kathmandu valley. Co-efficient variances of case registered were 0.162, 0.264 and 0.212 in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts respectively. MannKenall’s tau b correlation showed that value of correlation coefficient were 0.587,0.305 and 0.554 in Kathmandu, Lalitpurand Bhaktapur districts respectively. Total 698 persons were involved in wildlife crime. Maximum charge was US $1,626.90 in Bhaktapure district and maximum imprisonment period was 79 months in Kathmandu.