Pakistani Educational Leadership Institute

Contribute to Manage Human-leopard Conflict in Northern Pakistan through more informed based management practices

Master Plan (PDF)

Draft Proposal - Common Leopard (PDF)

Investigate Human Leopard Conflict (PDF) - Final Progress Report from the WWF

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DRAFT PROPOSAL-COMMON LEOPARD

1. Title: Contribute to the Management of Human–Leopard Conflict in Northwest Pakistan through mitigating measures trainings to reduce the leopard attack chances on human life and property

2. Researcher(s) (principal and co-researchers):

Mr. Muhammad Waseem, Research Officer, WWF-Pakistan (Principal Researcher)

3. Affiliation/Institution:

Researcher is affiliated with the WWF-Pakistan from last six years, but working in Conservation education and from last three years engaged with Human-leopard conflict management in Northern Pakistan.

4. Contact information (denote Mr., Ms., Dr., other):mwaseemwwf@gmail.com

5. Status and IUCN listing of the study species: (or explain if not listed whether it is used as a ‘model’ species for conservation efforts)

Common leopard is classified as a threatened species in the IUCN Red list data book According to the Global Cat Species Vulnerability Ranking, common leopard (panthera purdus) is categorized as 5(a), while regionally placed in category 4(a). The status assessment of mammals conducted by IUCN in 2004 in Pakistan and categorized it as a critically endangered species of the Pakistan.

6. Project start and end dates: (1Year)

7. Executive summary (summary for lay audience)

Galliat, is located in the Western Himalayan G200 Ecoregions. This Ecoregion is globally recognized for its unique biological diversity. This area is an important habitat of common leopard where, because of legal cover and good protection on ground; the species grow in number and reached a stage when it started posing problems to the lives and property of community who are living in areas adjoining to forests of Galliat. In June, 2005 a common leopard, killed six women in the proposed project area first time in the history of Pakistan. This incidence has greatly affected the communities’ feelings and attitude towards the conservation of wildlife, especially the carnivores. Except a small group of people who still support the conservation of leopards, majority want to eliminate them from their habitat. The retaliatory killings of leopard increased, attacks on human beings raised as compare to previous years. The rate of livestock depredation and frequency of leopard sighting inside villages also increased with the arrival of the new comer. Lack of awareness regarding the mitigating measures to reduce the chances of leopard attack is the significant reason besides the non availability of compensation for wildlife damages in wildlife policy. A study revealed that 70% attacks occurred inside the villages, followed by the 30% in the protected area. Main reason of livestock depredation, were the careless herding practices and poorly constructed pens for night holding of livestock. In order to contribute to normalizing the existing situation that is dangerous and threatening for the survival of leopards, this research-awareness project is being proposed.

8. Introduction: (Major threat, conservation significance)

Galliat, is located in the Western Himalayan G200 Ecoregions. This Ecoregion is globally recognized for its unique biological diversity. The area presents an important part of the Western Himalayan moist forest ecosystem consisting mainly of coniferous tress, including the rare Yew tree (Taxus wallichiana). The area provides refuge to 31 species of mammals, more than 757 species of vascular plants, around 203 species of birds, and three species of amphibians. This area is an important historic habitat of common leopard where, because of legal cover and good protection on ground; the species grow in number and reached a stage when it started posing problems to the lives and property of community who are living in areas adjoining to forests of Galliat. However, till June, 2005 the human life remained safe from the attacks of leopards.

In June, 2005 a common leopard, killed six women in the proposed project area. This incidence has greatly affected the communities’ feelings and attitude towards the conservation of wildlife, especially the carnivores. The occasional incidences of leopard’s predation poultry and livestock had been accepted since long but the current cases of repeated attacks on humans has changed the previous scenario. The leopards have now emerged as a symbol of terror and fear for the communities. Except a small group of people who still support the conservation of leopards, majority want to eliminate them from their habitat. The retaliatory killings of leopard increased in the area after that incidence; a total of 14 leopards were killed with in last three years in different locations in the whole district Abbottabad. A total of twelve human beings were attacked and badly injured in last three years within the study area. A study was conducted by the applicants in the area to know the post killing impacts of the leopards in the study area. Study results revealed that the new comer is more dangerous than the native one and because of non- familiar to the area the new comer attack chances on human increases. The rate of livestock depredation and frequency of leopard sighting inside villages also increased with the arrival of the new comer. Lack of awareness regarding the mitigating measures to reduce the chances of leopard attack is another significant reason.

The non availability of compensation for wildlife damages in wildlife policy also making the situation worst. An assessment study was conducted to know the livestock depredation due to leopard in the study area by the WWF team. Available information shows that in last three years nearly 483 goats, one buffalo, ox, sheep, horse and ten cows were killed in five union councils in the study area. Study revealed that 70% attacks occurred inside the villages, followed by the 30% in the protected area. Main reason of livestock depredation, were the careless herding practices and poorly constructed pens for night holding of livestock.

In order to contribute to normalizing the existing situation that is dangerous and threatening for the survival of leopards, this project is proposed.

9. Project description:

Common leopard, once common in several locations of Pakistan, is now mainly confined to the forested mountains of the Northwest Pakistan. However, it is only a limited zone of its historical occurrence in Pakistan that leopards have, apparently, increased in numbers over the last couple of decades. The people of Northwest, Pakistan since agro-pastoral by profession have never been happy with leopards because of the leopard predation their livestock, however it remained with tolerable limit till the past few years when losses because of leopards increased significantly. This though created some threats to the survival of leopards but not to the extent when 06 women, while collecting fodders, were attacked, partially eaten and killed.

Although killing of leopards by the herder community is not uncommon, it has never been done openly in the past. The incidence of human predation by leopards has provided justification to leopards killing openly which is in addition to the hue and cry on part on the community demanding the Government agencies for the total elimination of leopards. The NWFP Wildlife Department through police commandoes, succeeded to trap a leopard that was shot dead in the cage. Another was shot, apparently to satisfy the angry mob. Although there was no incidence of killing people by leopards after the man-eater was trapped and killed; the tension, terror and fear amongst the communities persist which remains a serious threat to the survival of leopards in this important natural habitat.

The applicants are involved in managing the human-leopard conflict in the problem zone from last three years on scientific lines. Information about the population status, prey base, livestock predation as well as social attitudinal studies besides GIS based habitat modeling are in progress from last three years. Few main reasons of leopard attacks on human life and property were identified through incidence reporting from the field as well. Now the applicant feels to work on these mitigating measures in detail by addressing the following proposed interventions;

1. Initiate community dialogue to find out any indigenous technique that can help community protect from the leopard attacks

2. Develop awareness material on the basis of the lesson from field experience and adjoining countries and disseminate to people in the problem zone for them to cope with leopards on various occasions

3. Provide trainings to communities for the protection of their life and livestock from leopard attacks

10. Methodology:

o Literature will be reviewed to find the other range states practices to address the problem

o A social attitudinal survey will be conducted first to know the local community perception about the leopard

o Develop training module on mitigating measures to reduce the leopard attack chances on human life and property

o Training sessions will be organized for the master trainers in the whole study area to cover up the 70000population (Seven Union Councils of Galliat)

o Hold media talks and publish articles related to the leopard issue. Involve all the stake holders including local community, religious leaders, school children and teachers, local government representatives, journalists and elites of the society

11. Letter(s) of endorsement: (SSC, AZA/WAZA chair or designees), recognized conservation organization

12. Conservation significance of the project;

The project shall help people to understand the values of natural ecosystem, with leopards as a part of it and will reduce tension that has put the entire fate of leopards and associated biodiversity at risk. The project will help women protect themselves from potential attacks by leopards that will further make people more tolerant of leopards.

13. Major Outcome(s) of project:

o Reduce human-leopard conflict in the area

o Raise awareness amongst the communities regarding the importance of leopard conservation

o Reduce chances of leopard attacks on local communities and their livestock through trainings/capacity building

14. Scientific citations: limit to 1 page

· Khan, A.A. (2005), Man vs Predator, Article. Published in Natura, WWF-Pakistan. Vol 31: Issue 03

· Mirza, Z. B., (2003),Training Material Wildlife survey and techniques

· Khan, A.A & Waseem, M. (December, 2007), Final Progress Report, Investigate human-leopard conflict in Galliat and contiguous to Margalla and Abbottabad, WWF-Pakistan

· Khan, A.A, & Waseem, M (September, 2007), Inter Felidea Conf. Livestock Insurance Scheme; A solution to resolve human-leopard conflict in Northern Pakistan