Living with carnivores: dynamics of the relationship between carnivores and people in Leh, Jammu and Kashmir
Student name: Ms Meenal Pahuja
Guide: Dr Sudipta Chatterjee
Year of completion: 2017
Host Organisation: WWF India, New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Rishi Kumar Sharma
Abstract: Understanding conflict over livestock predation has two important dimensions, the actual patterns
and causes of carnivore damage to livestock, and the perception and psyche of the affected people.
This study explored the main drivers of conflict between people and wildlife, particularly two large
carnivore species and free ranging dogs.The dynamics of depredation by the snow leopard (Panthera
uncia), wolf (Canis lupus) and free ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) were investigated by the
means of household surveys in Leh district, Central Ladakh. The study was conducted in the months
of April-May, 2017 with a sample size of 114 household interviews in 16 villages of the district. We
used a combination of methods (interview surveys, and data from secondary sources) to examine the
patterns and factors driving livestock depredation by carnivores and free-ranging dogs, as well as
economic losses to local communities in a Trans-Himalayan agro-pastoralist landscape in India. We
hypothesised that the number of livestock killed by carnivores and the livestock holding will have a
negative influence on the attitudes of people towards large carnivores. In 2016-17, 92.98% house-
holds lost livestock to carnivores, accounting for 1.16 animals per household per year. Of the total
livestock mortality cases, 34% were attributed to weather/natural events, 24% to snow leopards, 19%
to disease, 15% to free ranging dogs and 9% to wolves. The cost of depredation per household was
equivalent to US$ 200 per year. The majority (53.7%) of predation incidents occurred in winter pas-
tures, predominantly at day time. The attitude of people was predominantly positive towards snow
leopards and extremely negative towards free ranging dogs. Our hypothesis that livestock losses will
have a negative influence towards the attitudes of people towards wild carnivores was not supported
by our data. Gender (males) was positively correlated with people’s attitudes indicating men had a
more positive attitude than women. Free ranging dogs emerged as potential predators and a threat to
humans and wildlife. Better animal husbandry practices should be promoted including improved
guarding through collective hiring of skilled shepherds, corral improvement and a focus on health-
care and nutrition of livestock.
Keywords : Human wildlife conflict, Snow leopards, Wolves, Leh, Jammu and Kashmir
