Snow Leopard Conservation in Nepal’s Former Kingdom of Mustang

Mustang lies in the northern part of Nepal’s Annapurna Conservation Area, which encompasses about 2945 sq mi. and supports important habitat for snow leopards. Founded around the 8th Century, and more closely allied to Western Tibet, Mustang (pronounced Moose-taang) was considered a “hidden kingdom” and remained little changed until the mid-1990s, when it was opened for foreign tourists. The name refers to the mountainous region at the top of the Kali Ghandaki gorge, which is deeper than the Grand Canyon. Locals know Mustang as Lo, and its walled capital city as Manthang (or Lo Manthang). Chances are, “Mustang” is a mishearing of “Manthang,” (and has nothing to do either with wild horses or American cars!)

The Snow Leopard Conservancy is collaborating with the American Himalayan Foundation and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) of the Nepal Trust for Nature Conservation to promote community-based stewardship of snow leopards, their prey and habitat. This project is an “add-on” to the United Nations Development Program Global Environment Facility-supported Upper Mustang Biodiversity Project.

Chimmi Gurung, Snow Leopard Conservancy’s Program Coordinator and a resident of Lo Manthang, is responsible for implementing project activities, working closely with ACAP and villagers to predator-proof nighttime livestock enclosures, monitor depredation hotspots, undertake outreach education programs at local schools, and educate herders on the importance of protecting wildlife. He is also assisting researchers from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to test different rangeland grasses and fodder plants in an effort to improve productivity of these arid rangelands.

Upper Mustang Biodiversity
Conservation Project

2001:

Training of staff in biodiversity and rangeland assessment

Introduction of the APPA process for community-based conservation and reducing livestock depredation

 

2002:

Initiation of predator-proofing of livestock corrals

 

2003:

Initiation of solar fencing test project; initiation of school-based environmental education program

 

2004:

Initiation of camera trapping; trial fodder-production plot

 

2005:

Monitoring of ongoing projects; Initiation of rammed-earth livestock corral pilot project

Copyright © 2005 Snow Leopard Conservancy
All Rights Reserved