This improved corral in Siesko is a project of Project Snow Leopard, Snow Leopard Conservancy and local people
Basha Valley Shigar
Project Snow Leopard (PSL) and Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC)
Collaborative Snow Leopard Conservation Program
Prepared by: Ghulam Mohammad
The main objectives of the project were to find the status of snow leopard and its prey species in the region, ascertain the nature of the conflict between the local communities and snow leopards and introduce innovative solution for the protection of this population while also enhancing peoples’ capacities.
Three villages were selected – Siesko, Beisil and Arrando – because of intense conflict between the local farmers and snow leopard. It was reported that the trade in snow leopard pelts was a thriving activity in these villages. The farmers, who possessed those pelts knew that the trade in the pelts was illegal but they mentioned that the trade was only a by-product of their efforts to solve a larger problem of losses of livestock due to snow leopard predation.
After carrying out a Baseline Survey, Conservation Committees were formed in each village and Terms of Partnership were signed which stipulated the roles and responsibilities of each partner in the joint management of the wildlife in their area, especially the snow leopard. PSL stipulated its role, mainly provision of financial and technical help to overcome predation problems and other socio-economic constraint that faces the communities. The purpose of PSL financial and technical support was to provide incentives to the local communities to work towards conservation and start assuming the ownership of the wild resources in their area. The Baseline Surveys proved to be a very successful exercise in imparting conservation ethos among the communities and making them aware of the role that wildlife and general biodiversity plays in their lives.
Biological Surveys were completed in Siesko and Beisil in 2006. Both villages show a healthy population of snow leopards and its prey species. Survey Data was recorded using SLIMS forms. Both of these places have also been identified as potential sites for collecting snow leopard droppings for the planned food preference study in the year 2007. These surveys were conducted in collaboration with the local people. Before the surveys, the PSL staff trained the local people in basic survey techniques such as snow leopard sign identification, conducting line transect and filling out the SLIMS forms. In each village six people participated in the surveys. These surveys lasted between 4 and 7 days in each village. While these surveys were mainly conducted to gather biological information about the status of the snow leopard and its habitat, these proved to be helpful in imparting basic technical know-how to the villagers about snow leopard conservation. Villagers showed keen interest in the surveys techniques and were quick to learn and recognize various signs that indicate presence of the cat. Moreover, based on their personal experience, the villagers showed great knowledge about the habitat of the leopard and the kind the terrain it uses. Based on the biological surveys, PSL concluded that there might be between 7-10 snow leopards present in the vicinity of the two villages.
Infrastructure Assistance
There are 90 households in Beisil and 118 households in Siesko. The total population of these two villages is about 2,000 people. PSL activities will help 2,000 people financially and technically to overcome their day to day problems and also problems associated with conservation of the snow leopard.
The community of Seisko mentioned that making their corrals predator proof will help reduce the risk of predation. In the past Siesko had suffered a lot of damage due to attacks by snow leopards as well as by wolves. The villagers keep their animals in several communal corrals, located at the boundary of the village. It was not possible for PSL to upgrade all the corrals, so it was decided, with the consensus of the community, to make at least one of the communal corrals as predator proof corral, and all villagers will have the right to close their animals in that corral. The Engineer visited the site in November and has shown his satisfaction regarding the work. PSL will motivate the villagers to make the rest of the communal corrals predator-proof by mid-2007.
In August, 2006 PSL staff held a meeting with the Beisil conservation committee to carry out first dialogue for their proposed project. There are two settlements within Beisil – Chaman Abad and Gulshan Abad. In this dialogue, Chamanabad village showed interest in upgrading their path to the pasture which was in a very dangerous condition. Regarding the path to the pasture the villagers told the PSL staff that this pony trek is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed as most livestock and people travel on this path and many accidents occur. They stated that last year a girl fell down and lost her life.
Gulshanabad village requested for the footbridge on the Nallah that connected them with the path to the pasture. Regarding the importance of the footbridge people told that they have problems during summer time when they have to go to the pasture and cross the river. The often lose livestock which fall down in the river while crossing the river.
Initial Impact
So far villagers in both Beisil and Siesko have shown great motivation and interest in the project. The project has potentially benefited more than 200 households and provided protection to ten snow leopards. Most people show an enhanced awareness about conserving wildlife and the role it plays in the local ecology and development. It is important to mention here that this is the first time these villages have had a chance to work on a conservation related project with an outside organization. People from both the villages told the PSL staff that wildlife provides natural beauty to the area and is an asset for their future generations. In a meeting held in Beisil an older person stated “we inherit our properties and land but why can’t we do that same for wildlife and forest?” This statement shows the local people are beginning to think differently about the wildlife and biodiversity. Rather than treating them as open access resources over which there is no clear ownership rights, people are now beginning to see them as something that belong to them and their progeny. These kinds of statements are important markers of shifts in behaviour and attitude among the local people.
There is also a marked increase level of awareness in the two villages about conservation of ungulates. In both villages, people realized that decrease in snow leopard’s and wolf’s prey species increases the risk of attack on their domestic stock. People mentioned that all villagers are keeping eyes on the hunters and in case there are any violations that intend to fine the person.
After completion of the infrastructure project in Siesko, villagers are eager to see its impact. In early December 2006, PSL staff visited Siesko to check upon the corral work. During their visit they found fresh tracks of wolves around the corrals; they also found a sheep killed perhaps by the same wolves. The villagers stated that the sheep had been accidentally left outside the corrals and was killed. This incident clearly demonstrated to the villagers the utility of predator proof corrals in averting possible cases of predation.
While in Siesko, predator proof corrals are having a concrete impact on reducing incidences of predation, situation in Beisil is different. On December 11th during a meeting held with the Beisil conservation committee, the members told the PSL staff that a wolf attack had left many small sheep and goats dead. Despite this they didn’t put any poison on the carcass. While this situation shows that the villagers are now thinking to protect the wildlife and not eradicating it, this cannot be considered as a long lasting solution. Sooner or later, with rising levels of predation, villagers will start killing the predators secretively. In order to resolve this situation, PSL intends to upgrade corrals in Beisil as well to make them predator proof. Moreover, PSL intends to launch an insurance scheme in both Beisil and Siesko and, in collaboration with SLC, introduce better herding techniques in these villages.
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