INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, JANUARY 25On January 23, locals in Charghare, Urlabari Municipality-1, saw a Snow Leopard, also known as
'Mountain Ghost,' which is found above 3000 metres and is listed as a vulnerable animal by the Nepal Government.
introduces Animal Welfare Standards-2080
contract by a year to 2025 with club record in sight
Even in the mountainous region, snow leopard sightings are extremely uncommon
People wait for years to catch a glimpse of the ghost; however, the sudden sighting has surprised the conservationists.Snow leopards live at
elevations ranging from 3000 to 6000 metres, according to Govinda Prasad Pokharel, Conservation Officer at the National Trust for Nature
Urlabari is situated 146 metres above sea level.
"Even the thought of seeing a snow leopard at such a height is
unthinkable," he said.However, all of it started early on January 23, when residents of the Charghare settlement in Urlabari Municipality-1
near the woods noticed a "Peculiar-Looking" creature
Worried that it might attack people or livestock, they even threw a few stones at it in an effort to chase it away
The big cat escaped the police's grasp, despite their best efforts.According to Pokharel, veterinarians from the National Trust for Nature
Conservation (NTNC) in the nearby Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve darted and captured the animal, which was eventually identified as a snow
Madhu Chetri, a conservation biologist with a PhD in snow leopards, stated, "It is unusual for humans, but not for snow leopards, and it has
happened for the first time in Nepal."According to Dr
Madhu, male cubs are typically separated from their mothers between the ages of 21 and 24 months to define their territory
They travel long distances to mark their territory and find a suitable location."For 12 months, male cubs stay with their mother, and after
21 to 24 months, they begin wandering for their territory
It might have lost its way while pursuing its area and was observed at such an altitude," he said."Male cubs can also cover 50 to 60 km in a
The vertical distance between the Kanchenjungha corridor and Charghare, Urlabari, is 100 kilometres
Consequently, I do not think it is wholly out of the ordinary for them."Similarly, people have begun to speculate whether this is due to
When THT questioned Pokharel and Chhetri about it? They completely refuted such claims, stating, "Everything is not a result of climate
Madhu, who is also head of the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project, stated that "snow leopards travel throughout the Kanchenjunga
corridor from Nepal to India and Bhutan," adding, "This could be because the big cat lost its way or travelled the wrong way after leaving
its mother.He further said, "This could also be due to animal trafficking
Someone must have kept it caged, but it escaped and was discovered in Urlabari."Pokharel also claimed, likewise, that Urlabari is near the
"Animal trafficking appears to be a plausible explanation for its discovery."However, Pokharel and Chetri both stated that one can only
express the cause after conducting thorough research and study."This incident should be investigated empirically to determine the cause of
the event," they stated.Meanwhile, Director General of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation under Ministry of Forests and
Sindhu Prasad Dhungel said that it has been brought to the Central Zoo Jawalakhel, Lalitpur."I saw it from a distance; its front leg
appeared bruised; therefore, we brought it to Kathmandu because it is at a favourable height," he told THT."It is under the supervision and
We will release it back into its natural habitat once it has recovered its health
Transferring it in its current state will be dangerous for the subadult cub."The current snow leopard population ranges between 300 and 400
However, accurate information has yet to be confirmed
According to snow leopard researcher Madhu, it can be found in 12 countries worldwide, including Nepal.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com
