The Annapurna Conservation Area Project has begun a detailed study of the estimated number of snow leopards through 161 camera traps.
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A detailed survey has been launched for the first time in Mustang to determine the number of snow leopards.
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Mustang has started a snow leopard survey through camera trapping in four local levels here since Saturday. ACAP and other concerned organizations had been conducting camera trapping after identifying the possible habitat and area of the snow leopard. Although this provided information about the snow leopard, it was not enough to determine the exact number.
ACAP Lomanthang Office Chief Umesh Poudel said that the criteria for a 161 camera trapping grid, spread over a distance of five kilometers, including Lower Mustang and Upper Mustang, have been determined for the survey.
Since there is more snow in the high lakes during the winter season, the snow leopard's food species descend to the lower reaches, so the snow leopard also descends to some extent.
A few days ago, Biocos Nepal and ACAP had placed 16 cameras in half a dozen places in Waragung Muktikshetra and Gharpajhong rural municipality of Mustang for the study of snow leopards.
Office Chief Poudel said that the survey has been started by using 111 cameras simultaneously, including 99 cameras to be placed in Upper Mustang and 16 cameras already placed in Lower Mustang.
For the survey, ACAP Lomanthang has divided the manpower into three blocks for camera trapping. With the help of ACAP technicians and local manpower, more than a dozen manpower have been deployed in the field for camera trapping, informed Office Chief Poudel.
Although ACAP has stated that the cameras will be kept in the field for a maximum of 6 months for the same purpose, the snow leopard trapping cameras will be removed within the month of Baisakh.
