Snow leopards are to be counted for the first time in Nepal's only hunting reserve, Dhorpatan.

Although snow leopards are found in the high mountainous regions of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, where legal hunting of naur and jharal is allowed, no count has been conducted so far. Reserve ranger Sagar Subedi informed that preparations are being made to train enumerators for the snow leopard count.

According to Subedi, the census will involve reserve staff, trained enumerators and locals. 56 cameras will be installed in the hunting blocks in the high mountainous regions for the snow leopard count. 'For the first time, we are going to find out the condition of the snow leopard. About 10 enumerators will keep cameras for 45 days, take live photos and videos, and collect leopard footprints and feces,' he said. 'The number of snow leopards will be found based on the photos captured by the cameras and other on-site evidence.' He said that the Naur and Jharal here will be counted next year.

The snow leopard habitat of this reserve is from 4,000 meters to above 7,000 meters. The headquarters of the reserve, which is spread over an area of ​​1,325 square kilometers, is in Baglung, but it extends to Myagdi and Rukum. The reserve has made preparations to count snow leopards in the Seng, Sundaha, Dogadi, Ghustung, Barse and Falgune blocks among the various hunting blocks of the reserve.

According to Ranger Subedi, automatic cameras will be placed in the possible paths, rocks, gorges and pass areas where snow leopards may move and photos will be taken and individual leopards will be identified based on body spots. The snow leopard's feces will be collected and tested in the laboratory and it is stated that the count will also be made based on footprints and signal surveys.