Panthera pardus fusca (Family: Felidae) Diet Composition from Lamjung, Nepal

Abstract

With the increasing threats to leopard associated mainly with human activities and decline in prey species, leopard population is at risk and is known to use areas outside the protected areas. Community forest might be the important source for the long-term population sustainability of leopard. This study was conducted in Thuli community forest of Lamjung, Nepal. In this study, non-invasive sampling techniques for the collection of scats adopted. Total (n=40) scats were collected opportunistically. The presence of leopard was confirmed by indirect signs of pugmarks, scats, scratches and kill of cattle in the shed. A total of 12 prey species were successfully identified based on the medullary and cuticle structure of hair samples. Around 55.20% of leopard diet was contributed by domestic animals followed by wild animals, which signifies the conflict with the study area. Rodents and bird s species had also contributed in the diet of leopard with 10.98% and 7.54% respectively. Around 8.17%, portion of diet contribution was from primates. Devoid of wild prey and abundance of domestic animals in scats contents highlight the urgent need of conservation intervention in the area and strengthening the community tolerance.