van Roosmalen (1979) a tradition has developed of studies investigating postconflict behaviour, that is, of studies that examine how animals deal with the aftermath of aggression. Such studies, conducted mostly on nonhuman primates, have focused heavily on affiliative strategies such as reconciliation (an affiliative contact between former opponents) or consolation (an affiliative contact between the victim and a third party) that help resolve the conflict or minimize its costs (see Aureli et al. 2012 for a review). In particular, reconciliation has been shown to be nearly ubiquitous among primates. Studies of postconflict behaviour in other animal taxa are rarer but have generally confirmed the widespread occurrence of reconciliation (e.g., Cordoni and Norscia 2014; Fraser and Bugnyar 2011; Schino 1998; Wahaj et al. 2001) and/or of other conflict management strategies (e.g., Morris-Drake et al. 2021; Norscia et al. 2024). A separate tradition of studies has shown that group living animals tend to coordinate their activities, that is, to engage in similar activities at the same time (Sumpter 2011). A possible mechanism that may allow animals to coordinate their activities is social facilitation (Clayton 1978; Zajonc 1965) , that makes animals likely to "imitate" the behaviour of others (e.g., Galloway et al. 2005) . Possibly as a consequence of social facilitation, aggression among group living animals is often followed by other aggression, either between the same or different individuals (e.g., Glickman et al. 1997; Schino

The Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary (RBWS) is a protected area in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is an important biological area in the Western Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. It is a crucial safe haven for a wide range of threatened animals, such as Snow leopard Panthera uncia, Musk deer Moschus chrysogaster, Himalayan serow Capricornis sumatraensis thar, and Himalayan tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus. These species are essential to the trophic dynamics of high-altitude ecosystems and are increasingly threatened. The study was conducted from February, 2023 to January, 2025 to check various threats to the vertebrates of this sanctuary by direct observation as well as incorporating the expertise of forest officials, local people, and various stakeholders. The main human-caused impacts are habitat fragmentation and deforestation, Man-made fires, Human -wildlife conflict that are aggravated by pastoral encroachments. Natural dangers, such as changes in precipitation and temperature patterns caused by climate change, make the protection of biodiversity of this area even more challenging. To preserve the biodiversity and wildlife of the study area we suggested many holistic, adaptive management conservation strategies. If put into action through partnerships between the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, NGOs, and indigenous communities, these synergistic actions could help stop the loss of biodiversity and make RBWS a model of Himalayan conservation resilience.

ImportanceAssisted reproductive technologies have not been widely applied to Himalayan tahrs (Hemitragus jemlahicus), a Near Threatened species, despite increasing concerns over population management and conservation. Developing effective estrus synchronization and artificial insemination protocols is critical for their reproductive management.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of transcervical insemination using extended-fresh (EF) and extended-chilled (EC) semen following estrus synchronization using controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and hormonal treatments in female Himalayan tahrs.MethodsThis study involved eight female Himalayan tahrs, which were divided into two treatment groups of 13-day and 15-day according to duration of CIDR insertion. Hormonal treatments including pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, human chorionic gonadotropin, and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) were administered. Semen was collected from two males by electroejaculation, extended, and used either fresh, frozen-thawed, or chilled. Transcervical insemination was performed at fixed times after CIDR removal, and pregnancy was diagnosed 64 days post-insemination using Doppler ultrasonography.ResultsThree of four females in the 13-day group and one of four in the 15-day group were confirmed pregnant. Vaginal and cervical changes were more favorable for insemination in the 13-day group. Hormonal data supported that a sharp drop in progesterone after CIDR removal was associated with successful conception.Conclusions and RelevanceThirteen-day CIDR insertion combined with gonadotropins and PGF2α is effective for estrus synchronization in Himalayan tahrs. Transcervical insemination using EF and EC semen resulted in successful pregnancy, offering a practical and reproducible protocol for ex situ conservation breeding in this species.

The blue sheep and Himalayan thar were counted using the vantage count method to obtain population and demographic status in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, western Nepal between April and May of 2021. We used binoculars (Olympus 10 × 50 and Nikon 10 × 42) and spotting scopes (Nikon 20–60 × 75 and Bushnell 20–60 × 65) for identifying the animals into class and sex categories. A total of 1290 blue sheep were counted in six hunting blocks of DHR with an apparent density of 2.2 animals/km2 in 79 herds (mean heard size: 16.33 ± 1.53). Maximum numbers of blue sheep were recorded from Dogadi (n=361) and low numbers in Sundaha block (n=89). We found a significant difference in the average herd size of blue sheep among the six blocks, possibly due to human-induced disturbances as some blocks are relatively accessible and closer to human settlements. However, there was no significant difference in the average male and female sex ratio and density between hunting blocks. Similarly, a total of 744 Himalayan tahr were observed in six hunting blocks with an apparent density of 1.49 animal/km2 in 50 herds (mean heard size: 14.88±2.29). Maximum numbers of tahr were recorded from Ghustung (n=387) and low numbers in Surtibang block (n=12). We found a significant difference in the average herd size of Himalayan tahr and male to female sex ratio, but not a significant difference in density between hunting blocks. Regular study of population dynamics in the context of trophy hunting is very crucial. Thus, annual surveys of these game species are recommended for designing sustainable game trophy hunting in the region.

Limited information exists on the diet of snow leopards (SL), factors affecting livestock mortality, and local attitudes toward SL conservation in the Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA), Nepal. Therefore, we aim to investigate the dietary preferences of SL, the factors influencing livestock mortality, and local conservation attitudes. From November 2021 to January 2022, 23 SL scats were collected along 24 transects (total length: 21.6 km) in MCA. Camera traps, set within 4 km × 4 km grids at 28 stations for 661 trap nights, were used to assess prey availability. Jacobs’ index calculated prey preference, while a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) assessed factors linked to livestock depredation. Additionally, 65 households from two villages were randomly selected in a survey on depredation and conservation attitudes. Scat analysis identified six wild prey species, including pika (Ochotona sp.), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), and blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), as well as three domestic species: ox/cow, yak, and horse. Himalayan tahr had the highest presence in the SL diet (40%). Despite pika having the highest Relative Abundance Index (RAI), SL strongly preferred horses and avoided pika. Larger prey, such as horses, Himalayan tahr, and blue sheep, were highly preferred. Households with more livestock experienced higher depredation rates. Local attitudes toward SL conservation were generally positive, with an average score of 2.59. We recommend an integrated SL conservation plan in MCA, incorporating local participation, income diversification, and employment programs to mitigate conflicts and promote coexistence.

Abstract In polygynous ungulates, males are often larger than females and bear more elaborate/larger weapons. Quantifying sexual dimorphism in different traits could provide insights into species-specific evolutionary pathways of sexual selection. Concerning the combination of secondary sexual traits, we found that Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) is unique among the ~20 species in the tribe Caprini, as its body mass dimorphism is ~2-fold greater than the dimorphism in horn size, whereas horn shape appears to be near-monomorphic. Whilst horns show the same growth rate in both sexes, body mass increases faster in males. Considering age variation, dominant, golden-ruffed males are also heavier than brown-ruffed, lower-ranking males. Unlike most bovids, male–male competition in tahr does not seem to have influenced weapon development, suggesting a lower importance of horns in male–male competition compared to body mass, as their unritualized combat style also suggests. Our study highlights alternative evolutionary pathways occurring in the Caprinae, where intraspecific signals involve different traits, from weapons to pelage features. Accordingly, male tahr use their ruff colour as an ‘honest’ signal of rank.

Abstract Species assemblages are influenced by trophic and intraguild interactions, which may be competitive, facilitative, or neutral. These interactions vary in relative importance depending on resource availability. We assessed the nature of interactions among six carnivore species (Ursus arctos, Panthera uncia, Vulpes vulpes, Mustela altaica, and Martes foina) and their prey (Capra sibirica, Pseudois nayaur, Hemitragus jemlahicus, Moschus leucogaster, Ochotona sp., and Rodentia sp.) by examining their spatial–temporal overlaps using camera‐trap data gathered between 2016 and 2019 from the resource‐limited landscapes of the high Himalayas. We examined fine scale pairwise spatial interaction using multi‐species occupancy method and temporal overlap using time activity kernel densities function. Carnivore species showed relatively high spatio‐temporal overlap. We found spatial avoidance between two pairs and temporal avoidance between four out of 15 pairs. Contrary to our expectation that carnivore species would segregate due to competition in a resource‐poor environment, our results showed that they generally showed significant co‐occurrence and appeared to track their prey's activity. Our findings highlight the potentially overriding role of prey availability in influencing carnivore species occurrence in resource‐poor landscapes.

Abstract The cognitive constraint hypothesis maintains reciprocity is rare among animals because it requires cognitive capabilities that are rare, if not absent, in animals. In particular, it suggests that temporal discounting, limited memory, and limited capability of complex calculations make long‐term reciprocation essentially impossible for animals. The cognitive constraint hypothesis therefore predicts that, if reciprocity ever occurs in animals, it should always be immediate. In this study, we tested for long‐term reciprocation in Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), a species that is not notable for its advanced cognitive capabilities. We showed that tahr are able to reciprocate grooming over extended time periods, that is, that they groom preferentially those individuals from which they receive more grooming even when all cases of immediate reciprocation are excluded from analysis. These results do not support the cognitive constraint hypothesis. We note the cognitive constraint hypothesis makes two silent assumptions: that all reciprocation is necessarily calculated and that it is based on partner control processes. We suggest these assumptions are unwarranted, and that most group living animals base their ability to reciprocate on emotionally based partner choice.

The Himalayan ecosystems, which are among the least studied mountain ecosystems, face threats and habitat degradation due to unplanned development, natural calamities, and overgrazing. Ungulates like Himalayan tahrs (Hemitragus jemlahicus), play a crucial role in mountain ecology as it forms the major prey base of the top predators of mountain ecosystems. Objective: To explore the population status, distribution, and habitat uses of Himalayan tahrs in Lamtang National Park (LNP), Central Nepal by line transect method during May 2022. Methods: Total 20 transects each of about 500 m length were established randomly along the Lamtang River at different elevations from 3100m to 4300m and Himalayan tahrs were observed. Results: A total of 154 Himalayan tahrs were recorded from 9 herds that accounted for an average herd size of 17.1 ± 5.77 individuals. The elevational distribution of the herds ranged between 3107 m and 4200 m asl. Their preferred habitat was rocky cliffs, with grasslands, shrublands, and rhododendron-fir-mixed forests being utilized to a lesser extent. The tahrs predominantly inhabited rugged terrain on south-facing slopes, prioritizing it over other available habitats. Conclusions: The demographic indices of the Himalayan tahrs in the LNP show a remarkable decline when compared with the previous studies in the same area in 1976 and 2006. Therefore, conservation and management initiatives of the Himalayan tahrs are urgently needed in the LNP

Abstract Himalayan tahr is a group-living animal of high-altitude Himalaya, distributed all across the subalpine range that also formed an important prey base for large carnivores in Himalaya. The species is threatened due to habitat fragmentation, illegal poaching, and anthropogenic activities. We undertook population genetic assessment of Himalayan tahr from Western Himalaya and observed comparable genetic diversity at both mitochondrial and nuclear microsatellite loci. Bayesian skyline plots showed stable demography in the past several thousand years. We identified 27 unique individuals with a select panel of seven loci and the Bayesian structure analysis inferred two genetic clusters. The present study is the first report on the population genetic make-up of Himalayan tahr and can be used for long-term genetic monitoring of the species.

Abstract We studied social relationships in a captive group of female Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus). Female tahr showed frequent aggression and a strictly linear age‐graded dominance hierarchy. Coalitions, in contrast, were rare. Female tahr formed differentiated social relationships, as they interacted with different individuals at widely different rates. A principal component analysis revealed that social relationships were best described along three independent dimensions that we labelled as Affiliation, Agonism and Ambivalence. Both Affiliation and Agonism were directed preferentially down the hierarchy. Affiliation was also directed preferentially to kin, while Agonism showed the reverse pattern. Ambivalence was unrelated to both dominance and kinship. Overall, these results show that an ungulate species can form differentiated social relationships that vary in relation to dominance rank and kinship.

Abstract Estimating the abundance and density of mountain ungulates is difficult because of rugged and remote terrain, high elevations, and rapidly changing weather. Helicopter surveys could overcome these problems, but researchers have seldom applied helicopter‐based survey methods at large spatial scales in mountain terrain. We used helicopters to count introduced Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) at 117 plots, each of 4 km2, in New Zealand's Southern Alps during 2016–2019. The sampling frame was 7,844 km2 and we located the plots at the vertices of an 8‐km grid superimposed over the sampling frame (i.e., a systematic random sampling design). We conducted 3 repeat counts at each plot during summer–autumn. We used the repeat counts to estimate tahr abundance and density, corrected for imperfect detection, using a dynamic N‐mixture model for open populations. We estimated the population of tahr in the sampling frame using design‐based, finite sampling methods and model‐based inference procedures. The mean estimated density of tahr on each plot varied from zero to 31.7 tahr/km2. The mean densities of tahr varied among management units, ranging from 0.3 to 10.7 tahr/km2, and exceeded specified intervention densities in 6 of the 7 management units. The total design‐based estimate of tahr abundance in the sampling frame was 34,500 (95% CI = 27,750–42,900), with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.11. The corresponding model‐based estimate of total abundance was similar (34,550, 95% CI = 30,250–38,700) but was substantially more precise (CV = 0.06) than the design‐based estimate. The precision of the estimates for the individual management units was also better than that of the design‐based estimates, with CVs of <0.20 for all but 1 management unit. Our study provides a repeatable method for sampling mountain ungulates. More generally, robust estimation of abundance and density of mountain ungulates is possible by combining aerial surveys and open population models with an objective, probabilistic sampling design.

The population of Snow Leopard is declining due to anthropogenic activities and prey scarcity. Snow Leopard’s preferred prey species are Tibetan Argali, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Marmot, Royle’s Pika, rodents, and livestock such as Yak, Horse, Lulu Cow, Goat and Sheep. Due to livestock depredation by Snow Leopards and other carnivores, local people have a negative attitude towards carnivores’ conservation leading to retaliatory killing. This study identified whether Snow Leopards prey on wildlife or livestock based on micro-histological study of Snow Leopard’s scats. Micro-histological analysis of 39 scat samples of Snow Leopard confirmed that Blue Sheep is the major prey species in Kanchanjunga Conservation Area (KCA). The scat analysis also showed that Snow Leopards prey on livestock mainly to Chauri in KCA, however the number and incidences were few. The herders also confirmed the occasional hunting of their livestock depredation by Snow Leopard in KCA. People have positive attitudes towards Snow Leopard conservation because they are less suffering from Snow Leopard in KCA. If wild prey species are abundant in the wild, livestock depredation might be low.

This study aimed to identify the effects of host species on the gut microbial flora in three species (Hemitragus jemlahicus, Pseudois nayaur, and Ovis orientalis) from the subfamily Caprinae, by excluding the impact of environment factors. We investigated the differences in intestinal flora of three species belonging to Caprinae, which were raised in identical conditions. Fecal samples were collected from tahr, mouflon, and bharal, and the V3–V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was analyzed by high‐throughput sequencing. The analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences reveals that fecal samples were mainly composed of four phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, and Proteobacteria. The most abundant phyla included Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes accounting for >90% of the bacteria, and a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was observed in tahrs. Moreover, significant differences existed at multiple levels of classifications in the relative abundance of intestinal flora, differing greatly between species. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene indicated that mouflon is closely related to bharal, and it is inconsistent with previous reports in the species evolutionary relationships. In this study, we demonstrated that the gut microbiota in tahr had a stronger ability to absorb and store energy from the diet compared with mouflon and bharal, and the characteristics of host–microbiome interactions were not significant.

Gut microbiota influences the health of host animals, and the effect of sex on gut microbiota in herbivores is less clear than that of other factors such as diet and age. In this study, we obtained data on the gut microbiota of Himalayan tahr for the first time. Eleven samples (seven females and four males) of Himalayan tahr were divided into two groups according to sex. The V3–V4 variable region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced; 189 genera belonging to 15 phyla were detected in the male group while 169 genera belonging to 15 phyla were found in the female group. Fecal microbiomes in tahrs were dominated by phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, which accounted for > 90% of the bacteria. The high Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (2.99) contributed to the metabolism of dietary fiber in the intestine and produced more short-chain fatty acids. A higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in male samples was determined, though non-significantly. In addition, bacteria associated with fiber digestion and energy absorption were higher in males than in females, which may benefit the energy metabolism of the males. Our results suggest that sex is not effective in shaping the gut microbiota, especially when the sexes inhabit the same environmental conditions.

Abstract The snow leopard Panthera uncia is the flagship species of the high mountains of the Himalayas. There is potentially continuous habitat for the snow leopard along the northern border of Nepal, but there is a gap in information about the snow leopard in Gaurishankar Conservation Area. Previous spatial analysis has suggested that the Lamabagar area in this Conservation Area could serve as a transboundary corridor for snow leopards, and that the area may connect local populations, creating a metapopulation. However, there has been no visual confirmation of the species in Lamabagar. We set 11 infrared camera traps for 7 months in Lapchi Village of Gaurishankar Conservation Area, where blue sheep Pseudois nayaur, musk deer Moschus leucogaster and Himalayan tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus, all snow leopard prey species, had been observed. In November 2018 at 4,100 m, 5 km south-west of Lapchi Village, one camera recorded three images of a snow leopard, the first photographic evidence of the species in the Conservation Area. Sixteen other species of mammals were also recorded. Camera-trap records and sightings indicated a high abundance of Himalayan tahr, blue sheep and musk deer. Lapchi Village may be a potentially important corridor for snow leopard movement between the east and west of Nepal and northwards to Quomolongma National Park in China. However, plans for development in the region present increasing threats to this corridor. We recommend development of a transboundary conservation strategy for snow leopard conservation in this region, with participation of Nepal, China and international agencies.

Context Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) are a valued game resource that can cause environmental harm, requiring control of tahr populations below policy-prescribed thresholds. Effective game management requires understanding of the benefits to hunters of game resources and how hunter behaviours change in response to changes in hunt attributes, including game-animal densities, hunt duration, presence of other hunters and travel distance. Aims To identify the value of recreational Himalayan tahr hunting and how that value is affected by changes in hunt attributes for different types of hunter, thereby identifying the value of tahr as a recreational resource and opportunities for enhancing recreational hunting experiences. Methods Hunter differences were explored through factor analysis and cluster analysis, which identified three different groups of hunters on the basis of motivations and hunting activity. Preferences for hunt attributes were explored with a choice experiment that used a pivot design around actual travel distances to measure the relative importance of hunt-related attributes. Latent class analysis of choice experiment responses identified three discrete groups of hunters who sought different activity settings. Key results Results showed the high value of recreational tahr hunting for all three groups of tahr hunters. Tahr hunters were uniformly focussed on trophy bull tahr, and reduced probabilities of securing a trophy would diminish recreational hunting effort significantly. Hunting activity was not affected by adult female tahr populations. These results suggest that managing tahr to low densities, but improving trophy potential, can provide concurrent environmental and recreational benefits. Conclusions Changes in hunt attributes, such as trophy potential and presence of other hunters, have significant effects on hunt benefits, site choice and the amount of recreational tahr hunting. Implications The present study identified potential gains from active management of Himalayan tahr and tahr hunters.

Abstract Living Caprini are dominant bovids in the pan-Tibetan area that are strongly adapted to dry steppe and high-mountain meadow habitats. Some taxa with Holarctic distributions, e.g., Ovis Linnaeus, 1758, were thought to originate on the Tibetan Plateau and subsequently dispersed elsewhere, which was depicted as an ‘out of Tibet’ story. However, except for some information on a stem caprine assemblage from the Qaidam Basin, the early evolution of Caprini around the Tibetan Plateau is poorly known. Here, we report new material of Olonbulukia tsaidamensis Bohlin, 1937, which was a member of this stem caprine assemblage, from the Wuzhong region, northern China, confirming the similarity of the Wuzhong Fauna and ‘Qaidam Fauna.’ Based on a biometric study of horncores from the ‘Qaidam’ and Wuzhong faunas, we recognize six taxa from this stem caprine assemblage: O. tsaidamensis, O. sp., Qurliqnoria cheni Bohlin, 1937, Tossunnoria pseudibex Bohlin, 1937, ?Protoryx cf. P. enanus Köhler, 1987, and cf. Pachytragus sp. Among these taxa, Q. cheni and T. pseudibex are probably related to some extant Tibetan endemic species, e.g., the Tibetan antelope, Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel, 1826), and the Himalayan tahr, Hemitragus jemlahicus (Smith, 1826). Others might be ancestral to the Turolian caprine assemblages and even possibly gave rise to the extant Caprina. This work reveals an early radiation of stem caprines along the northern side of the rising Tibetan Plateau and indicates a mixed pattern of pan-Tibetan stem caprine evolution prior to their dispersal out of the Tibetan Plateau.

Visual attractiveness and rarity often results in large carnivores being adopted as flagship species for stimulating conservation awareness. Their hunting behaviour and prey selection can affect the population dynamics of their prey, which in turn affects the population dynamics of these large carnivores. Therefore, our understanding of their trophic ecology and foraging strategies is important for predicting their population dynamics and consequently for developing effective conservation programs. Here we concentrate on an endangered species of carnivores, the snow leopard, in the Himalayas. Most previous studies on snow leopard diet lack information on prey availability and/or did not genetically check, whether the identification of snow leopard scats is correct, as their scats are similar to those of other carnivores. We studied the prey of snow leopard in three Himalayan regions in Nepal (Sagarmatha National Park (SNP), Lower Mustang (LM) and Upper Manang (UM) in the Annapurna Conservation Area, during winter and summer in 2014–2016. We collected 268 scats along 139.3 km linear transects, of which 122 were genetically confirmed to belong to snow leopard. Their diet was identified by comparing hairs in scats with our reference collection of the hairs of potential prey. We determined prey availability using 32–48 camera-traps and 4,567 trap nights. In the SNP, the most frequent prey in snow leopard faeces was the Himalayan tahr in both winter and summer. In LM and UM, its main prey was blue sheep in winter, but yak and goat in summer. In terms of relative biomass consumed, yak was the main prey everywhere in both seasons. Snow leopard preferred large prey and avoided small prey in summer but not in winter, with regional differences. It preferred domestic to wild prey only in winter, and in SNP. Unlike most other studies carried out in the same area, our study uses genetic methods for identifying the source of the scat. Studies solely based on visual identification of samples may be strongly biased. Diet studies based on frequency of occurrence of prey tend to overestimate the importance of small prey, which may be consumed more often, but contribute less energy than large prey. However, even assessments based on prey biomass are unlikely to be accurate as we do not know whether the actual size of the prey consumed corresponds to the average size used to calculate the biomass eaten. For example, large adults may be too difficult to catch and therefore mostly young animals are consumed, whose weight is much lower. We show that snow leopard consumes a diverse range of prey, which varies both regionally and seasonally. We conclude that in order to conserve snow leopards it is also necessary to conserve its main wild species of prey, which will reduce the incidence of losses of livestock.

Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is the striking symbol as well as an indicator of intact eco-regions of high mountains it inhabits. Despite the advancement in new methods, scholars argue that signs are still a reliable indicator for the purpose of habitat use study of snow leopards. The relative abundance of snow leopard and its major prey species such as blue sheep (Pseudois nayar) and Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) in the Chhekampar Village Development Committee within the Tsum Valley of the Manaslu Conservation Area was determined by sign survey using Snow Leopard Information Management System (SLIMS) and block survey using Vantage Point Method, respectively. We also assessed human snow leopard conflict through household and key informant survey. The encounter rate of snow leopard signs were 3.57/km on an average, indicating low abundance, whereas prey species such as blue sheep and Himalayan tahr had 3.8 and 1.8 animals/km2, respectively. The livestock depredation rate was 1.29% with snow leopard accounting to only 0.32% of the total. Due to the low abundance of snow leopard but sufficient number of large-sized wild prey species, livestock predation by snow leopard was minimum, and therefore, the local people had positive perception towards snow leopard conservation. Though the present situation including the local religious tradition and social norms is supportive in conservation of snow leopard, it may not sustain unless incentive programs are encouraged timely.Banko Janakari, Vol. 27, No. 1, Page : 11-20