82 Himalayan goats killed in snow leopard attack

Myagdi, Nov 11: Dozens of Himalayan goats were killed by the snow leopards at Dhakmar of Lodhekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality-2 in Mustang district on Friday night. Four leopards entered the makeshift enclosure keeping dozens of Himalayan goats owned by a local Migmar Gurung, and killed 82 goats, leaving eight others injured. Information to this was shared by ward member Chhawattar Gurug.

The pen made of walls and wires which was easily raided by the wild cats. “The livestock death caused the loss of more than Rs 3 million,” Gurung said, adding that the leopards sucked (blood) to death the Himalayan goats, while some were left with only innards. Later, the injured goats also died. It is the biggest scourge caused by the snow leopards in Mustang, according to farmers.

After the scourge, a team comprising Chairman of Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality, Raju Bista, and representatives from the Annapurna Conservation Area Office, Lomangthang, and police persons from Charang Police Office reached the spot. Snow leopard is an endangered wildlife in Nepal. There is no ascertained data on how many snow leopards are there in Mustang. The den in the rock of Dhakma village is the habitat of the snow leopards, according to local Chhiring Gurung.