Education Efforts in
Mongolia Gain Momentum
(27 Feb 2012)
When snow leopards predate on
livestock, herding families must make a difficult choice between
protecting their livelyhood and protecting the cats. Last year, we
discovered that for the people living within snow leopard habitat,
the answer to this difficult question was not clear.
When the snow leopard Shonkor killed
more than a dozen domestic sheep and goats, we were concerned. We
empathized with the herder, and worried about the safety of Shonkor.
Incidents like this have driven other herders in Mongolia to kill
snow leopards. But this time, the herder contacted our staff. Our
field team immediately went to help.
The herder’s first tactics had
not worked. He had, in an attempt to keep the cat from killing more
of his livestock, parceled out one carcass daily to the cat, hoping
it would be too full to kill again. The cat then didn’t want to
leave! He stayed, right next to the yurt – and it scared the
family.
Our staff used knowledge gleaned from
our in-depth research to find a better solution. They helped the
herder move one of the dead animals to a hillside far from the yurt,
and to get rid of the rest. Shonkor was able to feed on the carcass
without threatening the family or the rest of the herd. The family
then diligently patrolled the corral – flashing lights at
night, making noise, and discouraging Shonkor from returning. He
didn’t. As for the family, we helped them to join the new
Mongolian livestock insurance program so they can be compensated for
livestock losses like this in the future.
This situation highlighted an important
need to educate communities about better ways prevent and respond to
snow leopard predation.
The first step was to conduct day-long
workshops with participants of the Snow Leopard Enterprises program.
Over 330 people met to share how they already address snow leopard
visits, and learn what additional information they need and want.
Now, Nadia M., Conservation Education
Manager for the Trust and its partner organization SLCF Mongolia, has
developed a poster summarizing the best practices from the herders
and international experts. We plan on distributing 500 posters to
people in more than 25 villages, as well as park rangers and others
who need the information.
Hopefully, the end result will be fewer
of the types of conflicts that can lead to snow leopard killings.
Unfortunately, Shonkor passed away of
natural causes in August of 2011. We are grateful that he was able to
teach us so much about snow leopards, and how to live in peace with
them.
