Do leopards and people make good neighbours? Help us find out!

Leopards are beautiful, mysterious and highly intelligent creatures. In the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, people view them as neighbours with whom they can negotiate space. Just like any human neighbour, these wild amber-eyed neighbour are not always easy to live with. Leopards, in many cases, kill livestock and even pets. Approximately 30 people are injured and three people die due to leopards in Himachal every year. Almost 50% of the leopards that die in Hamirpur, a district in Himachal, are due to human-caused mortalities such as hunting, getting stuck in snares meant for wild boar/hare and retaliatory killing. There is also an eroding trend in the culture of acceptance of this animal among the current generation.

• Using the leopards and people of Himachal Pradesh state as a case study, Shweta’s research will aim to understand the current state of attacks on people by leopards. An innovative apUnderstand how people live with leopards: conduct interviews to understand how Himachali people view living with leopards. We will be talking to Government officials, media personnel, village panchayats, local community, students and urban residents. 
• Document leopard movement in human areas: Since leopards are nocturnal creatures, we hardly see them, let alone get to understand their movements. Stationary motion-sensing cameras will be placed on pathways, house backyards, agricultural fields and roads to photo capture leopard movement. This will help us understand the time they use these areas, frequency of use and their preferred localities.
• Recommend better policy: We will communicate recommendations to the Government of Himachal Pradesh based on this project in the form of a policy input document to improve leopard management in the state.

This project will help the people of Himachal live safely with the leopards. If basic human safety is ensured, leopards and people can co-exist in relative harmony. Using innovative scientific methods, our presence and connections in the landscape, an environment of coexistence can be encouraged. If all stakeholders of the leopard are heard and represented in future management measures, conservation of leopards can be assured. Help us make Himachal Pradesh a haven for both the leopard and people. Watch the video in the gallery section to know more! Follow us on @shwetaandthebigcats on Instagram, @shwetaandbigca1 on Twitter or the Facebook page “Shweta and the Big cats” to keep getting interesting content on this campaign.