Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a serious problem in many parts of the world, and Bhutan’s Wangchuck Centennial National Park (WCNP) is no exception. Located in the remote alpine areas of the eastern Himalaya, wildlife species such as snow leopard (SL) and Tibetan wolf (TW) are reported to kill livestock in many parts of the Park. Such depredation is believed to have affected the livelihoods of high-altitude herding communities, resulting in conflicts between them. This study provides analysis on the extent of livestock depredation by wildlife predators such as SL and TW and examines its implications for the livelihoods of herding communities of Choekhortoe and Dhur regions of WCNP. Using semi-structured questionnaires, all herders (n = 38) in the study area were interviewed. The questions pertained to livestock population, frequency of depredation and income lost due to depredation in the last five years from 2012 to 2016. This study recorded 2,815 livestock heads in the study area, with an average herd size of 74.1 stock. The average herd size holding showed a decreasing trend over the years, and one of the reasons cited by the herders is depredation by SL and TW and other predators. This loss equated to an average annual financial loss equivalent to 10.2% (US$837) of their total per capita cash income. Such losses have resulted in negative impacts on herders’ livelihood; e.g. six herders (2012-2016) even stopped rearing livestock and resorted to an alternate source of cash income. The livestock intensification programmes, including pasture improvement through allowing controlled burning, and financial compensation, may be some potential short-term solutions to reduce conflict between herders and predators. Issuing permits for cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) collection only to the herders and instilling the sense of stewardship to highland herders may be one of the long-term solutions.

中文翻译：

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雪豹和藏狼对牲畜的掠夺：不丹旺楚克百年国家公园对牧民生计的影响

人与野生动物冲突（HWC）在世界许多地方都是一个严重的问题，不丹的旺楚克百年国家公园（WCNP）也不例外。据报道，位于喜马拉雅山脉东部偏远的高山地区，雪豹（SL）和藏狼（TW）等野生动物物种在公园的许多地方杀死牲畜。人们认为这种掠夺影响了高海拔牧民社区的生计，导致了它们之间的冲突。这项研究分析了SL和TW等野生动物掠食者对牲畜的掠夺程度，并研究了其对WCNP的Choekhortoe和Dhur地区的放牧社区的生计的影响。使用半结构化问卷，对研究区域内的所有牧民（n = 38）进行了采访。这些问题与牲畜数量有关，从2012年到2016年的最近五年中，由于掠夺而导致的掠夺频率和收入损失。该研究记录了研究区域内2,815头牲畜的头，平均种群规模为74.1头。这些年来，平均牧群数量呈下降趋势，而牧民提到的原因之一是SL和TW等掠食者的捕食。该损失相当于每年平均财务损失，相当于其人均现金收入总额的10.2％（837美元）。这种损失对牧民的生计造成了不利影响；例如，六位牧民（2012-2016年）甚至停止饲养牲畜，并求助于现金收入的另一来源。牲畜集约化方案，包括通过控制燃烧来改善牧场，并提供经济补偿，可能是减少牧民和食肉动物之间冲突的一些潜在的短期解决方案。仅向牧民发放冬虫夏草（Ophiocordyceps sinensis）许可证，向高原牧民灌输管理意识可能是长期的解决方案之一。