Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Leopard (Panthera pardus) Attacks on Livestock in Buffer Zone of Bardia National Park, Nepal

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflicts, particularly predation on livestock by large carnivores, possess significant challenges to conservation. This research aims to examine the spatial-temporal variation of leopard attacks on livestock in the buffer zone of Bardia National Park from 2016-2020. The spatial-temporal variation of leopard attacks on livestock was calculated using on-site assessment, field verification, and risk zone categorization by hotspot mapping. The Pearson χ2 test was used to compare the frequency of livestock depredation by leopards. All total 700 conflict incidences of livestock depredation by leopard were recorded. The average economic loss was USD 23.758 per year per household. Significantly higher numbers of goat/sheep (66.6%) followed by pig (26.6%) losses per year were observed (Pearson X2df=16=55.754). There was a significant increase in the trend of livestock attack over the year (Pearson X2df=44=76.089). Livestock depredation was found to be completely dependent in year and season (Pearson X2df=12=27.986). Most of the leopard attacks occurred at night (80.29%) (Likelihood ratio X2df=4=14.331), and 89.29% of the livestock killing occurred within the coral house closer to (250m) the forest edge. We recommend using the risk zonation map developed in the research to prioritize preventive measures. Finding will aid in understanding spatial-temporal variation of leopard attacks on livestock.