Why it's so important to understand cause of death...

As a species we humans have the resources to do many great things.  We just have to make the right decisions...

The image is from a case where a leopard died a few days ago.  The big cat was found dead in a small stream and there were indications it had been poisoned.  However no post mortem was done.

We spent time in the area trying to understand the incident.  In every case there are certainties, probabilities and possibilities.  I've seen many dead leopards, been to many "crime scenes" where there have been fatalities of people, livestock and/or the big cats themselves.  Each case is different but patterns do emerge.

It's vital to get accurate information and in our increasingly noisy world that is not easy.  Getting a  post mortem done on a dead leopard in a country like Nepal is problematic and in many regions virtually impossible.  However where it can be done it needs to be.  If this leopard died of poisoning we need to investigate further to find out if it was accidental or deliberate, in which case it becomes a wildlife crime.  If the animal died of a communicative disease such as canine distemper that is crucial knowledge.  There are wildlife diseases which can wipe out populations very quickly.

Molecular dynamics, vet science, toxicology, human-leopard conflict and wildlife crime, these are all pieces in ever changing puzzles.  Protocols have to be in place so we can understand and act.  We're working on that, working hard.

In many ways, this work, it has to be personal.  Frustratingly, whenever there are lists of "amazing animals threatened" by either wildlife crime and/or conflict situations (the two are often related) the leopard rarely features.  Yet at ground level we know, on a daily basis, how bad the problem is.  If the image in this blog showed a tiger, elephant or rhino, my inbox would be extremely active.  Sometimes it feels like we're banging heads against brick walls, fighting for an underdog species in an underdog country.  Many times I think how the plight of the leopard is a microcosm of the problems here.

We're going to have to learn to live with leopards or they won't survive... and that would be catastrophic.  Leopards are vital ecosystem engineers, a species which doesn't exist solely in protected areas.  It's very concerning how many times I'm told in more and more areas "there seems to be less leopards here than before"... and in a country of such huge importance when it comes to biodiversity and ecosystems that is worrying.  When push comes to shove and the geo-strategic location between India and China plays out with water resources becoming more critical, well, I've written many times about the absolute necessity to keep ecosystems intact here.

I thank those who care about this situation and help.  The "Living with Leopards" concept will be updated at wildleopard.net before the end of November.  I've realized that we need to do more to get people to really understand the importance of the leopard, to improve protected status, to change perceptions and to create better coexistence.  I know we can do it.  We'll keep trying...

The man-eating leopards of the west, the need to be in field...

I write this as I prepare for another location shift where awaits several months of intense field work regarding man-eater leopards.  Attacks on humans by leopards are proportionately higher in Nepal than anywhere else in the leopard's global range.

Many thanks to those who read these blogs whether it's here or Facebook where I also have other updates.  This is just a short rant and the last for a little while until the "Living with Leopards" concept is more advanced.

I've had to spend quite a lot of time lately preparing documents for presentations and concept notes with regard to man-eating leopards, wildlife forensics and wildlife crime.  During this time I've kept a close eye on events in Johannesburg, the 17th Conference of the Parties for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).  Friends and colleagues have been battling hard for wildlife at that meeting.  There's been some success and some disappointment.  I don't really want to comment on that now although there's no doubt that for those in the big cat conservation game things will not be any easier with the decision not to give  Lions appendix 1 protected status.  Go to our Twitter feed at @WildTigerNews if you're not up with the play, it links to the relevant articles but with the trade in lion bones a stimulus to illegal wildlife trade in other big cat parts, it was a negative decision.

So as I mentioned it's all go developing the "Living with Leopards" concept which is basically a path to better co-existence.  Things are at a perilous stage, many people and leopards losing their lives in South Asia.  The area in Baitadi where I'll soon be active has lost about 25 children to leopards in just under 4 years.  Retaliation killings of the cats take place, it's a vicious circle as I've explained many times before. A shoot to kill order by the Government was activated but the police team has not taken the life of a leopard in the last month since this decision was made. Using forensics (with partner the Centre of Molecular Dynamics Nepal) and technology including camera traps I'm hoping to resolve the situation before any further loss of life on either side.  I'm waiting for equipment to arrive in Kathmandu and I'll be continuing case studies involving human fatalities as a result of conflict with leopards just outside the valley in the meantime.  The need to understand and implement is at a critical stage.

As I've mentioned before, sometimes I feel a real degree of elitism has entered wildlife conservation.  There is so much blame firing everywhere and meanwhile the marginalized parties, the wildlife and economically struggling people living in the same habitats, still don't get enough help.  There's so much misunderstanding and generalization.  The trade in wildlife parts, so very connected to human-wildlife conflict, is a good example. It's a global issue yet only certain countries seem to be in the firing line.  Yes, countries such as China need a lot of change in this regard but there are courageous Chinese activists etc doing a lot more than simply firing a few shots from behind keyboards.

Wildlife trade is prolific in many parts of the world including the US and several Euro states.  We've got to look at the situation much more as a global problem.

Here in Nepal, WildTiger works very closely with the right people to combat illegal trade.  We'll be expanding on this when the WildTiger website is back up and running soon after maintenance.  There is info currently at wildleopard.net and there will be other platforms introduced shortly with regard to this side of things.  Colleague Pragati Shahi has done fantastic work, among others who are very committed to the task.  The "Living with Leopards" platforms will give the opportunity for interaction to increase communication regarding conflict issues and wildlife crime.

I guess that's it for the moment.  I'll tweet from the field but I'll get another post up before that starts in earnest. There's also an email due out to subscribers and long time supporters.  On a personal note it's a feeling of anticipation that in six or seven months I'll be able to head back to see family in New Zealand and Australia after a gap of several years.  A lot to be done in the meantime however, my focus purely on improving human-leopard co-existence.  Progress is being made but there's no time to waste when lives are at stake.

My thanks once again to those who support, you are a part of this.

With best regards,

Jack.

Many thanks to those who read brief blog yesterday re human-leopard co-existence...

Many thanks to those who read my brief blog yesterday re human-leopard co-existence, I got several messages. As I've mentioned, we're working hard on developing, testing, implementing tools, more soon on the "Living with Leopards" concept but I am concerned about the disconnect many have from ground level reality. This needs to change, we're working on that too.

Leopards turn man-eater for different reasons...

Right now I'm working on those reasons.  It's fundamental to understanding and putting repairs in place to this problem.  There have been hundreds and hundreds of deaths in the area that is Nepal and northern India over the last twenty years, we're still collating figures.

Fear is bred when an animal kills a human.  Retaliation is often the consequence.  Perceptions of the species involved are generally very negative.  There is blame, anger and a lot of confusion mixed with the fear.  Every incident is tragic, the deaths on both sides.

People, livestock (that vital livelihood of so many economically disadvantaged areas) and leopards are dying.  Here in Nepal the topography of the middle hills (they aren't "hills" as the rest of the world knows them, they are more like mountains) adds to the difficulty of the situation.  It's a situation that can never be completely resolved but it can be eased.

That's what we're working on.   Every day more issues seem to come up, this is a tough gig.  Poverty and a country that is struggling in so many ways are factors within this serious problem.  Human-Leopard co-existence is at a critical stage.  I'll write more about the "Living with Leopards" concept, the strategies and implementations involved, as it develops further.

Big cats - the privilege of the encounter, no room for elitism...

This blog is at Facebook (along with other updates) if you wish to comment

Any encounter I have with a tiger or leopard is a privilege.  I have no right to see a big cat, no one does.  If it happens it happens.  The experience itself always affects me.  It's not love, it's respect.  I feel protective but at the same time in awe.  The feeling is not totally about the animal before my eyes, it is more about what that animal represents, the sheer being that is nature and how humbling it is to realize the privilege I have to be connected to nature in its entirety, in all its forms.

I have always felt like this and events today only strengthened my resolve...

The people who live directly with tigers, leopards and such like are part of the fabric, an extremely vital part.  I have serious concerns about the growing elitism in conservation, something which is making it even more difficult for those who have to co-exist with such powerful forces as tigers and leopards.  I'm at an age now where my radar is more attuned regarding who is involved in wildlife protection, if they are truly genuine or not.  We humans talk a big game...

The people who live with tigers and leopards understand that, I have had many issues shared with me, more of late than ever.

It's a busy time.  There's been some strong developments in the "Living with Leopards" concept and some serious concerns raised too.  Some good people are fighting hard, walking the walk.  I thank those who support that.  In a country like Nepal it's easy to see the visible challenges but there are many not so visible, things that go on that need to be dealt with in a certain way.  There are days when those challenges seem as huge as the highest of Himalayan peaks.

But then maybe the sight of a tiger, in some form, a light in the darkness, shows the way...

Make sure you follow the efforts of the Environmental Investigation Agency at CITES Conference of the Parties 17 (@EIAInvestigator on Twitter) and WildTiger is one of 49 signatories on tiger farming... some noticeable absentees on that list, more on that another day.  In a couple of weeks I'll have a comprehensive report on the "Living with Leopards" concept, it's about practical application to improve co-existence between big cats and the people living with them, both parties deserving equal respect.

Human - Leopard Co-existence - quick update on strategy...

These posts are also at Facebook (along with other updates) if you wish to comment.

Just a quick one as I'm getting a lot of correspondence on this issue and I haven't been able to get back to everyone.  Regarding conflict mitigation strategy it involves digital eye, forensics, an early warning (and deterrent) device and the biggie which is giving people a better understanding of leopard behaviour in conflict areas.  This last one is a concern because I frequently hear and read information which is off the mark. The leopard is the most successful, cunning and adaptable of the big cats.  When things are out of balance those attributes make the leopard the most deadly.  I am still constantly amazed what they are capable of and living with one extended my vision much further.  A massive amount of time and resource has gone into this, it really has been a case of putting  money where the mouth is.  There's a lot more to be done but we are making progress.  I'll update in a few weeks regarding the whole "Living with Leopards" concept.  I thank those who support this in a tangible way, it's about saving lives of people, livestock plus the leopards themselves and of course keeping ecosystems intact...
Cheers Jack.

#HumanWildlifeConflict #WildlifeCrime

With regard to issues such as #HumanWildlifeConflict + #WildlifeCrime the years have taught me it is certainly not about making friends or being popular, it is about doing what is right. There is a cost to this but that cost is always quickly diluted by conscience. Above all it is about fairness to innocent, marginalized parties... and truly understanding what they go through.