Modelling Potential Distribution of Snow Leopards in Pamir, Northern Pakistan: Implications for Human–Snow Leopard Conflicts

Wajid Rashid, Jianbin Shi, Inam ur Rahim, Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Naveed Baloch, Eve Bohnett, Fangyuan Yang, Imran Khan and Bilal Ahmad
Additional contact information
Wajid Rashid: School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Jianbin Shi: School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Inam ur Rahim: Centre for Applied Policy Research in Livestock (CAPRIL), Department of Climate Change and Livestock, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Muhammad Qasim: Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, Mingora 19130, Pakistan
Muhammad Naveed Baloch: Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Eve Bohnett: Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Fangyuan Yang: Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Imran Khan: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
Bilal Ahmad: Institute of Agriculture Sciences and Forestry, University of Swat, Mingora 19130, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: The snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ) is a cryptic and rare big cat inhabiting Asia’s remote and harsh elevated areas. Its population has decreased across the globe for various reasons, including human–snow leopard conflicts (HSCs). Understanding the snow leopard’s distribution range and habitat interactions with human/livestock is essential for understanding the ecological context in which HSCs occur and thus gives insights into how to mitigate HSCs. In this study, a MaxEnt model predicted the snow leopard’s potential distribution and analyzed the land use/cover to determine the habitat interactions of snow leopards with human/livestock in Karakoram–Pamir, northern Pakistan. The results indicated an excellent model performance for predicting the species’ potential distribution. The variables with higher contributions to the model were the mean diurnal temperature range (51.7%), annual temperature range (18.5%), aspect (14.2%), and land cover (6.9%). The model predicted approximately 10% of the study area as a highly suitable habitat for snow leopards. Appropriate areas included those at an altitude ranging from 2721 to 4825 m, with a mean elevation of 3796.9 ± 432 m, overlapping between suitable snow leopard habitats and human presence. The human encroachment (human settlements and agriculture) in suitable snow leopard habitat increased by 115% between 2008 and 2018. Increasing encroachment and a clear overlap between snow leopard suitable habitat and human activities, signs of growing competition between wildlife and human/livestock for limited rangeland resources, may have contributed to increasing HSCs. A sound land use plan is needed to minimize overlaps between suitable snow leopard habitat and human presence to mitigate HSCs in the long run.

Keywords: habitat fragmentation; habitat suitability; land use/cover change; Panthera uncia; MaxEnt model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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