LIVESTOCK DEPREDATION BY LEOPARD, AN ALARMING INTIMIDATION FOR ITS CONSERVATION IN PIR LASOORA NATIONAL PARK NAKIAL, AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR.

The threat posed by leopards to livestock and hitman lives makes their coexistence difficult. Mitigation measure should he based on an unequivocal understanding of the conflict patterns. Household surveys were conducted with an intention to quantify livestock losses and its effects on leopard conservation in the Pir Lasoora National Park. The questionnaire survey revealed a total of 72 livestock killed, equated to an annual loss o f4324.50 US$. Among the domestic animals, goats were killed significantly (p<0.05) in higher number. Young and female stocks were more vulnerable to leopard attacks. Forests were the preferred killing sites, and night time killing was more frequent than during other periods of the day. Seasonal killing and attacks were also observed, both attacks and killing in June showed significant (p<(). 05) difference from other months of year. Results revealed the massive economic loss, which inevitably resulted in retaliation against 17 leopards since 2000 in the region. Habitat degradation and depletion of natural prey are more striking factors driving leopard populations to local extinction form the study area. Our results iterate the need of an awareness program, the implementation of collaborative insurance schemes, and the involvement of the local community in order to modify the negative perception towards the conservation of the leopard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]