Mustang. The National Trust for Nature Conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Area Conservation Office (ACAP), Jomsom has handed over relief to 26 households affected by snow leopard.

ACAP said that the compensation to the livestock caused by the attack of protected snow leopard and leopard has been paid to the bank accounts of the concerned households. At a wildlife conservation awareness seminar and relief distribution program organized at ACAP office in Jomsom on Thursday, Rajesh Gupta, chief of the office and conservation officer, said that the vouchers were handed over to the livestock rearers concerned after distributing the relief amount which had been stalled for the past two years.

A total of 26 households in Baragung Mukti Chhetra, Gharpajhong and Thasang rural municipalities were handed over Rs 1.318 million as relief for the loss of livestock in the fiscal year 2080/81 and 2081/82.

According to Rajesh Gupta, chief of the office, those who have not been able to get the wildlife loss relief amount in the last two fiscal years will be provided from the emergency fund of ACAP.

According to ACAP Jomsom, Rs 236,000 has been handed over to 24 households under Baragung Mukti Chhetra Rural Municipality, Rs 725,000 to 69 households of 11 households under Gharpajhong Rural Municipality and Rs 357,000 for the loss of 30 livestock to 10 households of Thasang Rural Municipality.

In the last two fiscal years, six yaks and 16 mountain goats were damaged in the attack of snow leopards in Baragung Mukti Area. A total of 58 mountain goats, eight yaks and three horses were damaged in the incident. Similarly, 18 yaks and two goats were attacked by wild animals at Thasang rural municipality.

MUSTANG: The number of livestock being killed in snow leopard attacks in Mustang is increasing. According to ACAP, 163 livestock were damaged in the fiscal year 2076/77. Similarly, 54 livestock were damaged in the FY 2077/78, 13 in the FY 2078/79 and 38 in the FY 2079/80.

Similarly, 56 livestock were damaged in the last fiscal year 2080/81 and 88 in the fiscal year 2081/82. Chairperson of Gharpajhong rural municipality Mohan Singh Lalchan underscored the need of making the award provision effective for the conservation of wildlife and micro-monitoring for the conservation of wildlife.

Lalchan pointed out the need of linking religious and touristic district Mustang and its protected wildlife with tourism promotion.

ACAP chief Gupta said that the ACAP office has set up an internal relief fund to provide relief to the wildlife victims as soon as possible.

He said that efforts have been made to resolve the problems of the affected livestock farmers by allocating the budget of ACAP as there would be a delay in the distribution of wildlife damage relief provided by the National Parks and Wildlife Department.