Habitat assessment for the translocation of blue sheep to maintain a viable snow leopard population in the Mt Everest Region, Nepal

Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) are the key prey of the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in the Himalayan region of Nepal. However, the snow leopard population has recently expanded back into the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park where the blue sheep are currently absent, and the evidence of snow leopard depredation of livestock can be found. A solution to this prospective human–wildlife conflict is the translocation of blue sheep back into this area. The aims of this study are (1) to characterize the spatial and environmental factors related to current blue sheep distributions in three areas: Annapurna Conservation Area, Shey Phoksundo National Park and Kanchanjunga Conservation Area, and (2) to use these characteristics to assess the suitability of two areas: Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park and Langtang National Park for blue sheep translocation. Blue sheep were found to occur in 14,603 km² of Nepal, with 7343 km² (49%) inside protected areas. Blue sheep preferred the alpine meadow, pasture and grassland with the mean annual precipitation between 200 and 1000 mm and most frequently occurred at elevations between 3300 and 5100 m with soil combinations of Haplumbrepts, Dystrochrepts and Cryumbrepts.Overall, the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park was significantly similar to the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area (Bray-Curtis similarity coefficient S > 72%) in terms of vegetation, elevation, precipitation, soil, aspect and slope. Therefore, the translocation of blue sheep from the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area to the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park is recommended in accordance with the main conservation aim of supporting the population of snow leopards and other predators in the park. However, before translocation can proceed, a further detailed study is required on human disturbance, grass biomass and climate change at specific release sites as well as decisions on the number of blue sheep to be relocated.