Common leopards Panthera pardus, rank as the second most problematic wildlife in Nepal, accounting for 21% of conflicts. Gandaki Province reported 842 Human-Leopard Conflict (HLC) incidents, including 44 human attacks and 798 cases of livestock depredation between 2015 and 2019. Tanahun district of Gandaki Province has emerged as a major conflict hotspot, with 17 reported children’s deaths, 16 injuries, and >236 livestock depredations in 9 years. The actual frequency of conflicts is often higher than that reflected in official records. This discrepancy is often attributed to the complicated and time-consuming compensation process, coupled with compensation amounts that are often inadequate relative to the actual losses incurred. On the other hand, leopards are equally facing growing threats from habitat fragmentation, declining prey populations, illegal hunting, and particularly retaliatory killings following human casualties and livestock depredation incidents. About 51% of leopard-related mortalities are due to retaliation and lethal control nationally, while leopards are also widely poached for skins and bones. These circumstances highlight an urgent need for science-based mitigation strategies to ensure local community safety while conserving leopards.

With this project, the Himalayan Nature team will assess the HLC conflict patterns in Tanahun and identify the conflict hotspot areas. Secondary data will be reviewed from the District Forest Office-Tanahun, relevant scientific literature, and focus group discussions, followed by questionnaire surveys to collect and validate conflict-related information. A comprehensive and site-specific community-endorsed mitigation plan will also be developed that will highlight the locally relevant strategies to promote coexistence. The project will also capacitate key stakeholders to strengthen local capacity for conflict prevention and response, adopting Training of Trainers approaches. Furthermore, the project will conduct participatory-based awareness campaigns in schools and communities, targeting women and children, prioritizing high-risk areas on leopard ecology, conflict mitigation, and coexistence strategies. Educational materials like children's workbooks, posters, brochures, and laminated boards will be used to enhance information sharing and increase the public reach. Additionally, radio jingles will be broadcast within the project sites to reach a wider audience and reinforce messages on safety, conflict mitigation, and coexistence.

Through systematic conflict hotspot mapping across Tanahun district, this project will generate evidence-based understanding of spatial conflict patterns. This map will guide conservation actions, prioritising interventions in the areas of need and optimizing resource allocation for leopard conservation. The mitigation plan will help improve community preparedness and promote the adoption of conflict mitigation and safeguarding practices among local communities. Furthermore, trained stakeholders will serve as conservation ambassadors, enabling them to facilitate, implement, and disseminate the HLC mitigation plan. They will continue to share their learnings and strengthen local capacity in conflict prevention beyond the project timeline and reach. Information on leopard ecology, safeguarding strategies from potential encounters, conflict mitigation strategies, compensation schemes, and relevant wildlife laws will be disseminated through community outreach and radio campaigns. These initiatives will enhance local stewardship, reduce negative perceptions, and encourage reporting and collaboration in conservation. By combining research, community-driven action, and institutional coordination, this project will help foster coexistence and secure the species’ long-term survival in human-dominated landscapes.

The project is funded by The Rufford Foundation and will be implemented in collaboration with the District Forest Office–Tanahun, Bhanu Municipality, Nature Conservation Initiative–Nepal, and Mission Leopard.