Human-wolf conflicts in the buffer zone of Sagarmatha National Park: Patterns of livestock predation, community perceptions and mitigation strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2026.110106Keywords:
Human-wildlife conflict, Mitigation, Sagarmatha, Wolf depredationAbstract
In the buffer zone of Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, this study assessed the status of human–wolf conflict by documenting livestock depredation patterns, exploring community perceptions, and reviewing locally applied mitigation measures. Information was gathered through reconnaissance and key-informant consultations, field visits to reported conflict locations (supported by signs such as tracks, scat, and carcass remains), and household interviews using open-ended questionnaires with 132 respondents from Ward 4 and Ward 5 (66 per ward). Reported conflict was widespread: 75% of respondents perceived an increasing trend in wolf population over the last five years, and 41.7% described wolf attacks as frequent. Annual livestock depredation records from 2019 to 2025 indicated that wolves were the principal predator, accounting for 1,277 incidents (approximately 87.5% of all recorded depredations). The highest number of cases occurred in 2024/25 (339), while the lowest number was recorded in 2020/21 (102). Among respondents who identified seasonal patterns (n = 77), attacks were reported most frequently during the summer (June–August; 47%) and occurred primarily in the evening (42%) and at night (35%). Perceptions were predominantly negative, driven by livestock losses (68.2%) and concerns for human safety (27.3%). Fencing, sensor lights, and fox lights were used by some households, but many reported no preventive measures and generally viewed existing options as ineffective. Education and direct encounters with wolves were significantly associated with perceptions and support for wolf conservation. Targeted, community-led prevention and risk-communication efforts aligned with local depredation patterns could reduce losses while maintaining support for wolf conservation.
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