Oct 26th, 2012 Lightning strikes twice!
Finally, I woke up to some good news!  One of our cameras captured a leopard passing through!

The locals had told us they have seen both leopards and tigers in the area.  Now we have a full body visual on the leopard.  I can't tell you how happy that makes me feel.   In science, facts are everything. I could interview ten thousand Sherpa people but their eye witness accounts would not prove creditable. The leopard's photograph, the tail or a tiger/leopard, paw prints and scat collect provides me with the scientific evidence I was looking for.  I am still hoping for a tiger photograph but the leopard photograph is a close second in my book.  Neither one of these species was believed to exist in this part of Nepal.  Although part of their historic range, they were believed to be expired here.  I would say that it is pretty cool to be the one to have “discovered” these two species here, but as the Native Americans probably said to Columbus, “How can you discover something that had been long ago found?” So, I want to be the one that makes sure the two species do not disappear.   

Leopard captured on camera trap

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists the Asiatic leopard as Near Threatened and the U.S. Endangered Species List (ESA) has them listed as endangered.  The subspecies known to live in Nepal is the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca).  According to Wikipedia,

“They are becoming increasingly rare outside protected areas. The trend of the population is decreasing.”

The actual number of leopards living in Nepal is unknown.   The tiger population in Nepal, however, is believed to be around 176.  The are listed as endangered on both the IUCN and ESA.  As with the leopard, the tiger species found in Nepal is said to be the Indian or Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris).   Any tigers found outside established preserves in Nepal would be very significant. And that is why we're here.

Also this morning we received another good lead on a tiger sighting. This one is so fresh, the hour or so walk up hill to 3,265 meters, the lack of oxygen in my lungs, even the cold frigid air is worth the trek.    A fresh tiger kill. Wow.

The word of are investigative tiger activity in the area has spread throughout the villages in these mountains.   A women attempted to call us last night to tell us that she had just witnessed a tiger killing her calf that afternoon.  We didn't receive the call until this morning but she said that the calf is still at the kill sight and that she would take us to it.  This is pretty cool! With any luck we should be able to collect some great samples.

The kill site was amazing and the woman was very credible.  She was able to get a real good look at the tiger as it was killing her calf.  She was very frightened, to say the least, and did not stay in the area.   She ran back to her home, and then a neighbors house to find help.   She then telephoned one of our team members to relay the story.

Tiger kill site

Paw print believed to be from a tiger

We were able to collect a few good prints from the site and decided to set up a camera for two days in hope that the tiger would return to the kill site.

This was a very good day.