towards project snow leopard - Nature Conservation Foundation

60 • Appendix 1
3.1.2. Yak herders indulge in hunting, trapping and poisoning: Yak herding is done in the
high altitude areas where the best source of protein is the meat of wildlife which form
the prey base of the snow leopard.
3.1.3. Retaliatory carcass poisoning by Yak herders: Poisoning of carnivores in retaliation to
kills of yak and sheep by wildlife may be a threat faced by wildlife.
3.2. Unregulated Tourism
3.2.1. Important wildlife habitats to be preserved by appropriate zonation: Currently there
is no restriction on entry into the core areas of the KNP. This has resulted in habitat
loss due to camping grounds.
3.2.2. Use of firewood (Juniper + Rhododendron) by support staff for heating and cooking:
Trekkers and campers now carry kerosene and LPG cylinders to the alpine areas.
However the porters and other support staff still depend on the local firewood of
juniper and rhododendron. This results in substantial degradation.
3.2.3. Garbage management issues: New trekking routes have been opened to the Green
Lake areas of North and Dzongri-Lampokhri areas of West Sikkim. These areas are
pristine areas as well as remote from road heads. Trekkers and campers carry a lot of
non-biodegradable material which are dumped on the spot. Shifting of garbage for
safe disposal is a problem.
3.2.4. Campsite management issues like designated camping sites, water pollution: As of
now there are no declared camping sites in the alpine meadow areas which lead to
disseminated pollution that is difficult to manage and control.
3.2.5. Feral dogs’ hunting of ground nesting birds and lesser mammals: Campers and
trekkers leave behind food items and wastes which lead to prolific breeding of feral
dogs that prey on the ground fauna. This upsets the precarious high altitude food
chain.
3.3. Hunting, Snaring of prey species and degradation of habitat
3.3.1. Migrant contractual labourers (mostly BRO) who do not have any stake in
conservation live on the road sides or on forest fringes. They use firewood for heating
and cooking and hunt wildlife for meat. The problem is compounded by the hiring
and firing policy of the BRO, whereby they bring in labourers from outside to work
on road projects and abandon them at the project site when the work is over.
3.4. Traditional hunting
3.4.1. The local tribals living in the Lachen valley as well as the nomadic tribes used to carry
out seasonal hunting. This is still a problem but the instances are reducing
3.5. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) Base Camp on Rathong Glacier in
KNP