Prey selection by leopards (Panthera pardus fusca) in the mid-hill region of Nepal

Information on prey selection and the diet of the leopard (Panthera pardus
fusca) is essential for leopard conservation. We conducted an
investigation into the prey species and the proportion of each species in
the leopard's diet in a human-dominated mid-hill region of Nepal. The
analysis of 96 leopard scats collected between August 2020 and March 2021
revealed that leopards consumed 15 prey species, including small and
medium-sized mammals and livestock. In addition to these prey species, we
also found plastic materials, bird feathers, and some unidentified items
in the leopard scats. Wild ungulates (such as barking deer, Muntiacus
muntjak, and wild boar, Sus scrofa) constituted only 10% of the biomass in
the scats, while livestock contributed 27%, and other wild prey
contributed 50%. Among all species, domestic goats had the highest
relative biomass in the scats, followed by the jungle cat (Felis chaus),
domestic dog (Canis familiaris), and large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha).
Similarly, the Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis) had the highest proportion
of relative individuals present in the scat samples, followed by the
jungle cat and the large Indian civet. A lower proportion of biomass from
wild ungulates in the leopard's diet and a higher dependency of the
leopard on domestic prey and other wild prey indicate a shortage of
medium-sized wild prey, such as barking deer and wild boar, in leopard
habitats. Therefore, the conservation of wild prey species, especially
medium-sized prey, is crucial for reducing the leopard's dependence
on livestock and mitigating human-leopard conflicts in the future.