AI-Based Camera Traps Reduce Snow Leopard Attacks on Livestock

APP

Islamabad: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based trail cameras installed in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) are transforming human-wildlife conflict into coexistence, significantly reducing Snow leopard attacks on livestock in targeted areas.

This advancement was highlighted by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) in a press release coinciding with International Snow Leopard Day.

To showcase the benefits of these camera traps, WWF-Pakistan released a short documentary on its digital platforms.The organization emphasizes that human-wildlife conflict is a leading factor in the decline of Snow leopard populations.

Historically, local communities have retaliated against Snow leopards due to livestock losses, resulting in the killing or hunting of these endangered animals.

Additionally, threats from poaching, illegal hunting, and habitat loss due to climate change further jeopardize the Snow leopard population across Central and South Asia.

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With support from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), WWF-Pakistan developed and installed five AI-based camera traps in areas where Snow leopard attacks had been reported.

These cameras detect the presence of Snow leopards, transfer data to a centralized system, and generate alerts for local communities, allowing them to protect their livestock. This technology has notably reduced Snow leopard attacks, fostering a symbiotic relationship between humans and these majestic predators.

WWF-Pakistan Leadership

Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, remarked on the initiative’s significance, stating that livestock depredation by Snow leopards contributes significantly to human-wildlife conflict across various valleys in Pakistan’s three landscapes: Karakoram-Pamir, Hindu Kush, and Himalaya.

He stressed that the adoption of this technology is crucial not only for safeguarding the endangered Snow leopard population but also for protecting livestock, thus reducing economic losses for herders.

Khan proposed that this technology could be applied to other threatened wildlife species facing human retaliation.

In April 2024, WWF-Pakistan released a report highlighting threats to Snow leopards and their prey populations from infrastructure development in GB.

The study, titled “Building Ecological and Sustainable Transport/Linear Infrastructure for Snow Leopards in the Hindu Kush Karakoram Himalaya Landscape in Pakistan” (BEAST), stressed the need to balance infrastructure development with the conservation of threatened wildlife.

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The report pointed out that linear infrastructure, such as roads and railways, fragments Snow leopard habitats, restricting wildlife movement and endangering both Snow leopards and their prey species. While infrastructure development can boost national and regional economies, it poses significant risks to biodiversity.

Population Protection

Snow leopards are elusive creatures, making it challenging to ascertain their exact population across Central and South Asia. However, WWF research indicates that fewer than 7,000 Snow leopards exist globally, with approximately 200 to 420 individuals residing in the northern mountain ranges of Pakistan, including the GB region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK).

Through innovative technology and strategic conservation efforts, WWF-Pakistan aims to ensure a future where humans and Snow leopards can coexist peacefully.