Wild cats conservation initiatives in Central and Eastern Nepal

This project will take place in two distinct but ecologically significant locations of Central and Eastern Nepal – Dhanushadham and Mahamai. Through educational awareness program and community engagement activities, we will encourage active participation of locals in conservation efforts. This will involve the inclusion of community people in identifying the potential risk areas for felids in highways, and imply group effort in installation of hoarding and sign boards. Dedicated program to educate school students about the ecological importance of small wild cats will be carried out. The project will focus on following objectives:

  1. To understand the conservation status (occurrence and threats) of small wild cats (Jungle cat and Leopard cat) in Mahamai area
  2. To reduce the threats of small wild cats (Jungle cat and Leopard cat) in Dhanushadham area
  3. To understand the driver of human-felid conflicts in both the project sites
  4. To foster conservation consciousness regarding small wild cats through awareness in local communities
A trapped leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in a poultry farm from Dhanusha

Funded by: The Small Cat Action Fund (SCAF), Panthera