Run little leopard run, your life is ahead of you...

...AND YOU ARE ALREADY CHANGING THE LIVES OF OTHERS...Today was one of those where anything could have happened, hey, it's Nepal.  And it wasn't smooth sailing, but yes, Asa now has an outdoor section to his den... and he loves it!  I'll tell how it all went when I do the major Asa update soon but while the finishing touches were being done to his high cage which adjoins the den, Ananta, Shiva and I took Asa again to where his main enclosure will be built, in a great piece of forest and we had a blast.  Asa was so happy, running between the three of us with wonder, mischief and joy in his eyes.  I got this shot as he ran towards me before he jumped onto the camera and my head... he then bit me... I then bit him... that's how it works between us :)
Asa is already changing the lives of others, the forest guards will be getting a higher income, I'll explain that soon.  The community is getting involved, children are being filled with a sense of awe, asking questions and getting answers.
Nepal, bless you... extreme poverty, extreme mountains, extreme wildlife, extreme smiles, extreme craziness, extreme tranquility ... and a little leopard called Asa is making things happen...

Quick update re Asa the leopard cub, a big day ahead working on his den...

It's just after 4am and there's a long day ahead working on the next stage of Asa's current den.  He'll be off contact with everyone but "immediate family" (four forest guards and me) for up to three weeks while he adjusts. This image doesn't quite get the blue of his eyes and believe me, while he looks cute and cuddly, well, he's a leopard, he bites and scratches hard and doesn't tolerate anyone outside his family.  This is exactly the behaviour we need for the rest of his rehabilitation, he needs to retain as much wildness as possible to be effective.  Just to clear things up (again!), Asa himself will not be rewilded but will be used for study of the process which is very complicated.  Less than 40% of leopard cubs survive so Asa is in the "going to live" bracket now.
It's taken a lot of work to get to the level of trust we now have.  Yesterday afternoon was the first complete time out I've had in ages with Asa and my other work filling my days.  I slept soundly.  But now it's back into it.  I'll have a much more detailed report soon and once again I'm behind in messages ... so much to do but it's worth every effort...  and just a quick reminder, Asa images are available at www.wildtiger.org/asa with another exclusive image (5 only) ready soon.  Cheers Jack.

Beauty and the beast, you decide... and no yeti jokes ok ...

Yesterday I took Asa into the forest area where his final enclosure will be built. That is a few months away but I want him to really know the area before that time comes...
It's not that far from his current den which is having an outside section built at the moment. There's a lot of logistics involved in all this but Asa's future as a study for rewilding and leopard behaviour is really important with the increasing amount of conflict, with more and more human fatalities and leopards suffering as well.
I really want to thank James Robinson for his great photography during this memorable session. Asa was very calm, looking around, taking it all in. James kept his distance perfectly, I can always feel if Asa is tense, there was no problem this time. Forest guards Shiva and Ananta watched over the situation in the soft late afternoon light that surrounded this special moment...
There's a lot going on but I should have a full update within the next few days. Cheers Jack.

The paws have it... a more relaxed day for a leopard and a kiwi...

 I get a lot of messages about Asa's paws. Yes, they are impressive. I'll show video of him climbing soon, you can see just how impressive all of him is physically!
We had a quieter session today, more emphasis on just hanging out. He was playful, joyful even. At the end of session I'm usually pretty exhausted, ready for a break ... an hour later I miss him.
The bond is something I can't really describe...

Face to face with the cold hard reality... haunting human/wildlife conflict as another child is killed by leopard...

Please read this post before making comments using the word "cute" or similar.  In actual fact, at the time the image was taken,  Asa was showing his teeth.  He wasn't amused.  We'd had a long training session in his den, he'd been happy and active, very active.  When it came time for his brief public viewing at the end of the day  he braced himself and his mood changed.  He was wary, he bit, he was a leopard...

As much as he can turn on to have a chocolate box expression it must always be remembered Asa is an apex predator.  Leopards are ruthless killers.  They are superbly cunning.  Once focused upon, there is little chance for their prey, animal or human.  The sheer strength, agility and intelligence of these animals is astonishing.

Another child was killed by a leopard in the Baitadi region of western Nepal on Wednesday.  That's about twenty five people now in under two years in that area alone.  Day or night, people and livestock are not safe.  Forget sirens, lights, patrols, everything has been tried.  A crack team from Chitwan could not track the leopard(s) and now there is a shoot to kill order for police and army squads.

Here in the Kaski I'm visiting an area in two days where leopards are on the prowl.  People are scared. Dogs are taken every night.  I had a long discussion with Prabhat of the Forestry Office about the formation of a Response Team in this region.  It has to happen.  I'm also visiting the Baitadi region next month.  I'll try and visit as many of the victim's families as possible.  We have to learn everything we can.

There's never going to be complete harmony, life doesn't work like that.  Living with big cats means living with risk.  The aim is balance, fairness to both sides of the conflict.

This is what Asa is really all about.  At the moment I'm training him to stay wild so we can learn.  Rewilding, relocation, just better understanding for the sake of future leopards are what can be achieved to keep with the aim of balance, that's the goal.

Today he growled at me with a volume that surprised us both.  It was primal.  We are friends, in a way family but it is relationship that is not cuddly, it's raw and often rough. He'll sometimes eat his food right up against me, we have that measure of trust, he knows I'm on his side, for now.

In the wild, leopards eventually go their separate ways.  My relationship with Asa will never cease but it will change.  For the sake of the knowledge we must get Asa must be allowed to keep, learn as many of a leopard's wild instincts as possible.  That's what his mother would have taught him.  We must do it a different way but we must do it...

24 hours of real positives - people, T shirts and a feisty leopard...

                               Hemant... protector of wildlife...

                                Som... protector of wildlife..

                                    Asa... "don't mess with the leopard"...

 I'll explain more soon but first of all a huge thanks to Kate Walton, Elle Ammerman, Anna Collins, James White and April Bayley for their purchases of the exclusive imageyesterday. Boots and gear for the Forest Guard team will be delivered today - this stuff is vital. Thanks to the many others who have purchased images of late, I'll be getting them to you soon. There have been several generous donations as well, these people will be getting exclusive images. You are all making a difference. Only a few really understand how difficult it is to operate here but when I got a call from an excited Hemant in Bardia last night telling me of progress out in western Nepal, well it it really made me feel all the effort is so worth it. Hemant is doing great things, I'm very proud of him as I'm sure his late father is, up in Tiger heaven. Another doing amazing work is our Bird and Wildlife man Som G.C. - Som does fantastic work behind the scenes, I'll have more about his, Hemant's and several others great efforts soon.
And I have just heard a box of T shirts has arrived in the US! This is a huge relief. After some painful financial losses it looks like we may have a courier system that works. A lot of stress can now vanish, onwards and upwards...
Finally, for now, Asa the feisty leopard. Just 30 minutes after being curled up resting against me, sleeping while we took a break during an intensive training session, he distinguished himself by trying to bite Dr Hum Gurung. Hum had come to visit us, he is one of Nepal's most notable conservationists but Asa is not swayed by anyone.
I love this little guy  More soon... cheers Jack.

Leopard for a cause... first available images of Asa starting at just $5... plus an exclusive image

The first Asa images are now available at www.wildtiger.org/asa Starting at $5 and there's also an exclusive image available to just a few...
Update on the JaiBagh Shop and the T shirt situation soon.

Asa images available soon and "I want to bite a tourist"...

 Asa was incredible today. The afternoon session was dynamic, I really had to be on my toes. He'd bite them off if he could. And he was really snarly and growly at the tourists when we had a small late afternoon showing - I was so proud of my little mate! In this image he's about to deal to his "prey"... again. He was super agile and was climbing with ease a vertical log I have put in his den. His strength and toughness is awe inspiring, he takes some great tumbles but just comes back for more... I really like his style 
Earlier in the day I'd had frustration after frustration as I tried to get things done re Asa's Stage 1 rehab. His outdoor enclosure to join on his den is still not finished ... slowly, slowly, patience Jack patience... but it's not far away now. The electricity issues, some misunderstandings, these things add up... Chiran, thank you, you were a massive help my friend.
Asa's afternoon performance really cheered me though. It's pretty exhausting but I wouldn't swap it for the world as I can really sense what an awesome animal he will become... and how he will alter people's ways of thinking and acting... he already is!
Really hoping the first for sale images are available soon... cheers Jack.

This is one of the many reasons we need gear...

Check out Shiva's thumb. Now check out his shoes. At yesterday morning's training session for Asa, Shiva slipped on a steep slope while making sure the little leopard didn't come to any harm...
Yesterday I posted on Facebook that I was about to sell exclusive Asa images to raise money to get boots for the four forest guards I am working with in Asa's rehabilitation. I had already decided to do this before the accident. Things like this happen all the time. My "bloody book" will tell many stories. The fantastic Aussie Kate Walton immediately sent money to buy boots with extra that will get Shiva some medical treatment. You see, he can't afford it. He earns barely three bloody dollars a day from the Ministry of Forests. About 20 million people in this country earn $2 a day. I'm happy to dip into my own pocket for these guys but I really appreciate it when people like Kate and the wonderful Ellen Ammerman make these great contributions. Ellen is a gold star giver and will be visiting us next month. More about her contributions then. There are many of you. Just a few dollars here and there really helps. All of you will be put on a role of honour when we get UNESCO status for the Annapurna.
Kate emailed me a while back saying she was happy to support my "no bullshit" approach to conservation. I really appreciated that. WildTiger people don't poof round in huge luxury jeeps, we don't spend hours and hours at endless meetings. We get our hands dirty because we believe...
There'll be a $5 Asa image available very soon plus a $20 image and an exclusive image like Kate has bought available only to four more people. You can see by the image how the money is spent. I'll have more details about Stage 1 and Stage 2 of Asa's part in how it is fitting into Project Mountain Tiger very soon as well. It's a lot of work in testing conditions but I'm hell bent that we will succeed. And we are all in this together... cheers Jack.

Lights, camera, action - studying the life of a leopard cub...

Apparently we were on TV news.  I didn't see it.  Nor did Asa.  Like me, he doesn't have a TV in his room.  Winter Olympics, what Winter Olympics?
Asa is however being monitored.  I am using a camera system to help understand him more.  The image shown here is part of a time lapse set up, I need to know more about what Asa does at night.  He's a leopard.  Night time is the right time.
I've finally got a couple of days to really catch up with everything, send out overdue emails ... and try and find a hot shower somewhere (please).  There is so much to be done and now Asa is being pulled into Project Mountain Tiger, I'll explain how this all works in a day or two...
Once again, I really want to express my thanks for the support, it honestly helps :)  I very much appreciate those who understand what I am trying to achieve here by giving Asa the chance to be a leopard... Asa is already teaching us so much, the knowledge we take from here on in can only help in the complex interplay between humans and wildlife...

Asa the leopard cub is opening many doors, as an eagle watches closely...

The little leopard was hesitant this morning. He was wary. It was overcast and cold. Snow was falling on the Annapurnas and the smaller ranges closer to Pokhara. We went out into our forest session at the usual time of 7am but there was a different feeling as Asa stuck close to me, there was not quite his pluck of the last few days.
He likes to venture into a deep patch of undergrowth. Ananta, Shiva and myself keep track of him by the tinkle of his little bell. This morning he did not linger, instead coming to my boots, looking up as I hurriedly took notes. We were intrigued by his wariness.
In the corner of my eye I spotted movement. The others, including Asa, did not see the eagle land in a tree close to the Ranger Post. Shiva ran with Asa back to the small group of sheds that make up the Post as I watched with baited breath. An eagle can take out a leopard cub.
Asa got home safely but perhaps his senses were working overtime today... maybe just as well... as I watched the eagle fly even closer to the Post...
I spend the afternoon sessions with Asa in his small shed, we simulate stalking and hunting. He captures and kills his prey, a piece of yellow sacking on the end of a rope. We do this for hours. Today he took his prey up one of logs I have mounted in his room. I really felt today the little cub learned his lessons well...
It's been an intense last ten days. Once again thank you very much for the moral support. I should be able to give more updates from this point and catch up with the many messages as well as thank supporters. Asa is opening doors for wildlife protection and conservation already. More soon... cheers Jack.

In the still morning air a little leopard climbs a tree for the first time ...

A quick update (I've moved to a place not far from Asa and the electricity situation is not good) and a thanks for the fantastic moral support. There have alsobeen solid financial ones, from $2 to $700, more on this soon but I will really have to concentrate hard on that aspect shortly. In the meantime a lot of intensive rehabilitation work has gone into Asa. I have the scratches, bites and sleep deprivation to prove it. I also have a deep bond with a little predator who this morning climbed his first tree. We had been practicing hard and this was such a beautiful thing to see, the moment he hauled himself up and peered into the beyond. Ananta and Shiva, the two forest guards I work with in the morning sessions, could not hide their delight. Nor could I. There is so much to be done but this was a moment in time to lead us forward...

Frightening power as a little leopard starts to get confidence back...

Not enough hours in the day at the moment but the time that was yesterday was intense. Seemingly overnight, Asa made huge gains in power, strength and confidence. I was mentally sapped after several hours of rehab work with the little wild cat. And Asa really is a wild animal, don't let the "cuteness" fool you. My hand needs medical attention due to a jaw grip that is frightening. The sheer power of this animal is stunning and the transition in how Asa now has to be handled has to follow suit.
I've just finalized with the builders and metal workers Stage 1 of the enclosure. It has to be as strong as hell. It is the first part of an overall plan that will encompass holding, medical treatment, rehab and rewilding of one the most powerful predators on the planet, the Chituwa, the jungle leopard, the forest leopard, the common leopard, call it what you like but the challenge is on.
I emphasize again that Asa has really no chance of being rewilded. While this is sad, Asa will play a huge role for study, awareness and ultimately long overdue recognition (read UNESCO) for this incredible biodiversity hotspot, the Annapurna region.
So right now there is so much to do. I have been handed the responsibility to oversee this initial stage of the project and in conjunction with the local community, the Department of Forests, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, the National Trust for Nature Conservation as well as collaboration with WWF and my own organization WildTiger Conservation Research and Development, there are great personnel. But money is an issue. I'll be hammering hard re funding starting tomorrow.
A huge thanks to those who have contributed so far. There will be more links atwww.wildtiger.org soon. I simply don't have time to get to all the messages right now but I will when I can. Before a week ago there were already huge challenges, now a leopard called Asa has added an element that will ultimately help, but there is a hell of a lot to be done... cheers Jack.

Asa will be safe but there is still a lot to be done...

Be careful what you wish for huh? Four days ago I blogged about the secretive forest leopard eluding my re camera traps, now I have one who this morning starting licking my hand.
It's been a long few days, am exhausted, but yes, Asa will be safe. Meetings this morning on location with the Forest Office and WWF meant things can be pushed along further. I spent several hours with Asa, just quietly calming this amazing little leopard who is in a much better state now. I know it all sounds cute and cuddly but it's not. This is a wild animal who lost its mother and will never be free. I have been handed responsibility and will do my very best as this cat represents so much to the area. Many people are excited about how Asa can be such a strong symbol and I myself have promoted this. However, there is a sadness about this which is why the best must be done.
The scared, traumatized little animal of the last few days relaxed this morning. Asa ate well, I thank those who have helped with funding so far. Asa rubbed up against me as we sat in the dark shed currently home. I'm trying to get people to understand that leopards like quiet (a bit like me) so a sign goes up shortly. I've also taken the measure that Asa will not be handled by everyone who comes along, he just doesn't like it. While I'm happy to be his mum for now the time will come soon when Asa will not have that sort of contact, people must understand this is not a pet. A double door system will be built in a day or two as the first stage of the enclosure takes place. My cameras in the mountains will have to wait for me a bit longer...
Yes, Asa really is a symbol for hope, I'll explain what is exactly happening shortly in that regard. Watch out for the upcoming Asa Facebook page.
There is still much to be done, it is not time to celebrate yet by any means but we are over the first hurdle...
Thanks so much for your support, more news tomorrow, cheers Jack.

Sad loss of one cub but determination to save Asa grows...

 First of all I have many people to thank, many people who have become part of this. The interest, concern and passion has touched me as it shows that you understand how importantit is to save this little leopard. Asa, all going well, has such a role to play going forward. I have many people to reply to, I will get there, you all are playing vital parts in this... I know some of you will even visit Asa one day and it will bring home even more how vital your help is...
The loss of Asa's tiny wild cat companion overnight has highlighted the issues we are facing even more. I always felt the little one had an uphill battle but of course it is very sad nonetheless.
I will be honest and say I was concerned about Asa's state of mind this morning to the extent that I could not wait any longer for action to be taken. While things were progressing I felt a real sense of urgency. Sometimes knocking a little harder on the right doors is called for and several motorbike rides, many phone calls and a meeting with the head of the Forest Office finally produced a result... Asa will have a proper enclosure and proper care. There is still so much to be done and in many ways the hard work just got harder, I feel like I haven't slept since I don't know when... but look into that little face and what it represents, the relationship between humanity and our fellow species in a habitat we must protect with all our might.
I'll have more news tomorrow, more details and some exciting developments as to how a piece of technology can bring you real time images of Asa's life going forward... I just want the next few days to go quickly, get this thing done... thank you, we're all in this together, cheers Jack.

UPDATE ON LEOPARD CUB SITUATION...

 We got to the forest office this morning to find the smaller cub barely alive, in fact to touch, well, I thought he was dead. Unlike Asa, who you can see me checking here and is definitely a leopard, the smaller cat is a smaller breed of wild cat, ID unknown at this stage.
I massaged the smaller cat for over two hours and he struggled back to life. He took droplets of milk from my hand and is relatively stable now. I will post more images when I know both cats will live. I'm reasonably confident re Asa but we need to build an enclosure, and quickly. The officer in charge agreed but the permission process here can take time. However, I'm sure it will happen and this is what those of you who are helping will help fund but for now, medical expenses and food need to be paid for.
Asa is incredibly beautiful and we have bonded in the small amount of time. Krishna is trying his best to get local support, he has good contacts. Edward, an Australian from Melbourne is giving practical support which I am grateful for. It is vital that the locals see foreigners are interested, want to see the right thing done.
Kathmandu Zoo cannot take Asa. Asa, which as I explained yesterday means Hope, will have to stay here in Pokhara and I cannot help but feel will play a vital role in everything we are trying to do here. Strange as it may sound this incredible little animal is playing a part in the ultimate goal of getting UNESCO status for the Annapurna Conservation Area.
It looks like I am going to be spending the night with these two cats in an attempt to keep them warm. I hope I can give you a positive report tomorrow. I'm a researcher, I deal with data but it is impossible not to get emotionally involved in a situation like this.
For those who want to help go to www.wildtiger.org/wildtigerjournal4Feb2014
Cheers Jack.

When a big cat attacks...

I've been "threatening" to write about "freedom" in the last few days, I will, I'm just waiting on some details, some decisions. When it comes to freedom humanitarian and environmental issues are closely linked. Manipulating forces affect both. I hate it when I feel I'm being manipulated, it affects my own sense of freedom... so I get protective of others when they are being manipulated, whether they be human or wildlife. But yeah, more soon...

The image takes in one of the areas of interest in the Modi Khola valley. I've had cameras in and around that particular conflict zone and am a few days away from checking cameras higher (and not in the photo) on the ridgeline above where I've written "school children start walking from here". There is a small waterhole, in deep, beautiful forest. I can't wait to see what we find. The images from the region so far have been exciting. You may have seen the video of the young black bear I posted on the Mountain Biodiversity facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/205706422804198/) a little while back. 

There is more, much more ... BUT the forest leopard, the elusive "Chituwa"as it is known here remains just that, elusive.

I'm becoming more and more fascinated by this animal. So little is known about the leopards in this part of the Himalaya. As I've mentioned before the tiger and the snow leopard get all the press. Everybody goes blah blah blah about these two great cats. But the chituwa remains such a mystery. I'm really attracted to mystery. And now that there is mounting evidence that the chituwa is existing up to 4000m, well, is this animal the true mountain tiger?

Buffalo have been taken. Buffalo are big. Buffalo are strong. Buffalo can be extremely feisty and they fight hard. In the extreme steep terrain of the Himalayan jungles it takes a big cat of major strength and stealth to take an animal such as a buffalo. When I show my three photographs to locals who have had big cat encounters (the photos are of tiger, chituwa and snow leopard) most people point to the chituwa. And most of them describe a cat which is almost tiger like in size. To survive on these steep slopes and take big ungulates, well, these chituwa have to be very strong in the hind quarters... and that is the type of animal that is described to me. And it is described with a sense of awe...

Of course it could be a yeti taking these buffalo. However, the footprints look more like a cat than a yeti. The scat is also more like that of a cat. I don't know much about anything but I'm sure yeti shit is bigger than leopard shit. Cat scat, yeti shit ... I spend a lot of time checking the ground...

I'm also excited about the next camera placement, at the foot of mighty Maachapuchare, the beautiful unclimbed mountain, much higher up in a place where your sleeping bag needs to be damn good. What dwells there? Is this the overlap point between snow leopard and chituwa? Do these two leopards hunt the same prey in the same area? And will I find more bears? 

And will I be building a "rock tent" and lying in wait for days on end? Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to write that last question ... more soon  Cheers Jack.