Seasonal diet composition of leopard (Panthera pardus) in Machiara National Park,Azad Jammu and Kashmir,Pakistan

Machiara national park,pakistan,is famous for its faunal diversity especially the leopards. these leopards feed on a variety of wild and livestock animals,however the data regarding their diet composition is scanty. the present study was,therefore,designed to find out the seasonal variation in the diet composition of leopards (panthera pardus) at machiara national park,azad jammu and kashmir. scat samples were collected during summer and winter seasons and hair mounting technique was used to identify different species consumed by p. pardus. grey goral (18.08%) was amongst the most preferred dietary species consumed by p. pardus during winter season,while indian pika (13.45%) was most frequently used as diet during summer season. other species include musk deer,cape hare,monkeys,royle's mountain vole,kashmir marmot,stoat,musk rat,house mouse,flying squirrel,himalayan palm civet,house rat,sheep,goat,cow,horse,red fox,birds and some unknown species. furthermore,habitat analysis,predator-prey relationship and human-carnivore conflicts were also assessed. copyright © 2015 zoological society of pakistan.