Scientists have figured out how three predators get along in the same territory

It's about survival strategy in a confined environment.

Details

The study was conducted in the Lapchi Valley in Nepal, a region where the ranges of three large predators overlap.

The scientists used:

• camera traps
• dNA analysis from faeces
• dietary studies

It turned out that the animals often live in the same places and are active at the same time - mainly at night.

However, the key difference is in their diet:

• snow leopards mainly hunt wild animals such as blue rams
• leopards favour livestock and wild boar
• wolves feed in a mixed diet - both wild prey and livestock

Thus, despite overlapping territories, they compete less than would be expected.

Why it matters

The results show how animals adapt to limited resources.

The scientists note:

• differences in diet reduce competition
• it allows multiple species to co-exist
• it's important to maintain populations of wild prey

If natural prey disappears, predators are more likely to attack livestock, leading to conflicts with humans.

Backcountry

Due to climate change and human activities, the ranges of many species are increasingly overlapping.

This makes studying their interactions particularly important for biodiversity conservation.

Source

The study is based on camera trap observations and diet analyses of three raptor species in Nepal. The work is published in PLOS One (2026)