Nepal's Jimbu herb helps protect snow leopards from retaliatory killings

A traditional Himalayan herb called Jimbu, commonly used in Nepalese cuisine, is proving to be an unexpected tool in snow leopard conservation. The herb's strong scent repels blue sheep, which are the primary prey of snow leopards, from raiding farmers' crops. By keeping blue sheep away from villages, snow leopards are also less likely to venture near human settlements. This reduces the risk of herders killing the endangered cats in retaliation for livestock losses. A pilot project is now underway to domesticate Jimbu and scale up its use as a conservation strategy.