Today we learn that a snow leopard has killed a yak calf in an overnight pen on a neighbouring farm, and we are invited to view the kill in the pen.  This is one of the old pens with open top. The snow leopard conservancy organisation has been funding wire to enclose the tops of the animal pens to prevent access by snow leopards and minimise the risk of stock losses for the farmers, but oddly, this has not happened here in this centre of snow leopard activity. Cynically, one might believe that the calf kill is good business. If it helps keep the snow leopards in the area, then more tourists will come in, promoting the local economy. We are assured that the farmer will be compensated for the loss of the calf.

The yak calf is not small. It appears to have been suffocated. A classic approach of the snow leopards is to hold the prey by the neck until they are dead.  There does not seem to be much evidence that the leopard ate anything from the carcass.

The plan is to drag the kill onto the nearby field, and tomorrow we will see if the snow leopard (or other beasties) come to feast, whilst we watch (with cameras and spotting scopes at the ready) from around the farm house.

In the late afternoon we visit the farm house to which Snow Leopard Lodge belongs, as Dolma, the lady of the house, prepares yak butter tea and other local delicacies and with the aid of her son explains something of the local way of life.

As usual there are more photos. The gallery can be found at:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vq8B4LoddT2i61ew2