Wildlife population expands around Mount Qomolangma

LHASA - The population of wildlife living in Mount Qomolangma nature reserve has continued to grow in recent years, researchers said.

Last year, more than 10,000 domesticated sheep, goats, yaks and cows were killed by wild animals in the reserve, said Phurjung, deputy head of Mount Qomolangma Nature Reserve management bureau.

Wolves, lynxes and snow leopards are the main culprits, he said.

"Wolves and lynxes attack animals like sheep and goats, while snow leopards hunt yaks and cows for food," he added.

The losses account for about one percent of all the animals that live in the three-million-hectare nature reserve.

"The loss is not that big, but as the number of wild animals grow, there is likely to be more losses of livestock," Phurjung said.

Wildlife protection measures including a hunting ban have led to a rapid growth of the wildlife population in Tibet. The regional forestry bureau said the number of wild animals is about 30 percent more than 20 years ago.

The Tibetan government offers a small compensation to herders and farmers for losses incurred by protected wild species like brown bears or snow leopards.