How this Himalayan herb used in Dal Bhat Thali is saving Nepal’s snow leopards

 A Himalayan herb, Jimbu, traditionally used in Nepalese cuisine, is now playing a crucial role in saving endangered snow leopards. Its pungent aroma deters blue sheep, the leopards’ prey, from raiding crops. This prevents the sheep from venturing near villages, which in turn keeps snow leopards away from human settlements and protects them from retaliatory killings by herders. A pilot project is now domesticating Jimbu to further this conservation effort. A Himalayan herb, Jimbu, traditionally used in Nepalese cuisine, is now playing a crucial role in saving endangered snow leopards. Its pungent aroma deters blue sheep, the leopards’ prey, from raiding crops. This prevents the sheep from venturing near villages, which in turn keeps snow leopards away from human settlements and protects them from retaliatory killings by herders. A pilot project is now domesticating Jimbu to further this conservation effort.