Integrating human acceptance into habitat suitability models for snow leopards in northern Bhutan

Abstract Habitat suitability models are commonly used to assess the potential distribution of large carnivores by identifying ecologically favourable areas. However, these models often overlook human dimensions, such as conflict and acceptance, which can lead to overestimation of species ranges and a mismatch between predicted and actual distributions. This limitation is particularly relevant for species like the snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ), which often inhabit areas shared with humans, where conflicts, especially livestock depredation, can trigger retaliatory killings. In this study, we integrated ecological suitability (ES) with human acceptance (HA) to identify socio‐ecologically suitable habitats for snow leopards in northern Bhutan. HA was assessed through a questionnaire survey of 1046 households, capturing socio‐demographic and geographic factors. We created a georeferenced map of HA and combined it with an existing ES map. Our analysis revealed that acceptance was higher among men and individuals aware of legal penalties for killing snow leopards but declined with increasing elevation and livestock losses. Agricultural farmers exhibited greater acceptance than livestock herders, Cordyceps mushroom collectors and those with other sources of livelihoods. The combined map revealed a strong overlap between socially and ecologically suitable areas, highlighting zones where both suitable ecological characteristics and community acceptance align. Although ES and HA generally aligned, our approach helped identify priority areas where targeted conservation interventions could reduce human–wildlife conflict. These findings underscore the value of incorporating human dimensions into habitat modelling. Such a holistic framework, combining ecological and social factors, can enhance conservation planning and promote human–carnivore coexistence, ultimately supporting the long‐term persistence of snow leopard populations in northern Bhutan. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.