Month: October 2010

Press Release from UNDP/GEF press office & WWF: Land of the Snow Leopard Project, Russia, 20 October 2010

Beginning on October 5, 2010, a 12-day expedition took place along the middle stretch of the Argut River as part of a project jointly funded by WWF, Altai Assistance Project, and The Altai Project to monitor the snow leopard population in the Argut River valley. During the expedition, Sergei Spitsyn, an employee of Altaisky Zapovednik, together with two Inegen residents, Aduchy Beletov and Viktor Samoylov, set up 18 Reconyx RapidFire and HyperFire camera traps along the middle Argut River in key habitat home to the largest population of snow leopard – on land between the mouths of the Shavla and Koir Rivers. Evidence of snow leopards has been found along the middle Argut from 2003-2009, and red maral deer and Siberian mountain goat population densities here are one of the highest in Southern Siberia. This landscape is immediately adjacent to the Argut Cluster of Sailyugem National Park, established for the protection of key groupings of argali and snow leopard in Russia in February 2010.

Earlier on 23-28th of August, during a UNDP/GEF-funded seminar on the use of camera traps for snow leopard monitoring, 7 cameras were set in place in potential snow leopard habitat along the lower Argut River valley. Over a month’s operation, the cameras collected over 1000 images of various resident species in Argut: bears, maral red deer, musk deer, foxes, Siberian mountain goats, Altai snowcocks, and even lynx. Despite this, the researchers’ cameras were unable to record images of snow leopard in this portion of the valley, easily accessible from local villages. No evidence of snow leopard was found along the lower stretch of the Argut River during expeditions led by Altaisky Zapovednik during the years of 2003-2008. Local residents report that snow leopards had been eliminated as early as the 1980s and 90s in this region; one can still find the remnants of old abatises, where poachers snares for the predator. No snares have been set in those places since 2000, but snow leopards have yet to return to these places, despite the excellent habitat and a wealth of prey: Siberian mountain goats, red maral deer, musk deer, and Altai snowcock. This is hope that with proper protection, snow leopard will return to these parts in the near future.

Despite the lack of snow leopard, the lower Argut basin is an ideal place to conduct ecotourism with the participation of local residents. The area is readily accessible and boasts beautiful scenery and rich wildlife. By inviting tourists to operate camera traps, visitors have the experience of hunting, but instead of pelt or horn trophies, they come away with unique pictures of living animals and birds and learn about the secret lives of Argut’s ancient residents. For all of these reasons, Argut is one of the most attractive places along the transboundary «Land of the Snow Leopard route, developed jointly by UNDP/GEF and WWF. The Land of the Snow Leopard project is actively engaging local residents in Altai, Tuva, and Western Mongolia in ecotourism development and rare species conservation in the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion.

5-17 октября 2010 г. в рамках совместного проекта Всемирного фонда природы, Altai Assistance Program и Altai Project по организации мониторинга снежного барса в долине р. Аргут были проведены полевые работы в средней части бассейна этой реки. В ходе работ Сергей Спицын, сотрудник Алтайского заповедника, и два жителя с. Инегень – Адучы Белетов и Виктор Самойлов установили 18 автоматических камер Reconix RapidFire и HyperFire в средней части бассейна р. Аргут, в ключевых местообитаниях крупнейшей в России группировки ирбиса (территория между устьями рр. Шавла и Коир). В средней части Аргута следы снежного барса отмечались регулярно в 2003-2009 гг., а показатели плотности населения марала и сибирского горного козла здесь одни из самых высоких в Южной Сибири. Эта территория непосредственно прилегает к участку «Аргут» национального парка «Сайлюгемский», созданного для охраны ключевых группировок аргали и снежного барса в России в феврале 2010 г.
Напомним, что 23-28 августа в ходе семинара по использованию фото-ловушек для мониторинга ирбиса, организованного в рамках Проекта ПРООН/ГЭФ, семь автоматических камер были установлены в потенциальных местообитаниях этого вида в нижней части долины р. Аргут. Более чем за месяц работы камер было получено около 1000 снимков различных обитателей Аргута: медведя, маралов, кабарги, лисиц, сибирских горных козлов, алтайских уларов и даже рыси. Однако, обнаружить снежного барса в этой части долины, легко доступной из ближайших населенных пунктов, исследователям не удалось. Следы присутствия ирбиса в нижней части Аргута не были найдены и во время экспедиций Алтайского заповедника в 2003-2008 гг. По словам местных жителей, ирбис в этой части Аргута был истреблен еще в 80-90-е годы прошлого века, когда его отловом занимались чабаны, зимовавшие на стоянках на этой территории. До сих пор на острых горных гривах – излюбленных местообитаниях ирбиса – можно найти остатки старых засек, где браконьеры ставили петли на этого хищника. В 2000-2010 годах петли в этих местах уже не устанавливали, однако, снежный барс до сих пор не вернулся в эти места, не смотря на хорошие местообитания и обилие его объектов питания: сибирских горных козлов, маралов, кабарги и уларов. Сохраняется надежда, что при надлежащей охране ирбис вернется в эти места в течение ближайших лет.
Не смотря на отсутствие ирбиса – нижняя часть бассейна р. Аргут является идеальным местом для организации экотуристических туров силами местных жителей. Эти места легко доступны, имеют удивительные по красоте ландшафты и богатый животный мир. Использование автоматических фотокамер для работы с туристами позволит клиентам почувствовать себя настоящими охотниками, но вместо шкур и рогов животных получить уникальные снимки живых зверей и птиц, раскрыть тайны скрытных обитателей древнего Аргута. Все это делает Аргут одной из самых привлекательных частей трансграничного экотуристического маршрута «Земля Снежного Барса», разрабатываемого совместно Проектом ПРООН/ГЭФ и Всемирным фондом природы. Проект «Земля снежного барса» активно задействует местных жителей Алтая, Тувы и Западной Монголии в развитие экотуризма и охрану редких видов Алтае-Саянского экорегиона.

Effort to save snow leopard in Taplejung, Nepal

Added At: 2010-10-21 12:19 AM
The Himalayan Times
Himalayan News Service
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Effort+to+save+snow+leopard+in+Taplejung+&NewsID=262367

TAPLEJUNG; Locals of Gunsa village in the district have started to train local yak and sheep herders on the conservation of the endangered snow leopard that is found in the Kanchanjangha Conservation Area.

“Shepherds spark wildfires, chop down trees and make noise, thus disturbing snow leopards habitats. Keeping this tendency in mind, we decided to train them on the importance of the rare species,” said Himali Chundak, chairman of the Snow Leopard Conservation Sub-Committee.

Chundak added that the training was intended to conserve snow leopards and attract more tourists in the conservation area during the Nepal Tourism Year-2011.

Dandu Sherpa, a local, said villagers train shepherds visiting their farms and even in forest areas. Consequently, the hostility against the snow leopards and encroachment on their habitat has reduced of late.

Sujit Kumar Shrestha, manager of the conservation area project, said villagers were actively involved in the conservation of the rare wildlife. “Recognising its contribution to wildlife conservation, the World Wildlife Fund has honoured the sub-committee with Abraham Conservation Award,” said Shrestha.

Snow leopard is an internationally protected wildlife species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

WWF Altai-Sayan Newsletter issue #13: July – September, 2010

WWF Russia and WWF Mongolia share the main achievements of both offices in Altai – Sayan Ecoregion regarding species conservation, protected areas, ecotourism, public awareness, education, eco clubs, fresh water. For the full version of the newsletter in pdf format,
click here . Several articles reference snow leopards:

WWF Russia
Camera Trapping in Argut River Valley

Snow Leopard Camera Trapping project started in August in Argut Valley – the largest snow leopard distribution in Russia located in the very heart of Altai Mountains. Over the next six months (October 2010-March 2011), a pilot monitoring project of the Argut snow leopard population will take place in this region, thanks to support from WWF, UNDP/GEF, Panthera Foundation, Altai Assistance Project and The Altai Project.

With support from UNDP/GEF a seminar for local residents took place in the Argut Valley village of Inegen on August 23-28, 2010.

Rodney Jackson of the Snow Leopard Conservancy (USA), a leading international snow leopard expert was invited to serve as the seminar’s instructor. During the training in Inegen, two local residents already involved in snow leopard population counts in the Argut River valley and Sergei Spitsyn, a rare species expert at Altaisky Nature Reserve, were trained in the use of digital Reconyx RapidFire and HyperFire cameras, as well as their implementation in snow leopard habitat and techniques for conducting camera-trapping population surveys for snow leopard.

The seminar took place in snow leopard habitat and concluded with the installation of the first seven cameras along the main transit routes of this rare predator. In October the number of camera traps, purchased with support from Panthera Foundation and the Altai Assistance Project, will be increased to twenty in the Argut Valley. The project will be implemented by local Inegen residents under the leadership of experienced staff from Altaisky Nature Reserve. As a result of the project, the development of a method for estimating snow leopard populations in the Argut Basin is planned. The active participation of local residents in this project engages them in snow leopard protection as a part of their natural and cultural heritage.

Another project goal is the development of a unique camera-trapping ecotourism route in the Argut River valley as part of a transboundary tourism route known as “Land of the Snow Leopard”.

On this route tourists can see not only unique landscapes along the Northern Chuisky and Katunsky Ridges, but they can also photograph local fauna, including the snow leopard, using camera traps. Local Inegen residents will organize the entire tour as part of Irbis-Ecotour’s tourism package, a project that has been underway in the Argut River valley for two years with support from WWF and UNDP/GEF. Finally, another planned aspect of this project is the establishment of a Snow Leopard Museum, meant to contain both scientific information about the species as well as the traditional knowledge of Altaian peoples about this charismatic predator of the high mountains. The museum will be a popular attraction not just for tourists traveling along the route, but also for local residents interested in protecting the snow leopard as a symbol of Altai.

WWF Russia
Community inspection is established in Republic of Altai to take part in anti – poaching activities in the key territory for argali and snow leopard conservation

Establishing of community inspection in Kosh – Agachsky Region near the Mongolian border is aimed to involve local indigenous people into nature conservation and rare species monitoring. Along with the government agencies the inspectors can remove illegal nets, snares and traps, help struggle poaching and conduct propaganda of nature conservation among the local villagers. They can monitor the situation and report to the law-enforcement agencies about the violations found. WWF provided the inspectors with the necessary equipment (cameras, means of communication, binoculars).

In July the representatives of nature conservation governmental organizations, law-enforcement agencies of Republic of Altai and the members of ten communities of indigenous people – telengits – gathered together to discuss the issues of public inspections. Ere – Chui – the Association of telengit communities was the organizer of the workshop supported by UNDP/GEF project.

At the workshop local people learned about the rights, obligation, duties and constraints of the public inspection, discussed the possibilities of the joined cooperation.
In whole the inspection is planned to consist of 15 telengit communities (30-35 inspectors), distributed all across Chuy valley and surrounding mountains. Every Telengit community is responsible for protection of its native mountain ranges and valleys and has real ability to decrease poaching in the habitats Argali and Snow Leopard – sacred animals for telengit people.

WWF Russia
“Land of Snow Leopard” Ecotourism Project as a tool to protect Irbis and Argali by local communities

“Land of Snow Leopard” project is a joint initiative of WWF and UNDP/GEF Project to involve local communities of Altai, Tuva and Western Mongolia to ecotourism development in the habitats of Snow Leopard and Altai Argali. The project will develop a transboundary ecotourism route based on local communities in South-Eastern Altai, South-Western Tuva and Western Mongolia, so local people will be able to have good income from tourist.

One of the most attractive features of “Land of Snow Leopard” route is an excellent opportunity to watch wild animals – Altai argali, Siberian Ibex, wolves, marmots, raptors and water foul. So, the protection of biodiversity by local communities will attract ecological tourists in the area and provide support for local people. Local people can work as tourist guides, souvenir makers and homestays providers. Due to WWF support last summer two ecotourist camps were established in Sailugem range by local communities of Telengit people. This area is the habitats of the largest Altai argali population on the border of Russia and Mongolia (about 500-600 individuals) and an excellent place to watch and film this endangered animals. In July 2010 the established camps opened the doors for the first visitors – WWF experts from Russia and Mongolia.

In September local people of Sailugem range participated in good training on tourist guiding and developed several routes for ecotourism excursions in argali and snow leopard habitats. The workshop was conducted by the trainers of Teaching Centre of Protected Areas in Republic of Altai organized with the support of WWF “Protected Areas for a Living Planet” Project. The Land of Snow Leopard route will start to operate next year conserving unique species of Altai-Sayan.

WWF Russia
Snow Leopard and Argali inspired the Masters of Felt Making of Republic of Altai

On September, 23 – 24 the workshop on felt making was organized by Fund of Sustainable Development of Altai (FSDA) with the support of UNDP/GEF Project in Kosh – Agach District. The main goal was not only to teach felt making but also inspire the locals to use the images of argali and snow leopard for the souvenirs.

In 2009 year the resurrecting of felt making in Republic of Altai became an important part of alternative livelihoods development programme for the people living close to protected areas for “Protected Areas for a Living Planet” project of WWF in Altai – Sayan Ecoregion. This kind of traditional craft has been almost forgotten in the area but it could be a good source of income for local people living in the habitats of rare species and a means of raising their livelihoods.

WWF concentrated on providing the local people with a chance to learn the new skills of felt making and experience share. “Marketing Commonwealth” festival in Mongolia was a starting point for Altai women to learn the basis of felt making. The number of new felt masters have been growing like a snow ball and at the moment there are about hundred of felt masters in Republic of Altai who continue teaching the other local people.
The workshops in September were organized only for the local people of three districts – the crucial for argali and snow leopard conservation. Revenue received from selling souvenirs will raise their income and help diminish illegal hunting and wild plants picking pressure. Besides the felt souvenirs will became an essential part of every camp of “Snow Leopard Land”.

Felt souvenirs are the famous, attractive and ecologically pure souvenirs popular all over the world. The resurrecting of felt making traditions is not only a chance for livelihoods growing but also the possibility to show the world cultural and natural heritage of Altai.

Snow Leopard – a Treasure of Tuva. WWF introduces Tuva journalists to the snow leopard (Tsagaan Shibetu Ridge)

Altai – Sayan Project of WWF became a member of a large- scale project “Tos Ertine” (Nine Treasures) in Republic of Tuva which is aimed to identify nine the most precious places and events of Tuvin Land. WWF proposed a snow leopard as a real treasure of Tuva. To support snow leopard WWF organized a press-tour for local TV-companies and newspapers to South-Western Tuva – a real Land of Snow Leopard. Headed by the experts of Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina Nature Reserves the journalists had a chance to visit the key habitat of a snow leopard in Tuva – a mysterious place of Tsagan-Shibetu Ridge near the border with Mongolia. Tsagan-Shibetu is one of the key snow leopard distributions in Altai-Sayan Ecoregion located in transboundary zone of Russia and Mongolia. The total number of snow leopards in Tsagan-Shibetu population is about 20 individuals.

The journalists spent three days in Tsagan-Shibetu Mountains, so that they could personally experience how the snow leopards live and survive in places which were once their hunting range and now they are settled by herders. They found out how the poachers capture leopard cubs to sell to private zoos of rich people. How, due to decrease of wild ungulates by

poachers irbis is forced to attack domestic livestock of local herders. The journalists learned more about conservation projects of WWF and other conservation groups to protect snow leopards: in 2007-2008 all livestock pens in snow leopard habitats were protected with metal mesh and number of livestock killed by snow leopards decreased 5-8 times; in 2010 an ecotourism project called “Land of Snow Leopard” started in South-Western Tuva in cooperation with herder communities; new cluster of Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina Nature reserve is planned on Tsagan-Shibetu Ridge.

The visit to snow leopards was also annexed to the field work of The Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciense in Tsagan-Shibetu Ridge. This project was made possible by Government of Russian Federation in the frameworks of the Big Cat program devoted to wild cats study and conservation in Russia including an endangered snow leopard. The scientists have been working in Tsagan-Shibetu since June, and every day they carefully set up and check their camera traps to get pictures of irbis. Their goal is to try out the new methods of research of irbis populations in South-Eastern Tuva: using camera traps and DNA analysis for precise estimation of snow leopard number, satellite collars to learn more about irbis home range and movements. More than 40 camera traps had been set up on Tsagaan-Shibetu ridge but the only and the very first sharp image of the irbis was taken right on the day the journalists arrived. RECONIХ camera took a picture in grayish fog, but a distinct silhouette of a snow leopard can be seen in profile: the irbis was moving along the path in early dusk. Inspired and amazed the journalist went home.

WWF Mongolia
Nature conservation through involving local residents and supporting their initiatives

WWF Mongolia aims to conserve the nature through strengthening local people on their self-development and livelihood improvement. Within this aim it supports herders’ community groups in many ways. Such example was a 3-day meeting on strengthening management team of herder community groups and evaluation of their activities was carried out in August 2010. Around 10 herder community groups from saiga range area have participated in the event and many of them were newly established. The participants shared their experience and lessons learned on group development, livelihood improvement options and conservation activities. A first draft of work plan for the coming year was elaborated in a participatory approach which will focus more on surface water resources. A volunteer ranger is agreed to be nominated within each community group.

Besides, the groups have held their annual Community Development Festival with participation and support of local authorities. Activities also made aware about the advantages of becoming community group member and encouraging them to join a community-based organization. During the festival, a trade exhibition was organized displaying various products made by herders. Other entertainment shows such as sport games contests, quiz and art show have been held as well. The festival enabled the local communities have in-depth knowledge and benefits as the key tool to accelerate the rural development.

Community groups trans-boundary cooperation

Members of some community groups of Uvs and Khovd provinces participated in the International Felt Festival 2010 which was held in Tuva, Russia. There were number of wool masters from many countries and provinces of Russia such as Abakan, Bashkorstan, Khakasia, Krasnoyarsk attending the event. Trade fair was displayed with various activities like wool processing, product making shows, competitions on several nominations and so on. Mongolian participants expressed their satisfaction as they have gained awards in 2 nominations, e.g. the best processed felt and best souvenir product. They were grateful to the organizers as they learned a lot from the masters of other countries. Contact with some of them is being maintained which would open new horizons to expand the existing market.

Afterwards, an advanced training on wool and felt products design was conducted with financial and logistical support of WWF Mongolia with totally 24 wool masters of community groups from Uvs and Khovd provinces have been trained and certified.

WWF Russia
WWF and Oxfam –GB joint project works on capacity building of local people in Tuva

Potential Business Trainers Workshop held in Kyzil City in Tuva in September was aimed to identify potential people willing and capable to become the business trainers. Being involved as trainers into the workshops they will later share their knowledge with the local people who live in three key districts for snow leopard and argali conservation in Tuva. Teaching local people business basis will help them start their own business and raise the livelihood and moreover to distract them from poaching for food in this area which is the main reason for illegal hunting as reported in WWF – Oxfam survey last year.

The workshop was headed by the experts from the European part of Russia who used their own “Start Your Business” Programme to teach the new-comers the basis of training and training organization.

Eleven participants (mostly women) attended a 5 day-long full-time workshop learning the aspects of working with people, training and developing communicative skills. At the end of the meeting everyone had to prove the skills they had obtained. The participants had to conduct a part of a made-up training, demonstrate the use of exercises, elaborate their own methodological materials and so on. Six people with a high potential for becoming the professional trainers were identified.

WWF Mongolia
Altai-Sayan PA administration staff start to undertake quality research activities at experts level

A major research work has been carried out by the staff of five Altai-Sayan PA administrations in the Khasagt Khairkhan mountain range, a division of the Altai mountain system. Studies covered the distribution, habitat range and population patterns of rare and endangered species such as the Snow Leopard, Siberian Ibex, Red Deer and some avian species.

As it was decided to establish a new administration to conserve the integrity of Khasagt Khairkhan Strictly Protected Area’s biodiversity, this research study is of key significance which would serve as baseline documentation for development of management plan.

The core feature of this research tour is that the PA administration staffs have carried out the research studies themselves without any technical backstopping at high professional level, which we truly believe to be the key outcome of WWF’s interventions.

Furthermore, the participants have had a unique opportunity to get on-job training as they apply theoretical knowledge in practice. For the last three years WWF Mongolia made tremendous efforts to build the capacity of PA staff at all levels through series of training sessions, technical consultancy and research activities with regular feedbacks.

Another major fish survey has been carried out in the Khar, Khar-Us, Khyargas and Airag lakes, in the Great Lakes Depression of the Altai-Sayan Mongolia part. For the last two decades, only ad-hoc based surveys were conducted with no consistent database. This survey is featured by its on-job training for the PA staffs that are further expected to carry-out observations and establish reliable database on regular basis.

Snow leopard cubs caught on video in Mongolia

Oct 04, 2010

In this short video , three snow leopard cubs investigate a remote automated camera that filmed them in August in the Tost Mountains of South Gobi, Mongolia.

Two conservation groups, Panthera and the Snow Leopard Trust, are collaborating on a long-term study of snow leopards in the region. The clip is made up of 61 images taken about a half second apart. The cubs are believed to be approximately two years old.

It is estimated there are no more than 500 and1,000 snow leopards still left in Mongolia.

The project is the first ever long-term ecological study of the animals; and the most comprehensive study to date focused on snow leopards.

By Elizabeth Weise

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2010/10/panther-cubs-seen-in-mongolia/1

Himachal Pradesh to measure wildlife density

Numbers in the jungle: Himachal Pradesh to measure wildlife density

Hemlata Verma Posted online: Wed Oct 06 2010, 02:03 hrs

http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/693090/

Shimla : The state government has started a new project to measure the density of wildlife in protected areas. Till now, the state wildlife department only had information about the habitats and general movements of wildlife species found in the state. The state will now conduct a proper scientific study across all protected forests to find out the density of wild animals. The surveyors will primarily use the well established method of camera traps for the purpose. In the initial round, focus will be on species that have been declared endangered, such as western tragopan, monal and snow leopard.
Specialised agencies in the sector, including the Wildlife Society of India, are being engaged in the project that will span across 25 listed protected areas (sanctuaries and national parks).

“In the first stage, the agencies are in the process of setting up camera traps for checking the density of western tragopan in their natural habitat in Tirthan, Sainj (Kullu )and Kugti (Chamba) sanctuaries,” said an official in the forest department.

For other birds like monal and chir and animals, including Himalayan thar, ghoral, serow (ungulate species locally known as emu), camera traps are being laid in Talra and Churdhar wildlife sanctuaries. The method will lead to compilation of per square kilometre density of the wild animals.

Russian Academy of Sciences snow leopard research in south-eastern Siberia

Mysterious and elusive snow leopard

Oct 8, 2010 13:09 Moscow Time
http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/10/08/24792002.html

Scientists from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences are currently looking at the snow leopard population in south-eastern Siberia. The snow leopard is on the Endangered Species List, with a worldwide population of six thousand species, around 150 of which live in Russia.

In August, during the first stage of the expedition, biologists together with local guides put out 48 camera points to identify the animals, because the pattern on the fur of each one is unique. These cameras were a novelty to the leopards, and they examined them on their mountainous paths, sniffing and rubbing their noses in them, thus unfortunately spoiling the majority of the shots. Sometimes a person spends a really long time waiting to encounter a snow leopard, climbs snow-capped mountains in vain, not suspecting that he himself is an object of study: the leopard is carefully watching him from a remote hiding spot. For a scientist to see this elusive creature is a great fortune, because it is an extremely cautious animal, says the head of the expedition Andrei Poyarkov.

I can honestly say that I have never seen a snow leopard in the wild. But both of our guides, who work at the Uvs Nuur Basin Natural Heritage Reserve, saw leopards this winter and took the first ever Russian photographs – not from stationary points but using hand-held cameras. The snow leopard is a true mountain dweller. He is extremely agile – he treads mountain paths very well and can climb great heights. He has a massive leap. His fur is fantastic – he is extremely well dressed because he lives in very harsh conditions with deep winter frosts. He is very lively and well coordinated. In the course of the current expedition, researchers hope to capture several species to mark them and collar them with radio transmitters. This will help to track their movement and behavior via satellites, says Andrey Poyarkov.

The programme is very vast. It includes several fields of research: migration, group kinship and the study of the specifics of the snow leopard’s molecular genetics. We will invite Mongolian researches to join studies and exchange samples. I hope that we will be able to develop a number of practical measures for improving the protection and well-being of the snow leopard population. This animal is a very valuable resource that is highly attractive for both eco-tourists and researchers, says Poyarkov.

The “Snow Leopard” programme is currently being overseen by the Russian Geographical Society along with other programmes for studying endangered species in Russia, including the Amur tiger, the white whale, the Far-Eastern leopard and the polar bear. The current expedition is just the start of a major scientific project. Locals, who consider the snow leopard to be the holy spirit of the mountains, will get involved. In the near future, a snow leopard museum will be set up in Siberia.

4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology (4th ISIZ) in China, December 2010

The International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS), together with the International Union of Biological Science (IUBS), will hold its 4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology (4th ISIZ) in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province, China, from 4-6 December, 2010. The theme of the symposium is Biological Consequences of Global Change (BCGC) – Data Analysis and Sharing.

Currently, Dr. Werner Arber, Nobel Laureate (1978); Dr. Giorgio Bernardi, IUBS President; Dr. Jean-Marc Jallon, ISZS President; Dr. Abraham Haim, ISZS Vice President and Dr. Nils Stenseth, an Executive member of both ISZS and IUBS have confirmed their attendance at the symposium.

The year 2010 is also the International Year of Biodiversity. To recognize this important designation, a special plenary session on biodiversity is planned for the first day of the symposium. In addition, there will be a special workshop for the ISZS international research program Biological Consequences of Global Change (BCGC) on the second day of the symposium, at which the lead scientists will discuss future research to be undertaken by the group and share their comments on the program.

Attached, please find a copy of the symposium invitation from Dr Zhibin Zhang, Chair of the Organizing Committee of the symposium and the tentative program schedule for your reference.

The BCGC program web page can be accessed at:
www.globalzoology.org/WhatWeDo/ResearchProgram.aspx

For the program progress report please visit:
http://www.globalzoology.org/uploads/File/Progress%20Report_July%202010.pdf

To download materials about the participating scientists in the program please
click:
http://www.globalzoology.org/uploads/File/Participating%20Scientists.pdf

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also, it will be highly appreciated if you could replay this message to your colleagues and friends in your organization.

Kind Regards,

Han

For Dr. Zhibin Zhang
Chair of the Organizing Committee of the 4th ISIZ
———————-
Chunxu Han
Treasurer & Chief Program Officer
International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) Room C506, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
1 Beichenxi Lu,
Chaoyang District,
Beijing 100101, P.R.China
Tel/Fax: 86-10-64807295
Email:iszs2@ioz.ac.cn; hanchunxu@sina.com www.globalzoology.org

Biological Consequences of Global Change
4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology
INVITATION

The International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS), together with the International Union of Biological Science (IUBS), will hold its 4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology (4th ISIZ) at the Kunming Hotel in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, China, from 4 to 6, December 2010. The theme of the symposium is Biological Consequences of Global Change – Data Analysis and Sharing.

In 2008, the ISZS launched the international research program Biological Consequences of Global Climate Change (BCGCC). In October 2009, the program was expanded and renamed Biological Consequences of Global Change (BCGC) and adopted by the IUBS as a new International Scientific Program at the 30th General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa. Currently, 13 well-known, established scientists from the USA, Australia, Norway, Chile, Russia, India and China have already joined or have expressed interest in joining the program.

Conducting any scientific program like BCGC, historical data play an extremely important role. However, most of the existing programs on global change are being conducted by scientists and laboratories scattered around the world without a clear mechanism for data collaboration and information sharing. As a result, the focus of the 4th ISIZ will be on how to collect and analyze data for global change research so that the scientists from around the world can work together to plot out a practical approach to establish a working mechanism for international data analysis and information sharing.

The topics at the 4th ISIZ will consist of:
 Global changes and biodiversity
 Global changes and species conservation
 Global changes and agricultural disaster
 Global changes and diseases
 Global changes and biological invasion
 Study on global change in botanical gardens
 Paleogeologic data and analysis
 Historical data collecting and analysis
 Biological specimen data collecting and analysis
 Analytical tools and methods

Currently, the 4th ISIZ Organizing Committee is seeking symposium organizers. If you are interested in organizing the above mentioned sub-symposia or want to suggest other topics to be included, please contact us as soon as possible. The new International Research Program, BCGC, will be prominently featured during the symposium. The ISZS is also seeking expressions of interest from researchers and sponsors for the BCGC program. If you or your institution is interested, please contact the ISZS before 31 October 2010.

In order to encourage the involvement of students in the scientific community, an ISZS Young Scientist Award will be presented at the symposium to support young scientists and graduate students under 35 years of age participating in the ISIZ. Five awardees will receive up to 2000 RMB each. See the Registration Form for application instructions.

On behalf of the 4th ISIZ Organizing Committee, I warmly invite you to attend the 4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology and encourage you to complete and return the registration form attached to this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Zhibin Zhang
Chair, 4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology
C-506 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
1 Beichenxi Lu, Beijing 100101, China
Tel : +86-10-64807295
Email: iszs@ioz.ac.cn

For Symposia: Dr. Wenhua Xiong (English and Chinese; inz@ioz.ac.cn)
Ms. Laurie Stahle (English; iszs@ioz.ac.cn)
Sponsorship and BCGC: Mr. Chunxu Han (English and Chinese; iszs2@ioz.ac.cn)
More Information: ISZS and 4th Symposium: www.globalzoology.org
IUBS and BCGC Program: www.iubs.org

Biological Consequences of Global Change
4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology

Scientific Committee

Chair:
Yiyu Chen, President, China Zoological Society; Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences; President, National Natural Science Foundation of China, China
Vice-Chair:
Giorgio Bernardi, President, International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS); Director, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy
Jean-Marc Jallon, President, International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS); Secretary General, IUBS; Director, Institut de Biologie Animale Intégraive et Céllulaire (IBAIC), France
Yongbiao Xue, President, China National Committee, IUBS; Director, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Member:
John Buckridge, Past-President, IUBS; President Emeritus, ISZS; Head of School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, RMIT University, Australia
Bernard Cazelles, Professor of Bio-Mathematics, University Paris 6, France
Kung-Sik Chan, Professor of Biology and Mathematics, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Iowa, USA
Edwin Cooper, Member of Executive Committee, ISZS; Professor, Laboratory of Comparative Neuroimmunology UCLA Los Angeles, USA
Yury Yu. Dgebuadze, Member of Executive Committee, IUBS; Deput-Director, the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
Abraham Haim, Vice-President, ISZS; Professor, Faculty of Science and Science Education, University of Haifa, Israel
Juergen Heinze, Member of Executive Committee, ISZS; President of Central European Section of International Union for the Study of Social Insects; Full Professor (C4) at University of Regensburg, Germany
Motonori Hoshi, Past-President, IUBS; Professor of Biology, The Open University of Japan, Japan
John Jungck, Vice-President, IUBS; Mead Chair of Sciences, Beloit College, USA
Charles Krebs, Professor of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Kenneth M. Y. Leung, Assistant Professor, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Mauricio Lima Arce, Professor Biology, Director, Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology & Biodiversity, Pontificia University, Chile
Valery Neronov, Deputy Chairman, Russian Committee for the UNESCO Program on Man and the Biosphere, Russia
Rosa-Maria Polymeni, Member of Executive Committee, ISZS; Professor, Section of Zoology and Marine Biology, Department of Biology, University of Athens, Greece
Francis Dov Por, President Emeritus, ISZS; Professor, Life Sciences Institute, The Hebrew University, Israel
Alain Roques, Director, Zoology Forestry, French National Institute for Agricultural Research, France
Hari C Sharma, Principal Scientist, Entomology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Afrid Tropics, India
Boris Sheftel, Senior Scientist, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology & Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
Grant Singleton, Senior Scientist and Coordinator, Irrigated Rice Research Consortium, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines
Nils Stenseth, Member, IUBS Executive Committee; Member, ISZS Executive Committees; Director, Centre for Ecological & Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biology University of Oslo, Norway
David Wake, Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California; Curator of Herpetology, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, USA

Organizing Committee

Chair:
Zhibin Zhang, Vice-President, IUBS; Vice-President, ISZS; Professor, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Director-General, Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, CAS, China
Vice-Chair:
Yury Yu. Dgebuadz, Member of Executive Committee, IUBS; Deputy Director, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
Keping Ma, Vice-Chairman, China National Committee, IUBS; Executive Vice-President, Biodiversity Committee, CAS; Director, the Institute of Botany, CAS, China
Member:
Jin Chen, Director, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, CAS, China
Shengming Du, Director-General, Department of Life Science, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), China
Nathalie Fomproix, Executive Director, IUBS
Song Ge, Deputy Secretary General, China National Committee, IUBS; Deputy Director, the Institute of Botany, CAS, China
Jianguo Han, Director-General, Bureau of International Cooperation, NSFC, China
Xiaoming Jin, Director-General, Department of International Cooperation, MOST, China
Yingnan Liang, Deputy Director General, Department of International Affairs, China Association fro Science and Technology (CAST), China
Yonglong Lu, Director-General, Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS, China
Anming Meng, Director, Institute of Zoology, CAS; Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Hua Shen, Vice President, Kunming Branch, CAS, China
Song Wang，Secretary General, China National Committee, IUBS, China
Fuwen Wei, Deputy Director, Institute of Zoology, CAS; Secretary General, China Zoological Society, China
Yan Xie, Secretary General, ISZS; Director, China Program, WCS; Associate Professor, Institute of Zoology, CAS, China
Yaping Zhang, Director, Kunming Institute of Zoology, CAS; Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Xianen Zhang, Director-General, Department of Basic Research, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), China
Xuefen Zhu, Deputy Director General, Department of Learned Societies Affairs, CAST, China

.

Biological Consequences of Global Change

4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology

Registration Form

I will attend the Symposium. I will present a paper or poster (please circle) at the Symposium. The title of my presentation/poster is:

Cancellation Policy
For meeting registration, cancellations received on or before 31 October 2010 will be refunded in full, minus a $50 processing fee for attendees from high income countries and $25 for attendees from low income countries and students. No refunds of any kind will be given for cancellation occurring after 1 November 2010.

Registration Fee
□ ISZS members US$120 □ Non-members US$160
□ Accompanying attendees US$150 □ Students US$85

Payment Options
International funds transfer
Bank name: Industry and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)
Bank address: 55 Fuxingmennei Dajie, Xicheng District, Beijing, China, 100032
Bank account number: 0200004509088125063
Name of the bank account: Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Swift code: ICBKCNBJBJM805
Bank telephone number: +86 10 6253 4349
Bank fax number: +86 10 6641 0055

Please notify Symposium Secretariat after your transfer: iszs@ioz.ac.cn or +86 10 6480 7295

ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Attendees may fill out the Attendee Information and Accommodation Information forms online at ioz2010.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/1 or fill them out by hand and return them to the ISZS office (contact information below).

ATTENDEE INFORMATION (Important in helping get visa)
Surname Given Name
Gender □ Male □ Female Date of birth (dd-mm-yy)
Organization
Passport number
Title
Address
Telephone number Fax number
E-mail
Accompanying Attendee
Surname Given Name
Gender □ Male □ Female Date of birth (dd-mm-yy)
Organization
Passport number
Title
Address
Telephone number Fax number
E-mail
DATES OF ATTENDENCE
Date of Arrival
Date of Departure
FUNDING SUPPORT
The ISZS is able to provide some funds to a few participants only. If you would like to apply, please include a current CV and cover letter justifying your need for financial support. The ISZS is more likely to fund participants involved in the BCGC research program.
Reduced registration fee Estimated cost: US$
I need funding for air tickets Departure city Estimated cost: US$
I need funding for hotel If successful, the ISZS will arrange for a room shared with another ISZS supported attendee for the nights of 3 to 5 December 2010 only.
ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

ACCOMMODATION: Kunming Hotel (4-star)
Room Cost per night Arrival date Departure date No. of nights No. of rooms Total due
Twin-bed Suite US$50
King-bed Suite US$50
Executive Suite US$80
Executive Deluxe Plus US$120
All hotel fees are collected in RMB/Chinese Yuan (RMB: USD = 6.8: 1, rate changes) and paid on site. Rooms are guaranteed on a first-come basis until Friday 3 December 2010. If you want a specific hotel, please indicate here. We would like to provide the necessary help. Meals over the symposium will be provided by the ISZS.
Address:
Kunming Hotel
52 Dongfenglu, Kunming, Yunnan, 650051, P.R. China
Tel: 86-871-3162063; Fax: 86-871-3163784

Please return the above forms to the ISZS office in Beijing via email, fax or post. Online registration is also available at ioz2010.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/1.
• E-mail: iszs@ioz.ac.cn
• Fax: 86-010-64807295; Tel: 86-010-64807295
• Add: Room C-506, Institute of Zoology, CAS, 1 Beichenxi Lu, Beijing, 100101, P.R. China

How to apply for the “ISZS YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD”
To encourage students to be more involved in scientific community, the ISZS young scientist award was established to provide financial support of up to 2000 RMB for five young scientists and/or graduate students to attend this symposium. Researchers under 35 years of age may apply. Those wishing to be considered must submit a manuscript (review, original article or essay) to Integrative Zoology no later than 1 October, 2010. Along with the manuscript, applicants must submit an application letter outlining their research goals and achievements and a recommendation letter from a superior. Submissions should be emailed to inz@ioz.ac.cn. The winner will be notified in mid-October and receive a certificate and financial award during the symposium.

Bhutan’s High Altitude Tigers

This photo is of historical value for being Bhutan’s first tiger picture in the wild in ThrumsingLa and at the highest elevation (3,000 m) so far reported for the Bengal tiger. Note primula in the foreground. These primrose Primula denticulata occur from temperate forest to an altitude of 4,500 m, suggesting tigers at higher altitudes in Bhutan.

In Bhutan Himalaya, tigers were recorded at 4,110 m during Yonzon’s study (2000). Perhaps, this is the only tiger photo ever taken at such Himalayan heights. Tigers in Bhutan have a wide vertical distribution because forests are contiguous. Dr. Pralad Yonzon, along with a four-member Bhutanese team has been successful in trapping tigers in their cameras in Bhutan on April 11, 2000. The Bhutanese team from ThrumshingLa National Park included Sangay Dorji, Kencho Gyeltshen, Hem Raj Mongar, and Dil Bahadur Gurung.

ThrumshingLa National Park occupies 768 km2 of mountain forest landscapes in the central part of Bhutan, where red pandas, capped langurs and rufous-necked hornbill including 276 species of birds occur. The Park is extremely rich in biodiversity and forms the centerpiece of the contiguous distribution of the tiger population in Bhutan. Therefore, it is an extremely important area for biodiversity conservation. Dr. Yonzon who has conducted wildlife surveys in ThrumshingLa National Park including the preparation of the park management plan, says that “pugmarks at 4,110 meters suggest that tigers use expansively high altitude pass to move into adjoining valleys.”

ThrumshingLa National Park and its neighboring areas are occupied by over 2,000 people who are primarily agrarian. Therefore, it has similar human dimension and conservation issues like elsewhere. Therefore, the park management seeks to reconcile nature conservation and community development through participatory planning and consensus building.

Yonzon, P. 2000. Status of Wildlife Conservation ThrumshingLa National Park, RGOB, Bhutan

http://www.resourceshimalaya.org/?s=trcontent&a=browse&con_id=fd842f036c651770a6c8f2e3f9d2066d&titl

Wild snow leopard cub caught on film by trap camera in Bhutan

A wild baby snow leopard has been caught on camera.

Filmed more than 4000m up in the highlands of Bhutan in the Himalayas, the baby leopard investigates a camera trap set by a BBC Natural history film crew.

The young snow leopard walks right up to the camera lens, sniffing it before off-screen walking into the bleak, rocky snow swept landscape.

Snow leopards are the highest living of all big cats, and are among the most rare and elusive of all animals.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9021000/9021293.stm

Page last updated at 17:28 GMT, Tuesday, 21 September 2010 18:28 UK

http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/baby-snow-leopard-100922-0563/

Sep 22, 2010 3:34 PM ET By OurAmazingPlanet Staff

Rare Glimpse of Wild Baby Snow Leopard

A wild baby snow leopard was caught on film dubiously inspecting a camera trap high in the Himalayas, providing what may be the first-ever footage of a snow leopard cub in the wild.

Filmed over 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) high in Bhutan’s mountains, the cute little critter walks right up to the camera trap set by a BBC Natural History film crew, inspects and sniffs the lens before disappearing back into the mountain landscape. [Video at BBC]

“No wonder hardly anyone sees snow leopards, they are just so well camouflaged. You could literally walk 4 meters past one and not notice,” said BBC wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan, who took the images.

Buchanan believes the cub’s mother had left it near or in front of the camera trap while she went off hunting.

“It is one of the most exquisite looking animals I have ever seen,” Buchanan told the BBC.

Snow leopards are the highest living of all big cats, and are among the most rare and elusive of all animals. Snow leopards live between 9,800 and 18,000 feet (3,000 and 5,500 meters) above sea level in the mountain ranges of Central Asia.

Snow leopards are among the world’s most endangered big cats, but due to their elusive nature their exact number is unknown. Estimates vary, suggesting that between 3,500 and 7,000 snow leopards survive in the wild.

The camera trap’s footage of the young snow leopard will be broadcast this week as part of the BBC One program “Lost Land of the Tiger.”