Author: Rakhee Karumbaya

SLN Special Webinar Presentation – Forty-eight Years Among the Snow Leopards of Central and South Asia: from the first telemetry study to mobilizing communities and fostering multisectoral partnerships.

 

We are delighted to invite you to join us for this special webinar presentation with Rodney Jackson and Rinzin Phunjok Lama.

About the Talk:

In this webinar, Rodney Jackson – the first scientist to radio-collar snow leopards, will share milestones along his 45+year career dedicated to the research and conservation of this seldom seen big cat. Much of Rodney’s pioneering work was undertaken before the introduction of PC computers, hand-held GPS devices, or smart phones and without benefit of walkie-talkies or digital cameras. His study area in Western Nepal was only reachable via a 12-day or more trek over arduous, dangerous trails, with all supplies, food and equipment for the 3–6-month field session portered in by local people or more rarely on yaks. Rodney and his team rarely saw snow leopards but nevertheless were able to gather extensive information on snow leopard behavior, movements and habitat selection using telemetry and tracking social sign-posts along travel lanes favored by male and female snow leopards alike.

 

 

 

From this seminal study, Rodney will share his work training Protected Area rangers in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Mongolia using sign transects (SLIMS) to conducting the first camera trap and non-invasive studies, pioneering community-driven conservation and wildlife-livestock conflict mitigation to working with Traditional Cultural Elders, shamans and educators in Central Asia. Over the past few decades, he has focused on mentoring the next generation of conservationists.  

 

 

 

Rodney and Rinzin will then discuss how studies of snow leopards and their prey have changed from the “muddy boots” days of the 1970s-1990’s to involve closer and more interactive exchanges with local communities for resolving human-wildlife conflict, address climate change and laying basic framework for empowering local people to become increasingly effective as citizen scientists and front-line guardians of the snow leopard, its mountain biodiversity and their own environment. While key questions remain, like “how many snow leopards are there?”, the need for more strategic conservation action to address many growing threats remains. Indeed, the future of snow leopards’ rests with the current generation of biologists, ecologists and social scientists — men and women working in tandem with local people (especially pastoralists and herders) and government rather than being heavily driven by academia.

 

About our Speaker:

Dr. Rodney Jackson was born in South Africa and grew up in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. In 1968 he came to the US to obtain his master’s degree from UC Berkeley, and upon graduating he started his career as an independent wildlife and land management consultant in California and eastern Africa. In 1981 he received the Rolex Award for Enterprise that enabled his pioneering radio-tracking study of snow leopards in the remote mountains of the Nepalese Himalaya. This four-year study led to a National Geographic cover story in 1986 and his PhD in 1996 from the University of London.

Rodney is widely acknowledged as a leading world expert on snow leopards and their high-mountain ecosystem. A founder member of the International Snow leopard Trust, in 2000 he and his wife Darla Hillard launched the Snow Leopard Project which evolved into the Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) based on his 40+ years’ experience gained in working closely with rural herders and farmers whose lives are directly impacted when snow leopards’ prey upon their livestock. In 2003 Rodney and Darla established the SLC – India Trust, now an independent NGO based in Ladakh, India.

Rodney prepared the original snow leopard section for the IUCN-World Conservation Union’s Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for Cats published in 1996. He is a long-time member of IUCN’s Cat Specialist Core Group and served on the Snow Leopard Network Steering Committee between 2003 and 2008. Rodney led the standardization of snow leopard field survey methods across the twelve snow leopard host countries, known as the Snow Leopard Information Management System (SLIMS). Working with partner agencies, he has trained biologists in survey and conservation methods for parks and nature reserves in China, Pakistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, and India. SLIMS has since been superseded by advancements in camera trapping and genetic technology for surveying snow leopard populations. Rodney has served as a consultant to the World Bank on a GEF protected areas project in Pakistan, and to the UNDP for a GEF Biodiversity Conservation Project in Upper Mustang Project in Nepal. He assisted ACTED, to develop community-based wildlife initiatives in Tajikistan centered around snow leopards and Marco Polo sheep, funded by UNESCO, along with providing technical support for transboundary and wildlife management for the Makalu-Barun National Park (Nepal)i, the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve (Tibet, China) and four protected areas in Pakistan.

Rodney has contributed to numerous scientific peer-reviewed papers and general interest publications targeting administrators and the general public.  He is an Honorary Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences and a five-time finalist for the Indianapolis Prize, among the world’s most prestigious and largest individual award for animal conservation. He numerous presentations have reached audiences across America to Britain, South Africa, Australia and Nepal. 

Rodney retired as SLC’s Executive Director in 2022, although currently serving as President of its Board of Directors, while also devoting his time mentoring the next generation of promising range-country conservationists and of course keeping his hand in special projects (including using drones for enumerate prey species in Mongolia).

About our Facilitator:

Rinzin Phunjok Lama is an internationally recognized conservationist from Humla, Nepal. He holds a BSc in Forestry from Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, and a Master’s degree in International Nature Conservation jointly from the University of Göttingen, Germany, and Lincoln University, New Zealand. Rinzin currently leads UKALI, a community-led initiative focused on trans-Himalayan biodiversity conservation in Nepal, with emphasis on his native Upper Karnali region.

Since 2014, Rinzin has been actively involved in high-altitude wildlife research and conservation, contributing numerous peer-reviewed publications. His leadership and dedication have earned him several prestigious accolades, including the WWF Nepal Conservation Award (2020), the prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise (2021), and recognition as one of Time magazine’s Next Generation Leaders (2022). In 2024, he received the Future for Nature Award and the National Geographic Wayfinder Award, and was named among OnlineKhabar’s “40 Under 40” most influential youths in Nepal.)

 

Date/Time:

Thursday, 10th July at 09:15 AM (Bishkek time)

Location:

ZOOM, to join this talk, REGISTER HERE

Please note:

  • If you have never used Zoom before, we recommend that you try the link 10 minutes before the start of the lecture.
  • Please feel free to write questions in the comment area and there will be time for questions/discussion at the end of the talk.
  • Please note that the session will be recorded and later featured on the SLN website. If you have concerns about this please let us know before the session

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLN Webinar: Two leopards, One Landscape: Patterns of Coexistence in the Trans-Himalayan Region, Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal

 

About the Talk:

SLN invites you to our upcoming webinar presentation that delves into the ecological coexistence of two apex predators—the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and the common leopard (Panthera pardus)—within the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal. Drawing from a combination of historical accounts dating back to the 1950s and extensive winter camera trap data collected between 2016 and 2023 in the Annapurna Conservation Area (elevations 3,100–4,696 m), the study challenges conventional assumptions about the recent appearance of common leopards at high altitudes being solely a result of climate change.

Instead, the findings reveal a long-standing adaptation of common leopards to high-altitude environments, including successful foraging and breeding in extreme winter conditions with temperatures as low as -18°C. Spatial analysis indicates that the likelihood of species co-occurrence increases in areas near open forest canopies and farmland, and decreases with proximity to snowline and steeper terrain—underscoring the snow leopard’s affinity for rugged landscapes.

By examining spatial, temporal, and ecological interactions, this presentation provides a deeper understanding of the factors enabling the coexistence of these two charismatic felids and offers valuable guidance for future conservation planning in the high Himalayas.

About our Presenter:

Dr. Paras Bikram Singh is a conservation ecologist from Nepal with a PhD in Ecology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He worked for six years in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) as a conservation officer. During his PhD and time with ACA, Paras carried out extensive field research in the Himalayas, focusing particularly on Himalayan musk deer and large carnivores such as the snow leopard. Paras is currently the Director of BIOCOS Nepal (www.biocosnepal.org.np), an organization dedicated to biodiversity conservation. His approach combines scientific research with community-based conservation initiatives aimed at protecting threatened species. Paras’s work has significantly contributed to understanding species distribution, habitat use, and coexistence dynamics in the Annapurna Himalayan region of Nepal. He has authored over 35 peer-reviewed publications and remains actively involved in local conservation outreach. At BIOCOS, the current focus of research and conservation programs is on common leopards, snow leopards, red pandas, musk deer, and Nepal’s pheasants.

About our Facilitator:

 

Pawan Rai holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and has been working with BIOCOS Nepal since 2023. With a strong interest in ecology, he is actively engaged in wildlife research across Nepal, focusing on both ecological patterns and conservation challenges. His work emphasizes community-based conservation approaches that integrate local knowledge and participation. In addition to his field expertise, Pawan has a good background in GIS and remote sensing, which he effectively applies in spatial analysis and habitat mapping. He is also skilled in designing and managing conservation programs that are scientifically sound and socially inclusive. 

Date/Time:

Monday, 30th June at 14:30 PM (Bishkek time)

Location:

ZOOM, to join this talk, REGISTER HERE

Please note:

  • If you have never used Zoom before, we recommend that you try the link 10 minutes before the start of the lecture.
  • Please feel free to write questions in the comment area and there will be time for questions/discussion at the end of the talk.
  • Please note that the session will be recorded and later featured on the SLN website. If you have concerns about this please let us know before the session

New Article to the Bibliography

Please find details below of a new article added to our Bibliography:

Title: Exploring sustainability in trophy hunting practices at Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal: A balancing act?

Author: Thapa, K., Shreesh, I. K., Magar, K. T.

Abstract: Since 1987, trophy hunting of blue sheep has been operated in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve in western Nepal to maintain mountain ecosystem balance. We assessed the impacts of these practices by analyzing ecological, socioeconomical, and cultural variables, including the demographic structure of the blue sheep population, income from trophy hunting, management costs, and a perception survey with 293 respondents through semi-structured interviews. The blue sheep population has significantly declined from 2,593 in 1979 to 1,290 in 2021. The young-to-female recruitment ratio also dropped sharply from 83 to 37, and the male-to-female ratio decreased from 129 to 91, indicating a dramatic population decline over 30 years. The average annual management cost for DHR showed a deficit of $322,508 compared to trophy hunting earnings over six fiscal years 2017/18 to 2022/23. Indigenous peoples and local communities practice agropastoral economies, relying on natural resources for about 75 % of their subsistence, with only 25 % coming from
overseas remittances and market enterprises. More than 90 % felt they had not benefited from trophy hunting sharing initiatives, and 75 % to 80 % expressed distrust in the blue sheep population counts, opposing current trophy hunting practices. Additionally, 69 % rejected the proposed buffer zone, while 90 % advocated for reviving customary practices over current conservation methods. In conclusion, the existing trophy hunting practices in DHR are unsustainable from ecological, socioeconomical, and cultural perspectives, threatening the entire ecosystem if left unchanged. Urgent research on predator–prey dynamics, pasture carrying capacity, and interactions among indigenous communities is needed. A major overhaul of current conservation strategies and the revitalization of customary practices are essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of trophy hunting and restoring trust with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1779

First Large-scale Assessment of Snow Leopard Population in China: Case in Sanjiangyuan Region

 

This work unveils China’s first large-scale assessment of snow leopard populations, focusing on the Sanjiangyuan region, spanning over 360,000 km2. By integrating and standardizing seven years of camera trap data (2015–2021) from 12 sites across four organizations, we obtained a population estimation of 1,002 snow leopards (755–1,341) in Sanjiangyuan, with a density of 0.90 individuals per 100 km². These findings not only highlight Sanjiangyuan’s role as a global conservation priority but also demonstrate a scalable framework for synthesizing existing data to estimate elusive species population.


 

SLN Webinar:First Large-scale Assessment of Snow Leopard Population in China: Case in Sanjiangyuan Region

 

SLN invites you to join us for our upcoming webinar and is delighted to welcome Li Xueyang (Our Speaker) and Wei Chunyue (Our Facilitator).

About the Talk:

This work unveils China’s first large-scale assessment of snow leopard populations, focusing on the Sanjiangyuan region, spanning over 360,000 km2. By integrating and standardizing seven years of camera trap data (2015–2021) from 12 sites across four organizations, we obtained a population estimation of 1,002 snow leopards (755–1,341) in Sanjiangyuan, with a density of 0.90 individuals per 100 km². These findings not only highlight Sanjiangyuan’s role as a global conservation priority but also demonstrate a scalable framework for synthesizing existing data to estimate elusive species population.

About our Speaker:

 

Li Xueyang is a Scientific Consultant at Shan Shui Conservation Center, China, and a postdoctoral researcher at Peking University. Since 2017, Li has focused on large carnivores on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, starting her research from snow leopard population. Her PhD focused on the interspecific relationship between sympatric snow leopards and common leopards. She is now focusing on snow leopard initiatives in Shan Shui and managing the camera trap database.

 

 

About our Facilitator:

 

Wei Chunyue starts her journey in wildlife conservation from camera trap data processing and analysis working with Shan Shui Conservation Center. She then participated in snow leopard monitoring and conservation work on the Tibetan Plateau and Southeast Tibet. Chunyue is now dedicated to exploring the potential of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) in China. Chunyue holds a BSc. In Environmental Engineering from Tsinghua University and a MSc. In Environmental Engineering from Stanford University.

 

Date/Time:

Thursday, 22nd May at 15:00 PM (Bishkek time)

Location:

ZOOM, to join this talk, REGISTER HERE

 Please note:

  • If you have never used Zoom before, we recommend that you try the link 10 minutes before the start of the lecture.
  • Please feel free to write questions in the comment area and there will be time for questions/discussion at the end of the talk.
  • Please note that the session will be recorded and later featured on the SLN website. If you have concerns about this please let us know before the session

New Article to the Bibliography

Please find details below of a new article added to our Bibliography:

Title: Hide and seek in time and space: Spatiotemporal segregation between snow leopard and its prey in Northern Pakistan

Author: Khan, T. U., Nabi, G., Ahmad, S., Hu, H., Hu, Y., Puswal, S. M., Ghaznavi, M., Luan, X.

Abstract: Temporal niche-partitioning is a key strategy for prey to avoid predators and for predators to successfully coexist sympatrically. However, little is known about the temporal and spatial dynamics of snow leopards with key prey species. We investigated the spring daily activity patterns and spatial density distributions of snow leopard (Panthera uncia), Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex sibirica), and domestic yak (Bos grunniens) to unravel the spatiotemporal behavior within their shared alpine habitat in Northern Pakistan using trail cameras data. The results indicated that snow leopards exhibited a bimodal activity pattern, with peaks around midnight and dawn. In contrast, the ibex displayed a predominantly diurnal pattern, starting at dawn and minimally overlapping with the snow leopard. Attended yaks showed a uniform diurnal activity pattern under human protection, while unattended yaks exhibited irregular activity across day and night, suggesting higher vulnerability to predation. Spatial density analysis revealed notable overlaps between species pairs, particularly unattended yaks and snow leopards, highlighting the influence of spatial dynamics on predator-prey interactions. The clear off-phased and contrasting pattern of activity between snow leopard and ibex in our study showed temporal partitioning in spring and indicates that unattended yak may be a more heavily predated species than previously thought. This study provides the first comparative analysis of temporal activity patterns between a key predator and wild and domestic prey in Northern Pakistan. This research broadens our understanding of animal behavior through the lens of spatiotemporal interactions and provides insights into the complex dynamics between predator and prey in the challenging alpine landscape. Our findings emphasize the importance of livestock guarding to mitigate depredation and highlight the complexities of predator-prey interactions in both time and space, along with the resulting behavioral adaptions.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1778

New Article to the Bibliography

Please find details below of a new article added to our Bibliography:

Title: Climate Change and Human Pressure: Assessing the Vulnerability of Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) Habitat Integrated With Prey Distribution on the Qinghai-­Tibet Plateau

Author: Zhang, Y., Dai, Y., Li, J., Cong, W., Zhang, Y., Nie, X., Wu, Q., Xue, Y.

Abstract: Climate change is significantly altering the distribution of large carnivores and their primary prey species, with particular emphasis on the changing prey distribution in high-­ altitude regions. The Qinghai-­Tibet Plateau, known for its rich biodiversity, is highly sensitive to climate change, affecting the habitats of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur). Our study identified blue sheep as the primary prey of snow leopards through metagenomic analysis and used bioclimatic data and Land Use/Cover Change (LUCC) information to model habitat suitability under three climate scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5). Projections showed that under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, snow leopard habitats will decrease by 13.0% and 23.4%, while blue sheep habitats will decrease by 38.3% and 49.7%, respectively. These habitats are expected to shift to higher altitudes, with snow leopards experiencing a more significant shift. Based on these findings, we recommend adjusting protected area boundaries for S1 (Ideal distribution range), establishing ecological corridors for S2 (stepping stone), and implementing targeted measures to mitigate human-­wildlife conflicts in S3 (potential conflict area). To protect these species, international efforts to reduce carbon emissions, cross-­ administrative cooperation, and community-­based conservation strategies are essential.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1777

“Humans-Wildlife Coexistence in the Himalayas and Karakoram”

 

Dr. Shafqat Hussain founded Project Snow Leopard in 1999 as a pilot project and later the Organization was registered in 2007, as Baltistan Wildlife Conservation and Development Organization (BWCDO), to work with local communities to find a way to compensate them for their livestock loss, while also removing the incentive to retaliate against the snow leopard. 

BWCDO works with remote communities throughout Baltistan in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region. Their work currently covers over 18 villages across six valleys. Recently, BWCDO has also started working in Gojal Region in Upper Hunza. BWCDO work with local communities to resolve human wildlife conflict and co-existence

BWCDO’s central mechanisms to resolve the conflict between farmers and snow leopards, are livestock insurance program, building Predator Proof Corrals, conservation education awareness program and research and surveys. This NGO was the first organization to implement livestock insurance schemes to protect the snow leopard in Pakistan. Their unique work are recognized on the international level with Rolex Award, UNDP First Equator Award (2017) and NABU Snow Leopard Prize (2021). 

In this Webinar we are share BWCDO’s 25th year’s contribution and collaboration with local communities for the Snow leopard conservation and human wildlife coexistence in Gilgit Baltistan Pakistan.

 

New Article to the Bibliography

Please find details below of a new article added to our Bibliography:

Title: Lessons for Transboundary Snow Leopard Conservation: Findings From a GPS Telemetry Study in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, Nepal

Author: Subba, S. A., Acharya, H. R., Shrestha, S., Koirala, S., Shrestha, R., Thapa, G. J., Thapa, K., Shrestha, A., Malla, S., Bhattarai, G. P., Poudyal, L. P., Khadka, M. B., Gurung, G. S., Bhatta, S. R., Dhakal, M., Subedi, N., Pradhan, N. M. B., Bhandari, A. R., Jnawali, S. R., Limbu, K. P., Dhakal, B. K., Thapa, K.

Abstract: Ensuring the long‐term persistence of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in changing landscapes requires a deep understanding of their spatial ecology and movement behavior. To maintain viable metapopulations and ensure gene flow between populations, there is an urgent need to develop sound and effective conservation plans. This study presents findings from Nepal’s first GPS telemetry study of snow leopards, shedding light on their home range size, habitat selection, and transboundary movements. GPS data were collected from four snow leopard individuals in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, eastern Nepal, over tracking periods ranging from 20 to 659 days, yielding a total of 4707 location points. We used three home range estimators
for analysis: local convex hulls (LoCoH), fixed kernels (Kernel), and minimum convex polygons (MCP). Our results show that home range sizes were 6 to 97 times larger than previous estimates for Nepal, with LoCoH estimates of 310 and 102 km2 (MCP = 730 and 211 km2) for two adult females and 312 km2 (MCP = 1032 km2) for one adult male. Three snow leopards crossed international borders five to seven times, spending, on average, 10%–34% of their time in neighboring countries (China and India), with 28%–50% of their home ranges overlapping India. Our study demonstrates that snow leopards in Nepal have home ranges that are significantly larger than previously documented and frequently cross international borders. These extensive transboundary movements highlight the need for stronger coordination between Nepal, China, and India to ensure the long‐term conservation of snow leopards in this key region of their distributional range.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1776

New Article to the Bibliography

Please find details below of a new article added to our Bibliography:

Title: Genomic evidence for low genetic diversity but purging of strong deleterious variants in snow leopards

Author: Yang, L., Jin, H., Yang, Q., Poyarkov, A., Korablev, M., Rozhnov, V., Shao, J., Fu, Q., Hernandez-Blanco, J. A., Zhan, X., Yu, L., Alexandrov, D., Dai, Q., Munkhtsog, B., Du, X., Munkhtsog, B., Ma, L., Chen, W., Malykh, S., Jin, Y., He, S., Zhang, T., Wu, G., Shi, Y., Hu, Y.

Abstract:

Background
Long-term persistence of species with low genetic diversity is the focus of widespread attention in conservation biology. The snow leopard, Panthera uncia, is a big cat from high-alpine regions of Asia. However, its subspecies taxonomy, evolutionary history, evolutionary potential, and survival strategy remain unclear, which greatly hampers their conservation.
Results
We sequence a high-quality chromosome-level genome of the snow leopard and the genomes of 52 wild snow leopards. Population genomics reveal the existence of two large genetic lineages in global snow leopards, the northern and southern lineages, supported by the biogeography. The Last Glacial Maximum drove the divergence of two lineages. Microclimate differences and large rivers between the western and central Himalayas likely maintain the differentiation of two lineages. EPAS1 is positively selected in the southern lineage with almost fixed amino acid substitutions and shows an increased allele frequency with elevation. Compared to the southern lineage, the northern lineage exhibits a lower level of genomic diversity and higher levels of inbreeding and genetic load, consistent with its recent population decline. We find that snow leopards have extremely low genomic diversity and higher inbreeding than other Carnivora species; however, strong deleterious mutations have been effectively purged in snow leopards by historical population bottlenecks and inbreeding, which may be a vital genetic mechanism for their population survival and viability.
Conclusions
Our findings reveal the survival strategy of a species with low genetic diversity and highlight the importance of unveiling both genetic diversity and genetic burden for the conservation of threatened species.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1775