Jackson, R. (1998). People-Wildlife Conflict Management in the Qomolangma Nature Preserve, Tibet. In W. Ning, D. Miller, L. Zhu, & J. Springer (Eds.), (pp. 40–46). Tibet's Biodiversity: Conservation and Management.. China: Tibet Forestry Department and World Wide Fund for Nature. China Forestry Publishing House.
Abstract: The primary objective of this paper is to report on people-wildlife conflicts arising from crop damage and livestock depredation in the Qomolangma Reserve, with special reference to the management of protected and endangered mammals.
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Saparbayev, S.K., & Woodward, D. B. (2008). Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) as an Indicator Species and Increasing Recreation Loads in the Almaty Nature Reserve.
Abstract: The purpose of this research is to analyze the data on ecology, biology and dynamics of snow leopard population in the Almaty Nature Reserve and to identify if the increasing numbers of ecotourists could contribute to the decrease of Uncia uncia population. The results of the study show that increasing recreation loads in the Reserve and adjacent territories elevate the disturbance level to the snow leopard's main prey Siberian Ibex and to the predator itself that could result in a decrease of population of this endangered species or its total extinction.
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Sultan, H., Rashid, W., Shi, J., Rahim, I. U., Nafees, M., Bohnett, E., Rashid, S., Khan, M. T., Shah, I. A., Han, H., Ariza-Montes, A. (2022). Horizon Scan of Transboundary Concerns Impacting Snow Leopard Landscapes in Asia. Land, 11(248), 1–22.
Abstract: The high-altitude region of Asia is prone to natural resource degradation caused by a variety of natural and anthropogenic factors that also threaten the habitat of critical top predator species, the snow leopard (Panthera uncia). The snow leopard’s landscape encompasses parts of the twelve Asian countries and is dominated by pastoral societies within arid mountainous terrain. However, no investigation has assessed the vulnerability and pathways towards long-term sustainability on the global snow leopard landscape scale. Thus, the current study reviewed 123 peer-reviewed scientific publications on the existing knowledge, identified gaps, and proposed sustainable mitigation options for the longer term and on larger landscape levels in the range countries. The natural resource degradation in this region is caused by various social, economic, and ecological threats that negatively affect its biodiversity. The factors that make the snow leopard landscapes vulnerable include habitat fragmentation through border fencing, trade corridor infrastructure, non-uniform conservation policies, human–snow leopard conflict, the increasing human population, climatic change, land use and cover changes, and unsustainable tourism. Thus, conservation of the integrated Socio-Ecological System (SES) prevailing in this region requires a multi-pronged approach. This paper proposes solutions and identifies the pathways through which to implement these solutions. The prerequisite to implementing such solutions is the adoption of cross-border collaboration (regional cooperation), the creation of peace parks, readiness to integrate transnational and cross-sectoral conservation policies, a focus on improving livestock management practices, a preparedness to control human population growth, a readiness to mitigate climate change, initiating transboundary landscape-level habitat conservation, adopting environment-friendly trade corridors, and promoting sustainable tourism. Sustainable development in this region encompasses the political, social, economic, and ecological landscapes across the borders.
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Wajrak, A. (1994). Snow Leopard Skins in Poland (Polowanie Na Sniezna Pantere).
Abstract: Full Text: In 1991, Dr Andrzej Kruszewicz of the Institute of Ecology of the Polish Academy of Sciences saw a “quite fresh” snow leopard skin on sale by a Russian in a Warsaw market for three million Polish zlotys ($300). A few weeks later he saw another skin in a shop in the centre of Warsaw. In spring 1992, Marcin Waslawski from the Institute of Geography saw a snow leopard skin in the same market for the equivalent of $200. The seller was an Asian from a former Soviet Republic. In summer 1992, Wajrak himself saw a snow leopard skin in a hunters' shop in Warsaw and in winter saw one in the home of a Polish hunter, who said it was a gift from a Mongolian friend. In winter 1994, a student from Britain saw a Polish long coat of snow leopard skins in Bialowieza. Wajrak saw a skin in a Warsaw shop, which the owner said was 15-20 years old; he got it from a Polish diplomat who had been in Mongolia and had three snow leopard skins. The skin was priced at the equivalent of $1,000. Wajrak added that he had been told that it was possible to buy tiger skins from Russians in Poland and he was trying to find one; I have not heard from him since.
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Krofel, M., Groff, C., Oberosler, V., Augugliaro, C., Rovero, F. (2021). Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) predation and consumption of an adult yak in the Mongolian Altai..
Abstract: The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an apex predator of mountainous ecosystems in Central Asia, characterised by relatively long feeding times and low kill rates (Johansson et al. 2015; Mallon et al. 2016). Predation is mainly focused on wild ungulates and the vast majority of animals killed by snow leopards are smaller than 100 kg (Lovari et al. 2013). Throughout most of their range, Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), and argali (Ovis ammon) represent the most important prey (Hunter 2015). These species weigh up to 180 kg, which was suggested to be near the maximum limit of the prey size that snow leopard can handle (i.e. about 3 times its size) (e.g. Schaller 1977; Hunter 2015). Accordingly, researchers generally assume that prey like adult yaks (Bos grunniens) with an average body weight of 250 kg (Bagchi & Mishra 2006), are too large to be killed by snow leopards (e.g. Devkota et al. 2013; Chetri et al. 2017). In contrast, local livestock herders report that snow leopard can also kill larger prey, including adult yaks (e.g. Li et al. 2013; Suryawanshi et al. 2013), but confirmed records of snow leopard killing prey of this size appear to be lacking in the literature. We also have very limited knowledge about the consumption of snow leopard kills, and the scavengers, including conspecifics, that are using them (Fox & Chundawat 2016; Schaller 2016). Here we report on a predation event and the following consumption process of a snow leopard kill, a free-roaming adult female yak, which we studied in 2019 using snow tracking, direct observation and camera trapping in the Mongolian Altai.
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Lewis, M., Songster, E.E. (2016). Studying the snow leopard: reconceptualizing conservation across the China–India border. BJHS, Themes 1(1), 169–198.
Abstract: The snow leopard is a highly charismatic megafauna that elicits admiration, concern and donations from individuals and NGOs in the West. In its home territories, however, it is a threat to local communities’ livestock and a potential source of income for its pelt and parts. Conservation and study are further challenged by its range; snow leopards traverse the borders separating China, India and ten other countries with long histories of tension with each other as well as internal political and economic struggles. This transnational animal provides an ideal case study for the consideration of transnational conservation science in the recent past.
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Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Yadong, X., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Gao, Y. Li, D. (2022). Analysis of Conservation Gaps and Landscape Connectivity for Snow Leopard in Qilian Mountains of China. 1-13, 14(1638).
Abstract: Human modification and habitat fragmentation have a substantial influence on large carnivores, which need extensive, contiguous habitats to survive in a landscape. The establishment of protected areas is an effective way to offer protection for carnivore populations by buffering them from anthropogenic impacts. In this study, we used MaxEnt to model habitat suitability and to identify conservation gaps for snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in the Qilian Mountains of China, and then assessed the impact of highways/railways and their corridors on habitat connectivity using a graph-based landscape connectivity model. Our results indicated that the study area had 51,137 km2 of potentially suitable habitat for snow leopards and that there were four protection gaps outside of Qilian Mountain National Park. The findings revealed that the investigated highway and railway resulted in a decrease in connectivity at a regional scale, and that corridor development might enhance regional connectivity, which strengthens the capacity of central habitat patches to act as stepping stones and improve connections between western and eastern habitat patches. This study emphasized the need for assessing the impact of highways and railways, as well as their role in corridor development, on species’ connectivity. Based on our results, we provide some detailed recommendations for designing protection action plans for effectively protecting snow leopard habitat and increasing habitat connectivity.
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Zhiryakov V.A. (1990). The Almaty nature reserve.
Abstract: It provides general information about the Almatya nature reserve (Kazakhstan), its physico-geographical features and description of flora and fauna. Snow leopard inhabits alpine zone and goes down as low as forest-meadow zone following ibex in winter. There are two or three families of snow leopard in the nature reserve. The population of ibex is 600 700 animals.
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Zhiryakov V.A. (2002). Ecology and behavior of the Snow leopard in Kazakhstan (Vol. N 1-4.).
Abstract: The data on spreading, numbers and population density of snow leopard in Kazakhstan are given in this article. The total number of the snow leopard in Kazakhstan is evaluated in 100-110 individuals. The everywhere occurred numbers' reduction under the influence of the anthropogenic factors is observed. The snow leopard' inhabitation area varies from 20 to 120 square kilometers depending on its regions. Sex and composition of the population and its aggregative behavior are given. The dynamics of numbers and mortality are estimated.
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Zhiryakov V.A. (1986). Snow leopard in the Almaty nature reserve. Short messages about snow leopards.
Abstract: Snow leopard is a common species for the Almaty nature reserve due to numerous wild ungulates, particularly ibexes (about 600 ibexes at a density of 32 animals per 1,000 ha) inhabiting the area. According to the data of 1982 there were 0.5 footprints of snow leopard per 10 km of transect. The remains of ibex, roe deer, squirrel, gray vole mouse and birds were found in faeces of snow leopards. Snow leopard attacks their prey unexpectedly, being in wait for it in such places where prey is difficult to escape from. When hunt is successful the prey is killed almost instantly. Snow leopard feeds upon the same prey for several days.
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