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Suryawanshi, K. R., Bhatnagar, Y., & Mishra, C. (2009). Why should a grazer browse? Livestock impact on winter resource use by bharal Pseudois nayaur
. Oecologia, , 1–10.
Abstract: Many mammalian herbivores show a temporal diet variation between graminoid-dominated and browse dominated diets. We determined the causes of such a diet shift and its implications for conservation of a medium sized ungulate-the bharal Pseudois nayaur. Past studies show that the bharal diet is dominated by graminoids (>80%) during summer, but the contribution of graminoids declines to about 50% in winter. We tested the predictions generated by two alternative hypotheses explaining the decline: low graminoid availability during winter causes bharal to include browse in their diet; bharal include browse, with relatively higher nutritional quality, in their diet to compensate for the poor quality of graminoids during winter. We measured winter graminoid availability in areas with no livestock grazing, areas with relatively moderate livestock grazing, and those with intense livestock grazing pressures. The chemical composition of plants contributing to the bharal diet was analysed. The bharal diet was quantiWed through signs of feeding on vegetation at feeding locations. Population structures of bharal populations were recorded using a total count method. Graminoid availability was highest in areas without livestock grazing, followed by areas with moderate and intense livestock grazing. The bharal diet was dominated by graminoids (73%) in areas with highest graminoid availability. Graminoid contribution to the bharal diet declined monotonically (50, 36%) with a decline in graminoid availability. Bharal young to female ratio was 3 times higher in areas with high graminoid availability than areas with low graminoid availability. The composition of the bharal winter diet was governed predominantly by the availability of graminoids in the rangelands. Our results suggest that bharal include more browse in their diet during winter due to competition from livestock for graminoids. Since livestock grazing reduces graminoid availability, creation of livestock-free areas is necessary for the conservation of grazing species such as the bharal and its predators including the endangered snow leopard in the Trans-Himalaya.
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Kovshar A.F. (2001). About representativeness of terrain vertebrate fauna in the Aksu Jabagly nature reserve for the whole West Tien Shan region (Vol. Vol.8.).
Abstract: Mammals inhabiting the Aksu Jabagly nature reserve make up 79.6 percent of the whole mammal fauna of the West Tien Shan. The following endangered species live in the area: argali, brown bear, dhole, Turkistan lynx, snow leopard, stone marten, porcupine, and free-toiled bat. Snow leopard deserves a special attention.
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Allabergenov E. (1991). The cat family. 1991.
Abstract: It provides field signs and brief comparative characteristic of cat species in Uzbekistan, five of which are included in the Red Data Book of Uzbekistan and the USSR: lynx, caracal, manul, snow leopard and cheetah. Snow leopard is protected in the Zaamin, Chatkal, and Gissar nature reserves. A snow leopard female bears up to five cubs (normally two three) once in two years. Gestation period is 90 days. Female suckles her cubs until they reach the age of three four months.
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Dementiev G.P. (1969). Mammals.
Abstract: It provides a list and discusses a status of rare and endangered predators and ungulates in the USSR (24 species in total). Snow leopard inhabits the mountain ridges of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, in the Altai and Tuva. The habitat of snow leopard had not changed significantly since recently, though its population had been reducing (according to materials of the year 1967). Such reduction of its population is because of the common assumption of its harmfulness and high demand for its fur-skin and high prices that zoos would readily pay for the animals.
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Krever V. (1998). Ecosystems of the High Mountains Species of Special Interest in Uzbekistan.
Abstract: It gives description complexes of mountain ecosystems fauna of Central Asia, endangered vertebrates, main threats to biodiversity and existing protected areas network. Among the rare animal species of the alpine and subalpine meadows first of all should be listed the West Tien Shan endemic, the Menzbier's marmot (Marmota menzbien); the markhor wild goat which still inhabits the Vakhsh range in Tadjikistan; the dhole (Cyon alpinus) which is practically extinct; the Tien Shan bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus), and the snow leopard (Uncia uncia); among birds, the wlute-chested dove (Columba leuconota), sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes tibetanus, snowcocks (Tetraogallus tibetanus, T.altaicus) and bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus).
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Bannikov A.G. (1982). We must save them.
Abstract: It describes the USSR's fauna species included in the Red Data Book and gives an assessment of endangered species conservation practices throughout the world. It says about ways and perspectives of conservation and rehabilitation of rare animals in the USSR. It provides brief information concerning snow leopard's biology, distribution, number, opportunities for captive breeding, and international conservation activities aimed to protect this species.
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Ale S. (2005). Have snow leopards made a comeback to the Everest region of Nepal?.
Abstract: In the 1960s, the endangered snow leopard was locally extirpated from the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) region of Nepal. In this Sherpa-inhabited high Himalaya, the flourishing tourism since the ascent of Mt Everest in 1953, has caused both prosperity and adverse impacts, the concern that catalyzed the establishment of Mt. Everest National Park in the region in 1976. In the late 1980s, there were reports that some transient snow leopards may have visited the area from adjoining Tibet, but no biological surveys exist to confirm the status of the cats and their prey. Have snow leopards finally returned to the top of the world? Exploring this question was the main purpose of this research project. We systematically walked altogether 24 sign transects covering over 13 km in length in three valleys, i.e. Namche, Phortse and Gokyo, of the park, and counted several snow leopard signs. The results indicated that snow leopards have made a comeback in the park in response to decades of protective measures, the virtual cessation of hunting and the recovery of the Himalayan tahr which is snow leopard's prey. The average sign density (4.2 signs/km and 2.5 sign sites/km) was comparable to that reported from other parts of the cats' range in the Himalaya. On this basis, we estimated the cat density in the Everest region between 1 to 3 cats per 100 sq km, a figure that was supported by different sets of pugmarks and actual sightings of snow leopards in the 60 km2 sample survey area. In the study area, tahr population had a low reproductive rate (e.g. kids-to-females ratio, 0.1, in Namche). Since predators can influence the size and the structure of prey species populations through mortality and through non-lethal effects or predation risk, snow leopards could have been the cause of the population dynamics of tahr in Sagarmtha, but this study could not confirm this speculation for which further probing may be required.
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Strautman Ye.I.Bekenov A. (1978). Rare and endangered vertebrate animas of Kazakhstan, and their protection.
Abstract: In Kazakhstan, there are 158 mammal species, 485 bird species, 52 reptile and 12 amphibian species, and about 150 fish species, of which 31 mammal species, 43 bird species, eight reptile, one amphibian and four fish species need protection. Snow leopard is referred to endangered species. Six nature reserves and 43 preserves have been established to protect rare and endangered animal and plant species in Kazakhstan.
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Sosnovskiy I.P. (1987). Snow leopard or irbis.
Abstract: In a popular form, it tells about rare vertebrate animals included in the Red Data Book of the USSR, their biology, behavioral patterns, threats and measures being taken to protect them. Total number of snow leopard in the USSR is defined as 2,000 animals. 200 snow leopards live in zoos throughout the world. The animals successfully reproduce themselves in the Moscow, Kaunas, and Alma-Ata zoos. Snow leopard's maximum life expectancy in enclosures is 22 years.
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The Snow Leopard Conservancy. (2002). A Survey of Kathmandu-based Trekking Agencies: Market Opportunities for Linking Community-Based Ecotourism with the Conservation of Snow Leopard in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Report prepared for WWF-Nepal Programme (Vol. SLC Field Series Document No. 4). Los Gatos, California.
Abstract: In 2001 the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP), Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) and WWF-Nepal initiated a collaborative project aimed at enhancing ecotourism in the Manang area, in ways that strengthen benefits to local communities while also protecting the environment and the local culture. Manang is known for its relatively dense snow leopard population, along with supporting good numbers of blue sheep, the endangered cat's principal prey through much of the Himalaya. However, snow leopards periodically kill many livestock, leading to retributive killing by herders along with other associated people-wildlife conflict. In order to encourage the local people to better co-exist with snow leopards and other wildlife, SLC, WWF-Nepal and ACAP agreed to explore ways of providing tourism benefits to local communities as an incentive to protect this rare predator and conserve its alpine habitat. Key in this regard is the possibility of developing locally guided nature treks, and accordingly, this survey was conducted in order to assess existing market opportunities and constraints to such ecotourism enterprise.
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