Mallon, D. P., & Nurbu, C. (1988). A Conservation Program for the Snow Leopard in Kashmir. In H.Freeman (Ed.), (pp. 207–214). India: International Snow Leopard Trust and The Wildlife Institute of India.
Abstract: This program was drawn up at the invitation of the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Mir Inayat Ullah, following joint survey work and discussions held over the period 1980-86. The recomendations have been accepted and will be incorporated into Department of Wildlife Protection policy. The aim of the program is the long term conservation of the snow leopard on a self sustaining basis throughout the state. Two basic assumptions underlie the program: (1) The snow leopard cannot be protected in isolation, but only in the context of conservation of the environment as a whole, and (2) To be most effective, any long term plan needs the cooperation of local people and must take into account their needs and traditional rights.
|
Fox, J. L., Sinha, S. P., Chundawat R.S., & Das, P. K. (1988). A Field Survey of Snow Leopard Presence and Habitat use in Northwestern India. In H.Freeman (Ed.), (pp. 99–111). India: International Snow Leoaprd Trust and Wildlife Institute of India.
Abstract: During November 1985 through July1996, a survey of snow leopard presence and ecology was conducted in selected areas of the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh in north-western India. The study was carried out under the auspices of the Wildlife Institute of India in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the International Snow Leopard Trust. The objectives of the survey were essentially determine the relative presence of the snow leopard and its associated prey species,investigate human interaction with the snow leopard and select an appropriate site for more intensive studies of the snow leopard and its ecosystem.
|
Mallon, D. (1984). The Snow Leopard, Panthera uncia, in Mongolia. Int.Ped.Book of Snow Leopards, 4, 3–9.
Abstract: In the International Pedigree Book of Snow Leopards 3, Blomqvist and Sten notes (1982) that no information had been recieved on the snow leopard in Mongolia. The present paper sets out to repair that omission by summarising the information in print on snow leopards in Mongolia and giving a brief account of its distribution in the country. This is essentially a review paper and it is hoped that more precise data may be obtained from fieldwork carried out in the future by Mongolian zoologist. The author worked in Mongolia for two years 1975-1977, and during that time collected information on mammals of Mongolia. Information on the snow leopard was obtained from colleagues at the State University of Mongolia; from zoologists and hunters; from herdsmen and local informants from all parts of the country and from three journeys made by the author: to the eastern Gobi Altai; the Khangai mountains, and a 2000 km journey through western Altai. In this paper, the term “Mongolia” refers to the territory of the Mongolian peoples Republic
|
Khatiwada, J. R., Chalise, M. K., & Kyes, R. (2007). Survey of Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) and Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur) populations in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA), Nepal. Final report.
Abstract: This study was carried out in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA), Eastern Nepal from Feb – Nov 2007. We used the Snow Leopard Information Management System, SLIMS (second order survey technique) to determine the relative abundance of snow leopard in the upper part of KCA. Altogether, 36 transects (total length of 15.21 km) were laid down in the major three blocks of KCA. 104 Signs (77 scrapes, 20 feces, 2 Scent mark, 3 Pugmarks and 2 hairs) were recorded. Fixed-point count method was applied for blue sheep from appropriate vantage points. We counted total individual in each herd using 8x42 binocular and 15-60x spotting scope. A total of 43 herds and 1102 individuals were observed in the area. The standard SLIMS questionnaire was conducted to find out relevant information on livestock depredation patterns. Out of 35 households surveyed in KCA, 48% of herders lost livestock due to snow leopards. A total of 21 animals were reportedly lost due to snow leopards from August to September 2007.
|
Braden, K. E. (1988). Economic Development in Six Regions of Snow Leopard Habitat in the U.S.S.R. In H.Freeman (Ed.), (pp. 227–246). India: International Snow Leopard Trust and the Wildlife Institute of India.
Abstract: The Disappearance of traditional ungulate prey of the snow leopard may be contributing to its endangered status in the wild. Soviet biologists have noted that wild sheep are a primary prey of the snow leopard in the southern Russian union republic and the Central Asian union republic of the U.S.S.R. While poaching appears to have had some impact on the status of these sheep, econmic pressures may be contributing to their decrease. Evidence presented for KAzakhstan and three regions of the Russian republic demonstrates that commercial sheep and goat production appears to be growing at a very high pace in these areas, thus consumming habitat otherwise available for wild herds.
|
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.
|
Berger, J., Buuveibaatar, B., Mishra, C. (). Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia. Conservation Biology, 27(4), 679–689.
Abstract: As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and
human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has
indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry
creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central
Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which
affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized
that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland
where cashmere-producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass
of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis.
In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3-fold increase in local profits for
herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica). That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries
fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4-fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in trans-Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China’s Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), khulan (Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic-level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere.
|
