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Mukherjee, S., Ashalakshmi, C. N., Home, C., Ramakrishnan, U. (2010). SAhonrt Reepvoartluation of the PCR-RFLP technique to aid molecular-based monitoring of felids and canids in India. BMC Research Notes, 3, 159–166.
Abstract: Background: The order Carnivora is well represented in India, with 58 of the 250 species found globally, occurring here. However, small carnivores figure very poorly in research and conservation policies in India. This is mainly due to
the dearth of tested and standardized techniques that are both cost effective and conducive to small carnivore studies in the field. In this paper we present a non-invasive genetic technique standardized for the study of Indian felids and canids with the use of PCR amplification and restriction enzyme digestion of scat collected in the field.
Findings: Using existing sequences of felids and canids from GenBank, we designed primers from the 16S rRNA region of the mitochondrial genome and tested these on ten species of felids and five canids. We selected restriction enzymes that would cut the selected region differentially for various species within each family. We produced a restriction digestion profile for the potential differentiation of species based on fragment patterns. To test our technique, we used felid PCR primers on scats collected from various habitats in India, representing varied environmental conditions. Amplification success with field collected scats was 52%, while 86% of the products used for restriction digestion could be accurately assigned to species. We verified this through sequencing. A comparison of costs across the various techniques currently used for scat assignment showed that this technique was the most practical and cost effective.
Conclusions: The species-specific key developed in this paper provides a means for detailed investigations in the future that focus on elusive carnivores in India and this approach provides a model for other studies in areas of Asia
where many small carnivores co-occur.
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Sharma, R., Dutta, T. (2005). Sighting of Lynx (Lynx lynx isabellinus) in Hemis National Park, Ladakh. Zoos's Print, XX(4), 14.
Abstract: We had a good sighting of two adult and one sub adult lynx together, near Ganda-la
base which is at an elevation of 4900 meter, in Hemis National Park, Ladakh, during our fieldwork on Snow leopards in February 2004.The two adults lynx were moving closer and following each other, while the sub-adult lynx was a little far from the adults.
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Zhatkanbayev, A., Dosov, N. (2009). Natural death of a snow leopard close to Almaty megapolis. In Teriofauna of Qazaqstan and neighboring countries (the materials of international science conference “The problems of research, conservation and sustainable use for teriofauna of Qazastan and neighboring countries” (pp. 168–170). Kazakhstan.
Abstract: About natural dead case of Snow leopard close to Almaty megapolis.
Published in special edition as named “Teriofauna of Qazaqstan and neighboring countries (the materials of international science conference ”The problems of research, conservation and sustainable use for teriofauna of Qazastan and neighboring countries“, November, 15-16, 2009, Almaty)” under supervision of the Institute of Zoology, Center of Biological Research, Committee of Science, Ministry of Education and Science, The Republic of Qazaqstan.
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Sharma, S., Thapa, K., Chalise, M., Dutta, T., Bhatnagar, Y.V., McCarthy, T. (2006). The snow leopard in Himalaya: A step towards their conservation by studying their distribution, marking habitat selection, coexistence with other predators, and wild prey-livestock-predator interaction. Conservation Biology in Asia, , 184–196.
Abstract: Snow leopard (Uncia uncial) is a flagship species of the Himalaya. Very few studies have been done on the ecology of this species in the Himalaya. This paper presents an overview of four studies conducted on snow leopards in Nepal and India, dealing with various aspects of snow leopard ecology including their status assessment, making behaviour, habitat selection, food habits, and impact on livestock. The information generated by these studies is useful in planning effective conservation and management strategies for this endangered top predator of high mountains.
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Sharma, S., Dutta, T., Bhatnagar, Y.V. (2006). Marking site selection by free-ranging snow leopard (Uncia uncia). Conservation Biology in Asia, , 197–213.
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Anonymous. (1986). Toward a free-ranging recovery plan.
Abstract: This draft is a first attempt to develop a Snow Leopard Recovery Plan, for consideration at the Fifth International Snow Leopard Symposium. It is intended as a working base for agencies responsible for snow leopard conservation, research and management. The plan, when thoroughly reviewed and revised, will provide more accurate estimates of snow leopard status and threats, and recommendations concerning actions necessary for the maintenance, enhancement and recovery of the snow leopard in its original habitat.
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Allen, P., McCarthy, T., Bayarjargal, A. (2002). Conservation de la panthere des neiges (Uncia uncia) avec les eleveurs de Mongolie.48–53.
Abstract: La panthère des neiges (Uncia uncia) est un grand félin des régions montagneuses d’Asie Centrale. Elle est menacée par le braconnage et la fragmentation de son habitat. L’impact de la prédation des panthères des neiges sur le bétail a été
étudié en Mongolie. Les recherches ont porté sur la dynamique des troupeaux domestiques, l’importance numérique et financière des pertes ainsi que la perception des panthères par les éleveurs. Les panthères s’attaquent le plus souvent à des animaux de grande taille mais les éleveurs restent en majorité favorables à leur protection. Pour concilier conservation de ce prédateur et attente des communautés pastorales, un projet dénommé IRBIS ENTERPRISES a été créé. Un mécanisme assure des revenus supplémentaires aux éleveurs par la vente de produits issus du bétail en échange d’une protection total des panthères et
de leurs proies.
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Anonymous. (2004, 28 February). Nepali newspaper article reporting on snow leopard study., 1.
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Riddell, M. (2004). Newcastle University’s Snow leopard Research Expedition Report: Kazakhstan 2004. Scotland: Newcastle University.
Abstract: This Newcastle University Expedition reviewed the conflict between man and snow leopard in the region east of Tekeli in the Dzhungarian Alatau range, Kazakhstan. After the soviet state breakup in 1991 snow leopards in Kazakhstan and in the other Asian republics were subjected to high levels of persecution. There are thought to be between 180-200 snow leopards in Kazakhstan, of which 37-40 individuals inhabit the Dzhungarian Mountains. No work has been done previously
to review the present snow leopard-human conflicts in this region, and this project looked to update previous reports from Central Asia about predominant conflicts in these regions.
The expedition team worked with the Institute of Zoology in Kazakhstan and two of the six person team were Kazakh students. Methods comparable to those used in previous studies were used to map and rank the threats in the western area of the range, over an eight week period. The expedition team lived in the mountains for periods of two-three weeks, carrying all their food and equipment and using local vehicles, horses and trekking to move from pasture to pasture. Semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews and prey counts were used to assess snow leopard-human conflicts including poaching of snow leopard, poaching of leopard
wild prey, human disturbance and livestock overgrazing.
The results from the report support much previous work from Kazakhstan and other
areas in Central Asia, but serve as a useful update shedding light on an optimistic future for snow leopard conservation while highlighting what the expedition team perceives to be the major threats to snow leopards.
The threats to snow leopards, in order of relevance from most to least, are loss of prey predominantly through hunting by local people (both legal and illegal), direct hunting of snow leopard for pelt/medicine, disturbance by herders on the pastures, snow leopard habitat fragmentation around the mountain bases, and least importantly overgrazing by domestic livestock. Retaliatory kills by herders are not a threat in the region and on livestock were killed by snow leopards. Levels of all hunting, legal and illegal, need to be reduced in the range until wildlife populations have recovered significantly from the mid-1990’s over-hunting period.
Levels of rural corruption among many stakeholders were high around the mountain region, and are thought to contribute negatively to wildlife conservation in the area. Ecotourism in the area, that incorporates local people around the mountain region, is proposed as a solution to offer local people’s incentives to lower hunting levels.
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Bhatnagar, Y. V. (2010). Project Snow Leopard. In Nature Without Borders (Vol. 613, pp. 44–48). India.
Abstract: Nature Without Borders: a symposium on innovative approaches to conserving nature and wildlife. http://www.india-seminar.com/2010/613.htm
IN January 2009, the Ministry of Environment and Forests launched an ambitious conservation programme called Project Snow Leopard for the Indian high altitude areas. This was a unique endeavour that was catalyzed by a voluntary organization, with active participation of the five Himalayan state governments, the ministry and a select group of organizations and individuals in a consultative process which lasted close to four years. Given, however, a good representation of wildlife protected areas in the high altitudes (over 9% for the Trans Himalaya), the question is why was such a scheme required; what were the attributes of the region that necessitated an alternative strategy? This article discusses the salient features of the snow leopard initiative and the challenges ahead.
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