The Snow Leopard Conservancy. (2001). Visitor Attitude and Market Survey for Planning Community-based Tourism Initiatives in Rural Ladakh (Vol. SLC Field Series Document No. 2.). Los Gatos, California.
Abstract: Bounded by two of the world's highest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram, Ladakh is a land of exhilarating mountain landscapes, rocky gorges and a unique cultural heritage. It is also home to distinctive wildlife such as the snow leopard, blue sheep and Tibetan wild ass, all living in a unique high altitude desert ecosystem. Not surprisingly, Ladakh is becoming a sought after tourist destination for international and domestic visitors alike. Over the past two decades tourism has grown substantially, although erratically, with both positive and less positive results for Ladakh's environment and people. People are recognizing that it is important to act now and engage in an informed dialogue in order to conserve the natural and cultural resources on which the future of tourism and related incomes depend. The Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) is working in collaboration with local communities and nongovernmental organizations to foster co-existence between people and predators like the endangered snow leopard by reducing livestock depredation losses and improving household incomes in environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable ways. Well-balanced tourism is one income generating option.
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The Snow Leopard Conservancy. (2002). Visitor Satisfaction and Opportunity Survey, Manang, Nepal: Market Opportunities for Linking Community-Based Ecotourism with the Conservation of Snow Leopards in the Annpurna Conservation Area. Report prepared for WWF-Nepal Programme (Vol. SLC Field Document Series No 3).
Abstract: For the past two decades, the Manang or Nyeshang Valley has become one of the most popular
trekking routes in Nepal, attracting over 15,000 trekkers annually (Ale, 2001). The 21-day
circular trek takes the visitor from the lush southern slopes of the Annapurna massif around to
its dry northern slopes more reminiscent of Tibet, through a landscape of spectacular mountain
scenes, interesting villages and diverse cultures. The Manang region also offers prime habitat
for the endangered snow leopard, supporting an estimated 4.8 – 6.7 snow leopards per 100 sq.
km (Oli 1992). This high density has been attributed to the abundance of blue sheep, the snow
leopard's primary large prey species across the Himalayan Mountains and Tibetan Plateau.
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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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The Snow Leopard Conservancy. (2002). A Learning Tour of the CBN (Corbett, Nainital and Binsar) Eco-tourism Initiative Sites by Villagers from Hemis National Park and the Surrounding Area (18-28th November 2002) (R. Wangchuk, & J. Dadul, Eds.) (Vol. SLC Field Document Series No 5). Leh, Ladakh, India.
Abstract: Ladakh lies between the Great Himalayas and the formidable Karakoram mountains.
Its unique landscape and rich cultural heritage have been a great attraction to tourists all over
the world. Apart from its uniqueness it has a rich Trans-Himalayan bio-diversity and is home
to the rare and elusive snow leopard. It opened to tourism in 1974 with a handful of tourists
and has gone up to the present number of about 18,000 visitors annually. Ecotourism started in Ladakh in mid 80s in the form of conservation of traditional
architecture when local communities realized the importance of their rich culture and
traditions being valued by the visiting tourists. However, while tourism became a major
source of income to people in Leh, most of the benefits stayed with outside (Delhi) based
travel agents thus leaving out the rural masses. During the last three years Snow Leopard Conservancy and The Mountain Institute have been
initiating ecotourism activities with local communities in the Hemis National Park as an
alternate livelihood and an indirect way to compensate losses of livestock from predatory
animals. However, local people while venturing into such new initiatives have tended to be
like blind men that are being led by NGO's so that they do not stumble along their paths.
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Theile, S. (2003). Fading Footprints: The Killing and Trade of Snow Leopards. Caimbridge, UK: Traffic International.
Abstract: Snow Leopards, in a genus of their own, are endangered big cats. They inhabit rugged,
mountainous terrain, in 12 range States – Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
There are regional differences in prey, but the cats' natural prey includes ungulates and rodents.
The global population of Snow Leopards is estimated to be between about 4000 and 7000, but
sharp declines in populations have been reported over the past decade from parts of the species's
range. High levels of hunting for the animals' skins and for live animals, for zoos, during the
last century contributed to the species's endangered status and, from the 1970s, legal measures
were taken for its protection. In 1975, the species was listed in Appendix I of CITES (the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) and in 1985 it
became an Appendix-I species of the Convention of Migratory Species. It has been accorded
nation-wide legal protection in almost every range State, in some cases since the 1970s. In spite
of such provision, Snow Leopards have been hunted during the 1990s in numbers as high as at
any time in the past and this killing continues in the present century. This report details the status of illegal poaching and trade in snow leopards in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
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Tokmergenov T. (2002). Mammals of Sary Chelek nature reserve.
Abstract: There are more than 40 species of mammals in Sary Chelek nature reserve, Kyrgyzstan. Brief characteristics of these species and their distribution. Also current status of important species, tendencies in number dynamic are presented. Snow leopard inhabited in alpine zone of Muz-Tor, Kara Toko, Kulatai, Alatai mountains. Total number is 2-3 individuals according data of 1997-2000.
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Trivedi, P. (2009). Project Snow Leopard: Participatory conservation model for the Indian Himalaya. Mountain Forum Bulletin, Ix(2), 52–54.
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Tsherbakov B.V. (1982). About rare and endangered mammal species in the East Kazakhstan region.
Abstract: Given is data concerning numbers and distribution of yellow lemming on the Korjun cape and in the Karakas tract; dhole in the tundra zoneof the Azu-Tau ridge (South Alati) between Matabay and Urunkhaikoy, in the Salkanchok mountains; concering an encounter with snow leopard (March 25, 1981) in the upper river Bukhtarma near eastern extremity of the South Altai ridge, and argali in the mountain group Kalby-Baicha, the Taldy, Koktau, Monraka mountains (an area between Kusty and Kizil-Gain), near summit Shorbas.
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Tsherbina E.I. (1970). Snow leopard or irbis.
Abstract: In the USSR, snow leopard is distributed in the mountains of Central Asia and South Siberia. A considerable number of snow leopards are met in the mountains of Tajikistan, Pamir, Tien Shan, Altai, and Tuva ASSR. Snow leopard is extremely rare in Turkmenistan. It is occasionally caught/shot in Kopet-Dag.
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Tursunov Kh. (2003). The Ugam-Chatkal national park. The Chatkal state biosphere nature reserve.
Abstract: Established in 1990, the Ugam-Chatkal national park occupies an area of 668,350 ha and is the largest protected natural area in Uzbekistan. This area is famous for its rich species diversity. A number of rare and endangered plant and animal species, including among the others snow leopard, is found here. Being a core zone (strictly protected natural area), the Chatkal nature reserve is an integral part of the park. Snow leopard is periodically observed in the Tereksay river valley in the Maidantal area.
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