Abstract: Conservation geneticists apply genetic theory and techniques to preserve endangered species as dynamic entities, capable of coping with environmental change and thus minimizing their risk of extinction. Snow leopards are an umbrella species of High Asia, and a keystone for maintaining biodiversity within this fragile ecosystem. A clear understanding of patterns of snow leopard genetic diversity is critical for guiding conservation initiatives that will ensure their long-term persistence. Yet, a comprehensive analysis of snow leopard genetic variation is lacking. The number of published snow leopard genetic studies is far fewer than for other imperiled big cats. Here, I review the limited genetic work to date on snow leopards and the significant knowledge gaps to be filled. An emphasis must be placed on describing and understanding population genetic dynamics within and among meta-populations to provide information about the interactions between landscapes and the micro-evolutionary processes of gene flow and genetic drift. These results can be used to evaluate the levels and dynamics of genetic and demographic connectivity. A lack of connectivity, particularly in the low density, small populations that typify snow leopards, can lead to multiple demographic and genetic consequences, including inbreeding depression, loss of adaptive potential, and heightened susceptibility to demographic and environmental stochasticity. New efforts in conservation research on snow leopards should focus on this line of inquiry, and the opportunities and challenges for that are outlined and discussed to encourage the required, and considerable, transboundary partnerships and collaborations needed to be successful.

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.

Abstract: Article covers the human-brown bear conflict problem, which closely parallels that of snow leopard conflict in the TAR, the peer reviewed version of: Tsering, Dawa, John D. Farrington, and Kelsang Norbu. Competition and Coexistence: Human-Wildlife Conflict in the Chang Tang Region of Tibet. Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China: Tibet People’s Publishing House, 2007.
In order to evaluate the impact of recently introduced wildlife conservation policies, a human-wildlife conflict survey of three-hundred herding households was conducted in the south-central Byang thang (Qiangtang) area of the Tibet Autonomous Region (bod rang skyongs ljongs, Xizang Zizhi Qu). Results showed that Tibetan brown bears were the largest source of human-wildlife conflict in the survey area, affecting 49 percent of surveyed households between 1990 and 2006, with a 4.5-fold increase in conflict with bears occurring since implementation of various wildlife protection policies beginning in 1993. Types of bear conflict included livestock kills, raiding of human food supplies, damage to dwellings and furnishings, and direct attacks on herders. Brown bears have caused devastating
economic losses to herders and anecdotal evidence indicates that retaliatory killing of bears by herders now poses the greatest threat to the Tibetan brown bear. Immediate measures must be taken to resolve this conflict if humans and brown
bears are to coexist in the Byang thang region.