Abstract: Abstract Wild Bactrian camels Camelus bactrianus ferus are endangered. Surveys over the past several decades suggest a marked decline in camel numbers and reproductive success. However, most surveys were made using methods that precluded rigorous population estimation. The need for more accurate surveys resulted in an aerial survey of known and suspected camel habitat in Mongolia during March 1997. We estimated density, group density and population size of large mammals in south-western Mongolia using the interactive computer program DISTANCE. We recorded sufficient data for population modelling of wild Bactrian camels, goitred gazelles Gazella subgutturosa, Asian wild asses Equus hemionus and argali sheep Ovis ammon. We observed 277 camels in 27 groups (mean group size = 10.269 +- 2.38 SE camels: group). Modelling yielded a population estimate of 198 +- 802 SE camels in the survey area. Population modelling for other ungulates yielded estimates of 6046 +- 1398 SE goitred gazelles, 1674 +- 506 SE Asian wild asses and 909 +- 303 SE argalis. Discrepancies between population estimates of ungulates in our survey and previous surveys are discussed with regard to methods used and robustness of results obtained. We also discuss conservation implications for wild Bactrian camels and other Mongolian ungulates.

Abstract: During 1984-1987, 1992-1995, and 1998-2001, the author researched snow leopard, white lipped deer, kiang, and argali in Qinghai, Gansu, Xingiang, and Sichuan. He collected 644 snow leopard droppings, and analyzed kinds of foods and sources from perch. Snow leopard's foods include most main foods, main foods, comparative foods and lesser foods. Studied one another
index of faunistic congruence of foods species that from various distribution and variation both perch vertical variety and foods of snow leopard.

Abstract: In the nature reserve, there are 18 animal species listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Tajikistan including 8 mammal species, one of which, snow leopard, is in the Red List of IUCN. There are 10 Red Book bird species in the nature reserve. Pamir argali is represented by several dozens of isolated groups. No encounters of Tien Shan brown bear, dhole and lynx have been reported in the nature reserve over the last years. A total number of mountain geese were about 400, in the year 2001. Mongolian saker falcon was met twice. Two golden eagles and six lammergeyers were found too.

Abstract: Irrigation and drainage activity in Tien Shan led some bird species to disappear. Number of species to build their nests in tree holes has dropped. Mongolian sandpiper and black-bellied sand grouse disappeared in the steppe areas. Great bustard, formerly nesting in this area, can now be rarely seen only in migration. The direct anthropogenic influence resulted in shrinkage of game animal and bird populations such as moral, goitered gazelle, argali, snow leopard, and stone marten.

Abstract: Collected are data on rare ungulates in the Almaty nature reserve in 1968-1973. Since recently the population of goitered gazelle has dropped sharply and is now 20-30 animals per seven ha. The nature reserve shall be expanded in order to protect the animals. Argali inhabits a desert area in the mountains of Greater and Lesser Kalkana. Argali sometimes migrates outside the nature reserve. Ibex inhabits a mountainous part of the nature reserve, its population being 10-13 animals per 1,000 ha. Predators have negligible impact on the ibex population (12.5 percent of deaths), which is preyed on solely by snow leopard and wolf.

Abstract: This study conducted in the high altitude rangelands of Indian Transhimalaya, deals with basic questions regarding the ecology of an endangered species, the wildsheep Tibetan argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni) and applied issues related to its conservation and potential conflict with the local nomadic pastoralists. The basic questions on ecology are aimed at delineating the habitat and resource selection processes, identifying factors causing sexual segregation and efficient surveying and sampling. The applied aspect focuses on the changing face of pastoralism and the potential impacts of modernising livestock husbandry on argali.
Overall, the study provides a general framework towards the understanding of argali-habitat relationships at different spatio-temporal scales. The spatial determinant associated with altitude in the area, predicts argali habitat and resource selection in this relatively homogenous landscape. These determine the range of other topographic variables and forage characteristics selected by argali. The selection of feeding patches in the selected range of altitude and topography is mainly characterised by their greenness and the quality of plant groups. Adjusting to changing forage quality, argali display an opportunistic feeding strategy, selecting grasses in early spring and switching to forbs later in summer. Nevertheless, the habitat selection process did not appear to differ among the sexes to drive sexual segregation. There was, however, strong segregation among the sexes as well as between lactating and non lactating females. The reasons for segregation appeared to be predominantly social, but driven ultimately by predation and concomitantly by resources. The habitat selection information was used to design a stratified random sampling strategy that led to i) a significant reduction in survey effort in sampling these sparsely distributed species and ii) reduction in sampling bias.
The applied aspect of the study outlines and evaluates the dramatic changes in the nomadic pastoralism that have occurred in the past five decades in the study area. These have led to a loss of pastures (-25 to -33%) of the nomads, consequent readjustment in traditional patterns of pasture use, intensified grazing pressures (25 to 70%) and rangeland degradation in the area. Such changes may have serious consequences on the survival of local wildlife, as tested with a study of the effects on argali of livestock presence and resource exploitation. Hence, a successful conservation and recovery strategy should focus on: minimising the impacts of livestock on argali, identifying the factors affecting the persistence of the current populations, increasing local sub populations of this species to prevent extinction due to stochastic events, prevent loss of genetic diversity and excessive fragmentation and thus ensuring gene flow.
Ecological Niche Factor Analyses (ENFA), bias-reduced logistic regression and Fuzzy correspondence analyses (FCA) were used to answer habitat and resource selection questions. A sexual segregation and aggregation statistic (SSAS) was used to estimate the components of sexual segregation and test segregation. SSAS combined with canonical correspondence analyses (CCA) allowed the estimation of segregation based on habitat variables. Logistic regression models were formulated to estimate models on which the stratified random sampling strategy was based. The 9 Animal – Habitat relationships in high altitude rangelands overall study also included surveys, interviews and literature reviews to understand the nomads’ movement and pasture use patterns of their livestock. Kernel density estimations (KDE) were used to estimate extent of range overlaps between livestock and argali.