Abstract: Uncia uncia is one of the rare large species on the brink of extinction in Felidae in the world, and inhabit only the Central Asian mountains. It is said that there are currently only 4500-7300 Uncia uncia surviving. During the period from September 2004 to July 2005, the habitat selection of Uncia uncia was investigated in some mountains in Xinjiang, including the eastern Tianshan Mountains, Beita Mountains, Altay Mounts and Mount Tumor National Nature Reserve. In several months of fieldwork, we got 171 sign samples of Uncia uncia and 123 random samples in total. Five habitat features, i.e., the elevation, topographic features, vegetation type, grazing status and ruggedness, are selected to compare the difference of selectivity of the Uncia uncia habitat selection. The Chi-square goodness-of-fit test and the binomial test are used to check the significance of Uncia uncia habitat selection, and the principal component analysis is used to find the primary factors in in the selection. The result s are as follows : (1) Uncia uncia selected all kinds of the habitat types , especially the elevation , topography , vegetation types and ruggedness ; (2) Ruggedness and the vegetation types are the preliminary factors for the habitat selection. Topography is the secondary factor ; (3) Uncia uncia prefer to inhabit in the rugged habitat s with moderate shrubberies , and they also like to leave signs in valley bottoms rather than hillsides.

Abstract: Habitat selection of Snow Leopard ( Unica unica) in Beita Mountain of the Altay Mountain system in northeast Xinjiang was conducted from September to October 2004. Six habitat features of 59 sites used by Snow Leopard and 30 random plots were measured by locating 15 transects surveys in the study area . Vanderploge and Scaviaps selectivity index was used to assess Snow Leopardps selection for the different habitat parameters. Principal Component Analysis was used as the primary factor . The results indicated that Snow Leopard preferred the altitude between 2000 – 2 200 m and avoided 2 600 – 3 000 m ; selected cliff base , ridgeline and avoided hillside and valley bottom ; utilized the shrub and rejected the forest ; selected the nongrazing area and avoided the slightly broken region ; preferred north orientation and rejected the south orientation. The results show that grazing status , vegetation type , topography and the ruggedness are the primary factors for the habitat selection of Snow Leopard.

Abstract: Ibex, whose population has reduced due to over-hunting, inhabits the alpine meadow zone in Uzbekistan. Ibex had entirely disappeared in some areas. Wild sheep, a common inhabitant of the alpine zone, has drastically decreased in number. Marhur can still be found in the mountains of Kugitang and Babatang. Wild sheep is a common species for the alpine zone. Predator animals such as snow leopard, bear, and sometimes wolf and fox can be found in this zone. A typical inhabitant of highlands is marmot an object of fur-trade.

Abstract: In Kyrgyz SSR, there are 26 fur animal species, including three acclimatized, six wild ungulate and 70 bird species. They all can serve as objects of commercial and sport hunting. 56 snow leopards, 120 wild boars, 96 roe-deers, 121 ibexes, and 14 argalis were caught 1962 1967. A majority of the animals were exported from the country. The Kyrgyz SSR is one of the main suppliers of snow leopards, hunting for which for the sake of its fur-skin is prohibited.