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Author Esson, C. , Skerratt, L. F. , Berger, L. , Malmsten, J., Strand, T. , Lundkvist, A., Järhult, J. D., Michaux, J., Mijiddorj, T. N., , Bayrakçısmith, R., Mishra, C., Johansson, O
Title Health and zoonotic Infections of snow leopards Panthera unica in the South Gobi desert of Mongolia Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication Infection Ecology & Epidemiology Abbreviated Journal
Volume 9 Issue 1604063 Pages 1-11
Keywords Snow leopard; zoonoses; conservation; one health; Mongolia; ticks
Abstract Background: Snow leopards, Panthera uncia, are a threatened apex predator, scattered across the mountains of Central and South Asia. Disease threats to wild snow leopards have not been investigated.

Methods and Results: Between 2008 and 2015, twenty snow leopards in the South Gobi desert of Mongolia were captured and immobilised for health screening and radio-collaring. Blood samples and external parasites were collected for pathogen analyses using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), microscopic agglutination test (MAT), and next- generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. The animals showed no clinical signs of disease, however, serum antibodies to significant zoonotic pathogens were detected. These patho- gens included, Coxiella burnetii, (25% prevalence), Leptospira spp., (20%), and Toxoplasma gondii (20%). Ticks collected from snow leopards contained potentially zoonotic bacteria from the genera Bacillus, Bacteroides, Campylobacter, Coxiella, Rickettsia, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.

Conclusions: The zoonotic pathogens identified in this study, in the short-term did not appear to cause illness in the snow leopards, but have caused illness in other wild felids. Therefore, surveillance for pathogens should be implemented to monitor for potential longer- term disease impacts on this snow leopard population.
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Call Number Serial (down) 1625
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Author Watts, S. W., McCarthy, T. M., Namgail, T.
Title Modelling potential habitat for snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in Ladakh, India Type Research Article
Year 2019 Publication Plos One Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-14
Keywords
Abstract The snow leopard Panthera uncia is an elusive species

inhabiting some of the most remote and inaccessible tracts of Central

and South Asia. It is difficult to determine its distribution and

density pattern, which are crucial for developing conservation

strategies. Several techniques for species detection combining camera

traps with remote sensing and geographic information systems have been

developed to model the habitat of such cryptic and low-density species

in challenging terrains. Utilising presence-only data from camera traps

and direct observations, alongside six environmental variables

(elevation, aspect, ruggedness, distance to water, land cover, and prey

habitat suitability), we assessed snow leopard habitat suitability

across Ladakh in northern India. This is the first study to model snow

leopard distribution both in India and utilising direct observation

data. Results suggested that elevation and ruggedness are the two most

influential environmental variables for snow leopard habitat

suitability, with highly suitable habitat having an elevation range of

2,800 m to 4,600 m and ruggedness of 450 m to 1,800 m. Our habitat

suitability map estimated approximately 12% of Ladakh’s geographical

area (c. 90,000 km2) as highly suitable and 18% as medium suitability.

We found that 62.5% of recorded livestock depredation along with over

half of all livestock corrals (54%) and homestays (58%) occurred within

highly suitable snow leopard habitat. Our habitat suitability model can

be used to assist in allocation of conservation resources by targeting

construction of livestock corrals to areas of high habitat suitability

and promoting ecotourism programs in villages in highly suitable snow

leopard habitat.
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Call Number Serial (down) 1608
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Author Vannelli, K., Hampton, M. P., Namgail, T., Black, S. A.
Title Community participation in ecotourism and its effect on local perceptions of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) conservation Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication Human Dimensions of Wildlife Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-14
Keywords Instrumental value; snow leopard; perceptions; ecotourism; human–wildlife conflict
Abstract Local support and involvement is often essential for effective

wildlife conservation. This study assessed the impact of local

involvement in ecotourism schemes on perceptions of wildlife, promotion

of conservation action, types of values that communities placed on

wildlife, and contexts in which wildlife are considered to be most

valuable. The study used qualitative semi-structured interviews

conducted in seven villages in Ladakh, India, which is an important

region of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) habitat. Results indicated that

in these communities, ecotourism-based interventions encourage more

positive perceptions of wildlife species, in particular the snow

leopard. Achieving change in community perceptions of wildlife is key

when implementing ecotourism schemes to enable more effective

conservation, as well as generating local awareness and value for

wildlife toward problematic keystone species such as the snow leopard,

which are frequently the focus of human-wildlife conflict.
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Call Number Serial (down) 1607
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Author Farrington, J., Tsering, D.
Title Human-snow leopard conflict in the Chang Tang region of Tibet, China Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication Biological Conservation Abbreviated Journal
Volume 237 Issue Pages 504-513
Keywords
Abstract In April 2006, the authors conducted a preliminary human-wildlife conflict survey of 300 livestock herders in Shainza, Nyima, and Tsonyi Counties in northern Tibet's sparsely-populated Chang Tang region. This survey revealed a widespread but previously undocumented problem of snow leopard predation on livestock. In June and July 2007, an exploratory human-snow leopard conflict survey of 234 herders in the above counties found that 65.8% of respondents had experienced conflict with snow leopards in the form of livestock kills, with 77.3% of the most recent incidents occurring in the previous five years. These incidents were concentrated in winter and spring and a surprising 39.6% of incidents occurred during the day, often with herders present. Fifteen exploratory snow leopard sign transects totaling 14.85 km were conducted. Abundant snow leopard scrapes as well as pug marks were found, confirming the presence of these secretive cats. A total of 521 blue sheep were counted on and off sign transects indicating widespread availability of wild snow leopard prey. The recent surge in reported snow leopard conflict is likely due to increasing human and livestock populations, establishment of two multiple-use nature reserves accompanied by improved enforcement of wildlife protection laws, and a regional gun and trap ban launched in 2001. However, retaliatory killing of snow leopards in the survey area continues to be a potential threat. Therefore, measures are needed to reduce livestock kills by snow leopards, including corral improvements, improved guarding, establishment of livestock compensation schemes, and educating herders about snow leopard behavior.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1600
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Author Aruge, S., Batool, H., Khan, F. M., Abbas, F. I., Janjua, S
Title A pilot study�genetic diversity and population structure of snow leopards of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, using molecular techniques. Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication PeerJ Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue 7672 Pages 1-14
Keywords Population, Genetics, Panthera uncia, Pakistan, Molecular markers
Abstract Background: The Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountain ranges in Pakistan�s northern areas are a natural habitat of the snow leopard (Panthera uncia syn. Uncia uncia) but the ecological studies on this animal are scarce since it is human shy by nature and lives in dif!cult mountainous tracts. The pilot study is conducted to exploit the genetic diversity and population structure of the snow leopard in this selected natural habitat of the member of the wildcat family in Pakistan.

Method: About 50 putative scat samples of snow leopard from !ve localities of Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan) along with a control sample of zoo maintained male snow leopard were collected for comparison. Signi!cant quality and quantity of genomic DNA was extracted from scat samples using combined Zhang�phenol�chloroform method and successful ampli!cation of cytochrome c oxidase I gene (190 bp) using mini-barcode primers, seven simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers and Y-linked AMELY gene (200 bp) was done.

Results: Cytochrome c oxidase I gene sequencing suggested that 33/50 (66%) scat samples were of snow leopard. AMELY primer suggested that out of 33 ampli!ed samples, 21 (63.63%) scats were from male and 12 (36.36%) from female leopards. Through successful ampli!cation of DNA of 25 out of 33 (75.75%) scat samples using SSR markers, a total of 68 alleles on seven SSR loci were identi!ed, showing low heterozygosity, while high gene "ow between population.

Discussion: The low gene flow rate among the population results in low genetic diversity causing decreased diversi!cation. This affects the adaptability to climatic changes, thus ultimately resulting in decreased population size of the species.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1491
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Author Li, J., Weckworth, B. V., McCarthy, T. M., Liang, X., Liu, Y., Xing, R., Li, D., Zhang, Y., Xue, Y., Jackson, R., Xiao, L., Cheng, C., Li, S., Xu, F., Ma, M., Yang, X., Diao, K., Gao, Y., Song, D., Nowell, K., He, B., Li, Y., McCarthy, K., Paltsyn, M. Y., Sharma, K., Mishra, C., Schaller, G. B., Lu, Z., Beissinger, S. R.
Title Defining priorities for global snow leopard conservation landscapes Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication Biological Conservation Abbreviated Journal
Volume 241 Issue 108387 Pages 1-10
Keywords Panthera uncia, Conservation prioritization, Landscape Conservation Unit, Connectivity, Linkage
Abstract The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an apex predator on the Tibetan Plateau and in the surrounding mountain ranges. It is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN's Red List. The large home range and low population densities of this species mandate range-wide conservation prioritization. Two efforts for range-wide snow leopard conservation planning have been conducted based on expert opinion, but both were constrained by limited knowledge and the difficulty of evaluating complex processes, such as connectivity across large landscapes. Here, we compile > 6000 snow leopard occurrence records from across its range and corresponding environmental covariates to build a model of global snow leopard habitat suitability. Using spatial prioritization tools, we identi!ed seven large continuous habitat patches as global snow leopard Landscape Conservation Units (LCUs). Each LCU faces differing threat levels from poaching, anthropogenic development, and climate change. We identi!ed ten po- tential inter-LCU linkages, and centrality analysis indicated that Tianshan-Pamir-Hindu Kush-Karakorum, Altai, and the linkage between them play a critical role in maintaining the global snow leopard habitat connectivity.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1490
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Author Hanson, J. H., Schutgens, M., Leader-Williams, N.
Title What factors best explain attitudes to snow leopards in the Nepal Himalayas? Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-19
Keywords
Abstract The snow leopard Panthera uncia is a vulnerable wild felid native to mountainous regions of 12 Asian countries. It faces numerous overlapping threats, including killings by herders retaliating against livestock losses, the illegal wildlife trade, loss of prey and habitat, infra- structure, energy and mining developments, and climate change. The species ranges over large territories that often lie outside of protected areas (PA), so coexistence with human populations across its range is key to its persistence. Human attitudes to snow leopards may be an important factor to consider in reducing overlapping threats to this species. How- ever, this nexus has not been widely studied to date. Attitudes to snow leopard conserva- tion, including actors and interventions, may also be a significant aspect of coexistence. These have also received limited empirical attention. This study therefore explored human attitudes to snow leopards and to snow leopard conservation, the motivations for these atti- tudes and the individual factors that best explained them. Using systematic sampling, a quantitative questionnaire was administered to 705 households at two sites in the Nepal Himalayas: Sagarmatha National Park, with a less decentralised governance model, and Annapurna Conservation Area, with a more decentralised model. Linear regression models were the main form of analysis. Based on these, attitudes to snow leopard conservation emerged as the strongest influence on local attitudes to snow leopards, and vice versa. This was true in both PAs, despite their differing management regimes. Other important explana- tory factors included numbers of livestock owned, years of education, household livelihoods and age. Furthermore, a positive intrinsic motivation was the most common reason given by respondents to explain their attitudes to both snow leopards and snow leopard conservation. These findings demonstrate that, in addition to the usual suite of factors that influence atti- tudes to a species, the way in which its conservation is pursued and perceived also needs consideration. How the snow leopard is conserved may strongly influence its coexistence with local communities.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1489
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Author Farhadinia, M. S., Maheshwari, A., Nawaz, M. A., Ambarli, H., Gritsina, M. A., Koshkin, M. A., Rosen, T., Hinsley, A., Macdonald, D. W.
Title Belt and Road Initiative may create new supplies for illegal wildlife trade in large carnivores Type Miscellaneous
Year 2019 Publication Nature Ecology & Evolution Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1487
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Author Augugliaro, C., Paniccia, C., Janchivlamdan, C., Monti, I. E., Boldbaatar, T., Munkhtsog, B.
Title Mammal inventory in the Mongolian Gobi, with the southeasternmost documented record of the Snow Leopard, Panthera uncia (Schreber, 1775), in the country Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication Check List Abbreviated Journal
Volume 15 Issue 4 Pages 575-578
Keywords Camera trapping, desert, live trapping, mammal checklist, species richness, threatened species.
Abstract Studies on mammal diversity and distribution are an important source to develop conservation and management strategies.

The area located in southern Mongolia, encompassing the Alashan Plateau Semi-Desert and the Eastern Gobi Desert-Steppe ecoregions, is considered strategic for the conservation of threatened species. We surveyed the non-volant mammals in the Small Gobi-A Strictly Protected Area (SPA) and its surroundings, by using camera trapping, live trapping, and occasional sightings. We recorded 18 mammal species belonging to 9 families and 6 orders. Among them, 4 are globally threatened or near-threatened, 2 are included in the CITES Appendix I, and 2 are listed in the Appendix II. Moreover, we provide the southeasternmost record for the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) in Mongolia, supported by photographic evidence. Our study highlights the importance of this protected area to preserve rare, threatened, and elusive species.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1486
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Author Shrestha, A., Thapa, K., Subba, S. A., Dhakal, M., Devkota, B. P., Thapa, G. J., Shrestha, S., Malla, S., Thapa, K.
Title Cats, canines, and coexistence: dietary differentiation between the sympatric Snow Leopard and Grey Wolf in the western landscape of Nepal Himalaya Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication Journal of Threatened Taxa Abbreviated Journal
Volume 11 Issue 7 Pages 13815-13821
Keywords Canis lupus, dietary pattern, dietary overlap, livestock, Naur, negative interaction, Panthera uncia, scat analysis, sympatry
Abstract Understanding the dietary habits of sympatric apex carnivores advances our knowledge of ecological processes and aids their conservation. We compared the diets of the sympatric Snow Leopard Panthera uncia and Grey Wolf Canis lupus using standard micro-histological analyses of scats collected from the western complex of Nepal Himalaya. Our study revealed one of the highest recorded contributions of livestock to the diet of top predators (55% for Grey Wolf and 39% for Snow Leopard) and high dietary overlap (0.82) indicating potential exploitative or interference competition. Their diet composition, however, varied significantly based on their consumption of wild and domestic prey. Limitation in data precludes predicting direction and outcome of inter-specific interactions between these predators. Our findings suggest a high rate of negative interaction with humans in the region and plausibly retaliatory killings of these imperilled predators. To ensure the sustained survival of these two apex carnivores, conservation measures should enhance populations of their wild prey species while reducing livestock losses of the local community through preventive and mitigative interventions.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial (down) 1485
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