Abstract: A story of encounter with a snow leopard that got into a cowshed was described in a popular form.

Abstract: Welcome to the first edition of The State of Wildlife Trade in China. This publication takes a broad look at wildlife trade over the past year, particularly concerning the impact of China's consumption on globally important biodiversity 'hotspots'. The focus of The State of Wildlife Trade in China is on emerging trends in China's wildlife trade and up-to-date reviews of work to stop illegal wildlife trade and support sustainable trade. The lead story in this issue is the illegal trade in Tigers and other Asian big cats. During 2006, surveys continued to document this illegal trade, as well as highlight opportunities for action. Other stories in this issue give updates on trade in reef fishes from Southeast Asia's 'Coral Triangle' and in timber from the forests of the Russian Far East, Borneo, and East Africa. China's wildlife trade presents both challenges and opportunities. This annual report aims to provide current information about wildlife trade in China and to provide avenues for involvement in China's conservation community. It is part of TRAFFIC's on-going commitment to turn information into action.

Abstract: Between 1998 and 2001 I carried out surveys in four areas in the Baltistan district of the Northern Areas of Pakistan to estimate the population of the snow leopard and to examine the threats to its future conservation. I estimate that a total of 36-50 snow leopards are present in the areas surveyed. Based on the availability of suitable snow leopard habitat and of its prey species, I estimate that 90-120 snow leopards are potentially present in Baltistan and 300-420 throughout its range within Pakistan's borders. Although this estimate is higher than extrapolations based on earlier surveys, the long-term future of the snow leopard is under threat. This is mainly due to retaliatory killings by farmers, and poaching for pelts and other body parts. Species-focused conservation policies, particularly those targeting ungulates for the promotion of trophy hunting, may constitute an additional threat to snow leopard conservation in the region. However, all forms of threats to the snow leopard in Baltistan appear to emanate from the relatively poor economic conditions of the local people.

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.

Abstract: As a 'flagship' and 'umbrella' species the snow leopard can be a unifying biological feature to
raise awareness of its plight and the need for conservation, which will benefit other facets of Himalayan
biodiversity as well. Some studies of snow leopards have been conducted in the Himalayan region. But,
because of its elusive nature and preference for remote and inaccessible habitat, knowledge of the
ecology and behaviour of this mystical montane predator is scant. The available information, however,
suggests that snow leopards occur at low densities and large areas of habitat are required to conserve
a viable population. Thus, many researchers and conservationists have advocated landscape-scale
approaches to conservation within a regional context, rather than focusing on individual protected areas.
While the issues are regional, the WWF's in the region have developed 5-year strategic actions and
activities, using the regional strategies as a touchstone, which will be implemented at national levels.
The WWF's will develop proposals based on these strategic actions, with estimated budgets, for use by
the network for funding and fund-raising. WWF also recognizes the need to collaborate and coordinate
within the network and with other organizations in the region to achieve conservation goals in an
efficient manner, and will form a working group to coordinate activities and monitor progress.

Abstract: Among large predators included in the Red Data Book of the USSR and Red List of IUCN the author describes snow leopard. A population of snow leopard in the USSR is estimated to be 500 animals, and no more than 1,000 in the world. In the past, irbis was believed to be a harmful animal and hunting for this species was encouraged. Today, population of the predator is reducing because of poaching and decreasing number of species it preys on such as ibex, wild sheep, wild boar, and marmots. The situation is exacerbated by biological features of this species first of all its slow rate of reproduction. It is concluded that snow leopard needs urgent protection measures since the species is on the verge of disappearance.

Abstract: Man's hand is turned against the wild cats wherever they occur, often due to the value of their fur, but also because of the danger they sometimes pose to domestic stock and even human beings. All the larger Asian cats are threatened, and on this and the following pages we look at three of them – the Asiatic cheetah, the Siberian tiger, and the snow leopard.

Abstract: The number of large cats is reducing. These animals are hold out in the most difficult of access places. During long time snow leopard was a poorly known animal. The situation was changed with developing of mountain tourism and mountaineering. It's necessary to reduce the capturing snow leopards for zoological gardens.

Abstract: Decline of wild prey populations in the Himalayan region, largely due to competition with livestock, has been identified as one of the main threats to the snow leopard Uncia uncia. Studies show that bharal Pseudois nayaur diet is dominated by graminoids during summer, but the proportion of graminoids declines in winter. We explore the causes for the decline of graminoids from bharal winter diet and resulting implications for bharal conservation. We test the predictions generated by two alternative hypotheses, (H1) low graminoid availability caused by livestock grazing during winter causes bharal to include browse in their diet, and, (H2) bharal include browse, with relatively higher nutrition, to compensate for the poor quality of graminoids during winter. Graminoid availability was highest in areas without livestock grazing, followed by areas with moderate and intense livestock grazing. Graminoid quality in winter was relatively lower than that of browse, but the difference was not statistically significant. Bharal diet was dominated by graminoids in areas with highest graminoid availability. Graminoid contribution to bharal diet declined monotonically with a decline in graminoid availability. Bharal young to female ratio was three times higher in areas with high graminoid availability than areas with low graminoid availability. No starvation-related adult mortalities were observed in any of the areas. Composition of bharal winter diet was governed predominantly by the availability of graminoids in the rangelands. Since livestock grazing reduces graminoid availability, creation of livestock free areas is necessary for conservation of grazing species such as the bharal and its predators such as the endangered snow leopard in the Trans-Himalaya.