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Roth, T. L., Howard, J. G., Donoghue, A. M., Swanson, W. F., & Wildt, D. E. (1994). Function and culture requirements of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) spermatozoa in vitro. J Reprod Fertil, 101(3), 563–569.
Abstract: Electroejaculates from eight snow leopards were used to determine how the motility of spermatozoa was influenced by (i) type of media (Ham's F10, PBS, human tubal fluid or RPMI-1640); (ii) holding temperature (23 degrees C versus 37 degrees C); (iii) washing of spermatozoa and (iv) a sperm metabolic enhancer, pentoxifylline. The duration of sperm motility was assessed by evaluating samples in each treatment every hour for 6 h and a sperm motility index (a value combining percentage sperm motility and rate of forward progression) calculated. Spermatozoa from the Ham's F10, PBS and PBS plus pentoxifylline treatments were also co-incubated with zona-intact, domestic cat eggs that were fixed and evaluated for spermatozoa bound to the zona pellucida, penetrating the outer and inner layers of the zona pellucida and within the perivitelline space. During the 6 h co-incubation, the sperm motility index in PBS with pentoxifylline was greater (P < 0.05) than in PBS alone which, in turn, was greater (P < 0.05) than in the other three test media. Washing the spermatozoa enhanced (P < 0.05) motility in both PBS and PBS plus pentoxifylline relative to unwashed samples, but there was no effect (P > 0.05) of holding temperature. Pentoxifylline supplementation enhanced (P < 0.05) the proportion of cat eggs with bound, but not penetrated, snow leopard spermatozoa in the inner layer of the zona pellucida, and there were no spermatozoa in the perivitelline space.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Johnson, D. (1994). The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation goes international. Endangered Species Update, A, 11(10), A10.
Abstract: Abstract: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) which is a conservation organization created in 1984 aims to conserve the species on an international context before they are endangered which will enable a more effective conservation procedure. The NFWF has addressed the causes of endangered species in India and South Asia such as the tiger, Indian wolf and the snow leopard and has supported the conservation efforts of the Siberian tiger. It has cooperated with multi-national organizations to evaluate the best strategy that could be adopted to prevent a future extinction of several species and has supported CITES programs
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Rasool, G. (1994). The status of management of protected areas in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Tigerpaper, Xxi(1), 23–26.
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Kosharev, E. P. (1994). Snow Leopard and Turkestan Lynx Poaching in Central Asia. Cat News, Autumn(21).
Abstract: Of the many problems facing the republics of Central Asia and Kazakhstan after the break-up of the USSR, poaching of endandered animals is of particular concern. Everything is up for sale through the black market, networks of acquaintances, middlemen or even advertisements in the newspapers: horns, skins, mounted trophies, animal parts for traditional medicine. Interest in snow leopard and Turkestan lynx (Lynx lynx isabellinus Blyth), and skins and horns from mountain sheep and goats sharply increased in 1992-93, and prices grew unusually high.
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Oli, M. K., Taylor, I. R., & Rogers, M. E. (1994). Snow leopard Panthera unica predation of livestock: An assessment of local perceptions in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. Biological Conservation, 68(1), 63–68.
Abstract: Public attitudes towards snow leopard Panthera uncia predation of domestic livestock were investigated by a questionnaire survey of four villages in snow leopard habitat within the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. Most local inhabitants were subsistence farmers, many dependent upon yaks, oxen, horses and goats, with an average livestock holding of 26.6 animals per household. Reported losses to snow leopards averaged 0.6 and 0.7 animals per household in two years of study, constituting 2.6% of total stockholding but representing in monetary terms almost a quarter of the average annual Nepali national per capita income. Local people held strongly negative attitudes towards snow leopards and most suggested that total extermination of leopards was the only acceptable solution to the predation problem. Snow leopards were reported to be killed by herdsmen in defence of their livestock. The long-term success of snow leopard conservation programmes may depend upon the satisfactory resolution of the predation conflict. Some possible ways of reducing predation losses are also discussed.
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Oli, M. K. (1994). Snow leopards and blue sheep in Nepal: Densities and predator: prey ratio. Journal of Mammalogy, 75(4), 998–1004.
Abstract: I studied snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in Manang District, Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal, to estimate numbers and analyze predator-prey interactions. Five to seven adult leopards used the 10-5-km-2 study area, a density of 4.8 to 6.7 leopards/100 km-2. Density of blue sheep was 6.6 10.2 sheep/km-2, and biomass density was 304 kg/km-2. Estimated relative biomass consumed by snow leopards suggested that blue sheep were the most important prey; marmots (Marmota himalayana) also contributed significantly to the diel of snow leopards Snow leopards in Manang were estimated to harvest 9-20% of total biomass and 11-24% of total number of blue sheep annually. Snow leopard: blue sheep ratio was 1:114-1:159 on a weight basis, which was considered sustainable given the importance of small mammals in the leopard's diet and the absence of other competing predators.
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Johnston, L. A., Armstrong, D. L., & Brown, J. L. (1994). Seasonal effects on seminal and endocrine traits in the captive snow leopard (Panthera uncia). J Reprod Fertil, 102(1), 229–236.
Abstract: The annual reproductive cycle of the male snow leopard (Panthera uncia) was characterized by evaluating seminal and endocrine traits monthly. Testicular volume was greatest (P < 0.05) during the winter months when the quality of ejaculate was optimal. Ejaculate volume, total sperm concentration ml-1, motile sperm concentration per ejaculate, sperm morphology and sperm motility index were lowest during the summer and autumn months compared with the winter and spring. Peripheral LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations were also lowest during the summer months, increasing during the autumn just before the increase in semen quality, and were maximal during the winter months. There was a direct relationship (P < 0.01) between: (1) testosterone and testicular volume, total sperm concentration ml-1, motile sperm concentration per ejaculate and ejaculate volume, and (2) LH and testicular volume and motile sperm concentration per ejaculate. In summary, although spermatozoa were recovered throughout the year, optimal gamete quality was observed during the winter and spring. Although previous studies in felids have demonstrated seasonal effects on either seminal or endocrine traits, this is the first study to demonstrate a distinct effect of season on both pituitary and testicular function.
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McCarthy, T. (1994). Update: Mongolia. Snow Line, Xii(1), 3–4.
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Oli, M. (1994). Ghost in the snow. BBC Wildlife, (August), 30–35.
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Vashetko E.V. (1994). Materials for studying fauna of terrestrial vertebrates inhabiting Hissar Nature Reserve.
Abstract: A vertebrate fauna inventory in the Hissar nature reserve showed that various natural zones here are certainly inhabited by 45 species: amphibians one species; reptiles 12; mammals 32. Reptiles such as Alai snake-eyed skink and Central Asian viper and mammal species such as wolf, fox, brown bear, weasel, grey hamster can be found in all natural zones here up to 4,000 m above sea level. Snow leopard, Turkestan lynx, and long-tailed marmot can be found in the juniperous forests and higher elevations.
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