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Author Mijiddorj, T. N., Alexander, J. S., Samelius, G. url  doi
  Title Livestock depredation by large carnivores in the South Gobi, Mongolia Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication Wildlife Research Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue Pages A-J  
  Keywords co-existence, livestock, pastoralism  
  Abstract Context. Livestock depredation is a major conservation challenge around the world, causing considerable economical losses to pastoral communities and often result in retaliatory killing. In Mongolia, livestock depredation rates are thought to be increasing due to changes in pastoral practices and the transformation of wild habitats into pasture lands. Few studies have examined the interactions between humans and carnivores and even fewer have considered how recent changes in pastoral practices may affect depredation rates.

Aim. This study aimed to assess the influence of herding practices on self-reported livestock losses to snow leopards and wolves in two communities in South Gobi, Mongolia. Methods. In total, 144 herder households were interviewed and an information-theoretic approach was used to analyse the factors influencing self-reported livestock losses to snow leopards and wolves. Key results. The majority of self-reported losses to both snow leopards and wolves occurred when herds were left unattended in the pastures. The economic loss associated with livestock losses to snow leopards and wolves amounted to an average loss of US$825 per herder and year. The number of livestock owned by a household and the frequency of shifting campsite had the strongest influence on livestock losses to snow leopards and wolves. Other determinants of livestock losses included frequency of visiting the soum (county) centre. Implications. On the basis of the findings, we make recommendations for mitigating the conflict with large carnivores, with focus on guiding future herding practices.
 
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1469  
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Author Lama, R. P., Ghale, T. R., Suwal, M. K., Ranabhat, R., Regmi, G. R. url 
  Title First photographic evidence of Snow Leopard Panthera uncia (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) outside current protected areas network in Nepal Himalaya Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication Journal of Threatened Taxa Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue Pages 12086-12090  
  Keywords Camera-trapping, conservation, Humla, livestock depredation, monasteries, non-timber forest products, retaliatory killing, Tibetan Buddhism.  
  Abstract The Snow Leopard Panthera uncia is a rare top predator of high-altitude ecosystems and insufficiently surveyed outside of protected areas in Nepal. We conducted a rapid camera-trapping survey to assess the presence of Snow Leopard in the Limi valley of Humla District. Three individuals were recorded in two camera locations offering the first photographic evidence of this elusive cat outside the protected area network of Nepal. In addition to Snow Leopard, the Blue Sheep Pseudois nayaur, Beech Marten Martes foina, Pika Ochotona spp. and different species of birds were also detected by camera-traps. More extensive surveys and monitoring are needed for reliably estimating the population size of Snow Leopard in the area. The most urgent needs are community-based conservation activities aimed at mitigating immediate threats of poaching, retaliatory killing, and rapid prey depletion to ensure the survival of this top predator in the Himalaya.  
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1470  
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Author Holt, C. D. S., Nevin, O. T., Smith, D., Convery, I. url 
  Title Environmental niche overlap between snow leopard and four prey species in Kazakhstan Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication Elsevier Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue 48 Pages 97-103  
  Keywords SDM, MaxEnt, Management, Conservation, Dispersal, Distribution  
  Abstract The snow leopard Panthera uncia has declined due to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and human persecution. Predator distribution is heavily dependent on prey species availability and distribution. With increasing pressures from farming practices encroaching into native species range and persecution of snow leopards in response to livestock depredation, it is vital to assess current predator and prey species distribution to highlight sensitive areas of overlap for protection. This study uses MaxEnt, a presence-only Species Distribution Model (SDM) to assess snow leopard and four prey species habitat suitability along

the southern and eastern borders of Kazakhstan using environmental data. This area is considered an important corridor between snow leopard populations in the north and south of their range. Each of the five SDM's produced models of �good� discriminating abilities. We then compared the potential niche overlap between snow leopard and four prey species using ENMTools to highlight areas of important niche overlap within the corridor. The results indicated a very high degree of overlap between snow leopard and Siberian ibex and high degrees Capra sibirica with red deer Cervus elaphus, argali Ovis ammon and urial Ovis orientalis. The snow leopard population in this region is also found to be using forested areas below 2500 m, much lower than recorded in other areas of their range. The results highlight areas needed for protection but also pose additional conservation questions regarding the importance of prey species to transitory individuals.
 
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1472  
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Author Khanal, G., Poudyal, L. P., Devkota, B. P., Ranabhat, R., Wegge, P. url  doi
  Title Status and conservation of the snow leopard Panthera uncia in Api Nampa Conservation Area, Nepal Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication Fauna & Flora International Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue Pages 1-8  
  Keywords Api Nampa Conservation Area, bharal, Nepal, Panthera uncia, Pseudois nayaur, snow leopard  
  Abstract The snow leopard Panthera uncia is globally

threatened and reliable information on its abundance,

distribution and prey species is a prerequisite for its conservation.

In October-November 2014 we assessed the distribution

of the snow leopard in the recently established Api

Nampa Conservation Area in the Nepal Himalayas.

Within selected blocks we conducted sign surveys and

counted the number of bharal Pseudois nayaur, its principal

wild prey, along transects totalling 106 km.We recorded 203

putative snow leopard signs at an encounter rate of 1.91

signs/km. Generalized linear models of the number of

signs detected per transect showed that elevation had a positive

influence and human activities a negative influence on

sign encounter rate; prey abundance had only a weak positive

influence on sign encounter rate. Within the effectively

surveyed area of c. 2002 km2, we counted 527 bharal at an estimated

density of 2.28 animals/km2. Recruitment of bharal

was low, estimated at 48 kids/100 adult females, most likely a

result of poor or overgrazed rangeland. We estimate

the total number of bharal in this conservation area to be

.>1,000, a prey base that could sustain 6-9 snow leopards.

Based on our field observations, we identified human disturbance

and habitat degradation associated with extraction

of non-timber forest products, livestock grazing, and poaching

as the main threats to the snow leopard. Standardized

sign surveys, preferably supplemented by sampling with

remote cameras or with genetic analysis of scats would

provide robust baseline information on the abundance of

snow leopards in this conservation area.
 
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1473  
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Author Hanson, J. H., Schutgens, M., Baral, N. url 
  Title What explains tourists support for snow leopard conservation in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal? Type Journal Article
  Year Publication Human Dimensions of Wildlife Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue Pages 1-15  
  Keywords Flagship species; Himalayas; knowledge-attitude-practice model; Panthera uncia; protected area management; tourism  
  Abstract Wildlife tourism is increasingly important for the conservation of

threatened species such as snow leopards. However, what tourists

know or value about snow leopards, and to what extent they support

the conservation of this species, has received limited empirical attention.

This paper investigates tourist knowledge about snow leopards,

beliefs and values toward the species, and support for its conservation

in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. Survey data were

collected from 406 foreign tourists between March and May 2014.

Although knowledge about snow leopards varied among respondents,

there was widespread support for their conservation.

Knowledge about snow leopards was best explained by education

level and environmental organization membership. Improved knowledge

about the species, and a variety of intrinsic conservation values,

were found to increase tourist support for snow leopard conservation.

These results provide important insights to help tailor tourism

initiatives to support the conservation of snow leopards.
 
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1474  
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Author Hanson, J. H., Schutgens, M., Lama, R.P., Aryal, A., Dhakal, M. url 
  Title Local attitudes to the proposed translocation of blue sheep Pseudois nayaur to Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication Fauna & Flora International Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue Pages 1-7  
  Keywords Attitudes, blue sheep, human&wildlife conflict, Panthera uncia, Pseudois nayaur, Sagarmatha National Park, snow leopard, translocation  
  Abstract Translocations are an important tool for the conservation

of biodiversity, but although ecological feasibility

studies are frequently conducted prior to implementation,

social feasibility studies that consider how local communities

perceive such projects are less common. The translocation

of blue sheep Pseudois nayaur to Sagarmatha National

Park, Nepal, has been proposed, to reduce livestock depredation

by snow leopards Panthera uncia by providing an alternative

prey base in addition to the small population of

Himalayan thar Hemitragus jemlahicus. This study used

systematic sampling, a quantitative questionnaire and qualitative

interviews within the Park to provide data on the social

viability of the proposed translocation. Quantitative

analysis revealed moderate levels of support but qualitative

analysis suggested that there are significant concerns about

the proposal. In addition,multiple regression analysis found

that women and livestock owners were significantly less

supportive, although the model had low explanatory

power. Potential crop damage and competition for forage

were frequently cited as concerns, especially amongst

those with a high level of dependence on natural resources.

Given the mixed response to the proposed translocation of

blue sheep to the Everest region, alleviating the reservations

of local residents is likely to be key to any further consultation,

planning or implementation.
 
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1475  
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Author Shrestha, B., Aihartza, J., Kindlmann url 
  Title Diet and prey selection by snow leopards in the Nepalese Himalayas Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue Pages 1-18  
  Keywords  
  Abstract Visual attractiveness and rarity often results in large carnivores being adopted as flagship

species for stimulating conservation awareness. Their hunting behaviour and prey selection

can affect the population dynamics of their prey, which in turn affects the population dynamics

of these large carnivores. Therefore, our understanding of their trophic ecology and foraging

strategies is important for predicting their population dynamics and consequently for

developing effective conservation programs. Here we concentrate on an endangered species

of carnivores, the snow leopard, in the Himalayas. Most previous studies on snow leopard

diet lack information on prey availability and/or did not genetically check, whether the

identification of snow leopard scats is correct, as their scats are similar to those of other

carnivores. We studied the prey of snow leopard in three Himalayan regions in Nepal

(Sagarmatha National Park (SNP), Lower Mustang (LM) and Upper Manang (UM) in the

Annapurna Conservation Area, during winter and summer in 2014�2016. We collected 268

scats along 139.3 km linear transects, of which 122 were genetically confirmed to belong to

snow leopard. Their diet was identified by comparing hairs in scats with our reference collection

of the hairs of potential prey. We determined prey availability using 32�48 camera-traps

and 4,567 trap nights. In the SNP, the most frequent prey in snow leopard faeces was the

Himalayan tahr in both winter and summer. In LM and UM, its main prey was blue sheep in

winter, but yak and goat in summer. In terms of relative biomass consumed, yak was the

main prey everywhere in both seasons. Snow leopard preferred large prey and avoided

small prey in summer but not in winter, with regional differences. It preferred domestic to

wild prey only in winter, and in SNP. Unlike most other studies carried out in the same area,

our study uses genetic methods for identifying the source of the scat. Studies solely based

on visual identification of samples may be strongly biased. Diet studies based on frequency

of occurrence of prey tend to overestimate the importance of small prey, which may be consumed

more often, but contribute less energy than large prey. However, even assessments

based on prey biomass are unlikely to be accurate as we do not know whether the actual

size of the prey consumed corresponds to the average size used to calculate the biomass

eaten. For example, large adults may be too difficult to catch and therefore mostly young animals are consumed, whose weight is much lower. We show that snow leopard consumes

a diverse range of prey, which varies both regionally and seasonally. We conclude that in

order to conserve snow leopards it is also necessary to conserve its main wild species of

prey, which will reduce the incidence of losses of livestock.
 
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1476  
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Author Suryawanshi, K. R., Khanyari, M., Sharma, K., Lkhagvajav, P., Mishra, C. url 
  Title Sampling bias in snow leopard population estimation studies Type Journal Article
  Year 2019 Publication Population Eccology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue Pages 1-9  
  Keywords camera trap, Central Asia, Himalaya, meta-analysis, monitoring, Panthera uncia, population ecology  
  Abstract Accurate assessments of the status of threatened species and their conservation

planning require reliable estimation of their global populations and robust monitoring

of local population trends. We assessed the adequacy and suitability of studies

in reliably estimating the global snow leopard (Panthera uncia) population. We

compiled a dataset of all the peer-reviewed published literature on snow leopard

population estimation. Metadata analysis showed estimates of snow leopard density

to be a negative exponential function of area, suggesting that study areas have generally

been too small for accurate density estimation, and sampling has often been

biased towards the best habitats. Published studies are restricted to six of the

12 range countries, covering only 0.3�0.9% of the presumed global range of the

species. Re-sampling of camera trap data from a relatively large study site

(c.1684 km2) showed that small-sized study areas together with a bias towards

good quality habitats in existing studies may have overestimated densities by up to

five times. We conclude that current information is biased and inadequate for generating

a reliable global population estimate of snow leopards. To develop a rigorous

and useful baseline and to avoid pitfalls, there is an urgent need for

(a) refinement of sampling and analytical protocols for population estimation of

snow leopards (b) agreement and coordinated use of standardized sampling protocols

amongst researchers and governments across the range, and (c) sampling

larger and under-represented areas of the snow leopard's global range.
 
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  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1477  
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Author Chetri, M, Odden, M., Sharma, K., Flagstad, O., Wegge, P url 
  Title Estimating snow leopard density using fecal DNA in a large landscape in north-central Nepal Type Journal Article
  Year 2019 Publication Global Ecology and Conservation Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue 17 Pages 1-8  
  Keywords Panthera uncia, Density, Annapurna-Manaslu landscape, Noninvasive, Spatial scale  
  Abstract Although abundance estimates have a strong bearing on the conservation status of a

species, less than 2% of the global snow leopard distribution range has been sampled

systematically, mostly in small survey areas. In order to estimate snow leopard density

across a large landscape, we collected 347 putative snow leopard scats from 246 transects

(490 km) in twenty-six 5  5km sized sampling grid cells within 4393 km2 in Annapurna-

Manaslu, Nepal. From 182 confirmed snow leopard scats, 81 were identified as belonging

to 34 individuals; the remaining were discarded for their low (<0.625) quality index. Using

maximum likelihood based spatial capture recapture analysis, we developed candidate

model sets to test effects of various covariates on density and detection of scats on transects.

The best models described the variation in density as a quadratic function of

elevation and detection as a linear function of topography. The average density estimate of

snow leopards for the area of interest within Nepal was 0.95 (SE 0.19) animals per 100 km2

(0.66e1.41 95% CL) with predicted densities varying between 0.1 and 1.9 in different parts,

thus highlighting the heterogeneity in densities as a function of habitat types. Our density

estimate was low compared to previous estimates from smaller study areas. Probably,

estimates from some of these areas were inflated due to locally high abundances in overlap

zones (hotspots) of neighboring individuals, whose territories probably range far beyond

study area borders. Our results highlight the need for a large-scale approach in snow

leopard monitoring, and we recommend that methodological problems related to spatial

scale are taken into account in future snow leopard research.
 
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1478  
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Author Jamtsho, Y., Katel, O. url 
  Title Livestock depredation by snow leopard and Tibetan wolf: Implications for herders&#65533; livelihoods in Wangchuck Centennial National Park, Bhutan Type Journal Article
  Year 2019 Publication Springer Open Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (up) Issue 9:1 Pages 1-10  
  Keywords Wildlife-livestock conflicts, Endangered predators, Protected area, Income loss  
  Abstract Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a serious problem in many parts of the world, and Bhutan&#65533;s Wangchuck Centennial

National Park (WCNP) is no exception. Located in the remote alpine areas of the eastern Himalaya, wildlife species

such as snow leopard (SL) and Tibetan wolf (TW) are reported to kill livestock in many parts of the Park. Such

depredation is believed to have affected the livelihoods of high-altitude herding communities, resulting in conflicts

between them. This study provides analysis on the extent of livestock depredation by wildlife predators such as SL

and TW and examines its implications for the livelihoods of herding communities of Choekhortoe and Dhur regions

of WCNP. Using semi-structured questionnaires, all herders (n = 38) in the study area were interviewed. The questions

pertained to livestock population, frequency of depredation and income lost due to depredation in the last five years

from 2012 to 2016. This study recorded 2,815 livestock heads in the study area, with an average herd size of 74.1 stock.

The average herd size holding showed a decreasing trend over the years, and one of the reasons cited by the herders

is depredation by SL and TW and other predators. This loss equated to an average annual financial loss equivalent to

10.2% (US$837) of their total per capita cash income. Such losses have resulted in negative impacts on herders&#65533;

livelihood; e.g. six herders (2012-2016) even stopped rearing livestock and resorted to an alternate source of cash

income. The livestock intensification programmes, including pasture improvement through allowing controlled

burning, and financial compensation, may be some potential short-term solutions to reduce conflict between herders

and predators. Issuing permits for cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) collection only to the herders and instilling the

sense of stewardship to highland herders may be one of the long-term solutions.
 
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  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1479  
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