Abstract: The author discusses the distribution of snow leopards along the border of Russia and Mongolia. The range extension of the leopard indicates their ability to cross desert areas that separate mountain habitats.habitat; range extension; scat analysis; techniques; tracks/tracking | snow leopard

Abstract: The wildlife of temperate forest ecosystems in the Western Himalayas is threatened by destruction of habitat and hunting. Two species of pheasants occuring in the survey area (western tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus and cheer pheasant Catreus wallichi) are listed in the IUCN Red Data Book (1979). Small populations of both species were located and information on their habitat requirements was obtained. The status of most large mammal species appears to be precarious, with the populations encountered being small and fragmented. Species formerly common but now rare include Himalayan brown bear Ursus arctos, Himalayan tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus and musk deer Moschus moschiferus. The snow leopard Panthera uncia has disappeared completely from the area.-from Authors

Abstract: The snow leopard inhabits a huge range of territory which encompasses some of Central Asia's most bleak and inhospitable terrains. The animal herders in these regions are desperately poor and yet they have agreed to cooperate with conservation groups in protecting the snow leopard. The World Wildlife Foundation has worked to create a refuge on the Pakistan-China border. Sheep herders near Askole, a village in the Baltistan region of northern Paksitan, drive their flocks past stone enclosures. The area is also home to snow leopards. With their natural prey dminished, leopards in 13 countries of central Asia occasionally feed on livestock, putting the cats on a collision course with mountain peoples.

Abstract: The modern era of wildlife and protected area conservation in Nepal began in 1973 with the passage of comprehensive legislation, and has evolved very quickly as new priorities and problems have emerged. Here we explore the legal and managerial development of conservation areas, a recently-defined category of protected area designed to promote conservation through local-level participation and development. A review of the Conservation Area Management Regulations of 1996 shows that there are several potential problems inherent in this designation. As written, the regulations move power from the government to organizations under governmental contract. Thus, management authority largely remains top-down from the standpoint of local users. We also question how well the designation will protect some sensitive wildlife species, since organizations do not have law enforcement authority under Nepalese legislation.
Despite these concerns, there have been several successful conservation area programmes in existence in Nepal since the 1980s and most of the issues addressed are surmountable with the current regulations, providing that several criteria are met. We propose that His Majesty's Government and organizations under contract develop more definitive methods of disbursing funds for local-level projects, and institute social impact assessments. In addition, more attention must be paid to wildlife law enforcement; independent assessments of important wild populations and unique habitats are needed. Finally, we discuss some broader issues that should be better addressed in Nepal and elsewhere, including cross-sectoral coordination within the government.

Abstract: A 5-mo-old male snow leopard (Panthera uncia) was presented for mild rear leg lameness. Osteomyelitis was suspected on the basis of radiographic changes and confirmed by histopathology of a biopsy sample from the affected bone. Aerobic cultures of the biopsies repeatedly grew Klebsiella oxytoca. Repeated anaerobic and fungal cultures did not result in growth. The leopard was treated unsuccessfully with cefadroxil, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim/sulfadiazine despite apparent in vitro sensitivity to these antibiotics. Successful resolution was eventually achieved with enrofloxacin, 7.5 mg/kg p.o. b.i.d. for 60 days. The number of bones involved (right humerus, right and left ulna, right and left radius, right and left femur, right and left tibia, mandible, right metatarsus) made this an unusual presentation of osteomyelitis.