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Author Suryawanshi, K. R., Redpath, S. M., Bhatnagar, Y. V., Ramakrishnan, U., Chaturvedi, V., Smout, S. C., Mishra, C.
Title Impact of wild prey availability on livestock predation by snow leopards Type Journal Article
Year (up) Publication Royal Society Open Science Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-11
Keywords apparent competition, apparent facilitation, conservation conflicts, indirect interactions, predator� prey interactions, snow leopard
Abstract An increasing proportion of the world�s poor is rearing livestock today, and the global livestock population is growing. Livestock predation by large carnivores and their retaliatory

killing is becoming an economic and conservation concern. A common recommendation for carnivore conservation and for reducing predation on livestock is to increase wild prey populations based on the assumption that the carnivores will consume this alternative food. Livestock predation, however, could either reduce or intensify with increases in wild prey depending on prey choice and trends in carnivore abundance. We show that the extent of livestock predation by the endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia

intensifies with increases in the density of wild ungulate prey, and subsequently stabilizes. We found that snow leopard density, estimated at seven sites, was a positive linear function of the density of wild ungulates�the preferred prey�and showed no discernible relationship with livestock density. We also found that modelled livestock predation increased with livestock density. Our results suggest that snow leopard conservation would benefit from an increase in wild ungulates, but that would intensify the problem of livestock predation for pastoralists. The potential benefits of increased wild prey abundance in reducing livestock predation

can be overwhelmed by a resultant increase in snow leopard populations. Snow leopard conservation efforts aimed atfacilitating increases in wild prey must be accompanied by greater assistance for better livestock

protection and offsetting the economic damage caused by carnivores.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1452
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Author Suryawanshi, K.R.; Bhatnagar, Y.; Mishra, C.
Title Why should a grazer browse? Livestock impact on winter resource use by bharal Pseudois nayaur Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2009 Publication Oecologia Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-10
Keywords browse; livestock; impact; winter; resource; use; bharal; Pseudois; pseudois nayaur; Pseudois-nayaur; nayaur; diet; variation; diets; conservation; Media; study; decline; areas; area; grazing; Pressure; plants; plant; sign; feeding; location; population; structure; populations; using; young; Female; times; High; Competition; species; predators; predator; endangered; snow; snow leopard; snow-leopard; leopard; trans-himalaya; transhimalaya
Abstract Many mammalian herbivores show a temporal diet variation between graminoid-dominated and browse dominated diets. We determined the causes of such a diet shift and its implications for conservation of a medium sized ungulate-the bharal Pseudois nayaur. Past studies show that the bharal diet is dominated by graminoids (>80%) during summer, but the contribution of graminoids declines to about 50% in winter. We tested the predictions generated by two alternative hypotheses explaining the decline: low graminoid availability during winter causes bharal to include browse in their diet; bharal include browse, with relatively higher nutritional quality, in their diet to compensate for the poor quality of graminoids during winter. We measured winter graminoid availability in areas with no livestock grazing, areas with relatively moderate livestock grazing, and those with intense livestock grazing pressures. The chemical composition of plants contributing to the bharal diet was analysed. The bharal diet was quantiWed through signs of feeding on vegetation at feeding locations. Population structures of bharal populations were recorded using a total count method. Graminoid availability was highest in areas without livestock grazing, followed by areas with moderate and intense livestock grazing. The bharal diet was dominated by graminoids (73%) in areas with highest graminoid availability. Graminoid contribution to the bharal diet declined monotonically (50, 36%) with a decline in graminoid availability. Bharal young to female ratio was 3 times higher in areas with high graminoid availability than areas with low graminoid availability. The composition of the bharal winter diet was governed predominantly by the availability of graminoids in the rangelands. Our results suggest that bharal include more browse in their diet during winter due to competition from livestock for graminoids. Since livestock grazing reduces graminoid availability, creation of livestock-free areas is necessary for the conservation of grazing species such as the bharal and its predators including the endangered snow leopard in the Trans-Himalaya.
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Publisher Springer-Verlag Place of Publication Online Editor
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Notes This study was made possible by a grant from the Snow Leopard Network. Additional support was given by the Wildlife Conservation Society-India Program and Nature Conservation Foundation, the Whitley Fund for Nature, the Ford Foundation, and the Nadathur Conservation Trust. Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ 1062 Serial 951
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Author Shi, K.; Jun, Z.F.S.; Zhigang, D.; Riordan, P.; MacDonald, D.
Title Reconfirmation of snow leopards in Taxkurgan Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, China Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2009 Publication Oryx Abbreviated Journal
Volume 43 Issue 2 Pages 169-170
Keywords administration; Beijing; China; conservation; global; habitat; management; nature; presence; province; range; research; reserve; snow-leopard; snow-leopards; snow leopard; snow leopards; species; uncia; wildlife; Xinjiang
Abstract China may hold a greater proportion of the global snow leopard Panthera uncia population than any other country, with the area of good quality suitable habitat, estimated at nearly 300,000 km2, comprising .50% of that available across the species' entire range. We can now reconfirm the presence of snow leopard in the Taxkurgan area of Xinjiang Province in north-west China after a period of 20 years.
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Publisher Fauna & Flora International Place of Publication United Kingdom Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
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Notes SHI KUN Institute of Wildlife Conservation and Management, Beijing Forestry University, China ZHU FUDE SHI JUN and DAI ZHIGANG Xinjiang Forestry Administration, China PHILIP RIORDAN and DAVID MACDONALD Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, UK. E-mail philip.riordan@zoo.ox.ac.uk Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ 1056 Serial 884
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Author Suryawanshi, K.R.
Title Towards snow leopard prey recovery: understanding the resource use strategies and demographic responses of bharal Pseudois nayaur to livestock grazing and removal; Final project report Type Report
Year (up) 2009 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-43
Keywords project; snow; snow leopard; snow-leopard; leopard; network; conservation; program; prey; recovery; resource; use; strategy; demographic; Response; bharal; Pseudois; pseudois nayaur; Pseudois-nayaur; nayaur; livestock; grazing; Report; decline; wild; populations; population; Himalayan; region; Competition; threats; threat; uncia; Uncia uncia; Uncia-uncia; study; diet; winter; Test; browse; nutrition; areas; area; young; Female; times; High; Adult; mortality; species; predators; predator; endangered; trans-himalaya; transhimalaya
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.
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Notes Project funded by Snow Leopard Network's Snow Leopard Conservation Grant Program, 2008. Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore. Post-graduate Program in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Wildlife Conservation Society -India program, Bangalore, India. Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ 1077 Serial 952
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Author Suryawanshi, K., K.
Title Sunshine and the Shadow Type Magazine Article
Year (up) 2011 Publication Hornbill Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue April-June Pages 34-37
Keywords Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India, snow leopard, sighting, observation, blue sheep, Pseudois nayaur
Abstract Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi shares an update on his blog which describes snow leopard sightings in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, while studying the foraging behavior and eating habits of blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur).
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Call Number SLN @ rana @ Serial 1360
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Author Suryawanshi, K.
Title An encounter in snow Type Magazine Article
Year (up) 2011 Publication FRONTLINE Abbreviated Journal
Volume 28 Issue 10 Pages
Keywords
Abstract In the trans-Himalayan region, a conservation effort has reduced conflicts between snow leopards and pastoralists. Photographs & text by author.
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Notes http://www.frontline.in/stories/20110520281005800.htm; INDIA'S NATIONAL MAGAZINE, from the publishers of THE HINDU, May 7-20, 2011 Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ Serial 1316
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Author Suryawanshi, K.R., Bhatnagar, Y. V. B., Redpath, S., Mishra, C.
Title People, predators and perceptions: patterns of livestock depredation by snow leopards and wolves Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2013 Publication Journal of Applied Ecology Abbreviated Journal
Volume 50 Issue Pages 550-560
Keywords Canis lupus, Capra ibex, human–wildlife conflict, large carnivores, Panthera uncia, Pseudois nayaur, trans-Himalaya
Abstract 1. Livestock depredation by large carnivores is an important conservation and economic concern

and conservation management would benefit from a better understanding of spatial variation

and underlying causes of depredation events. Focusing on the endangered snow leopard

Panthera uncia and the wolf Canis lupus, we identify the ecological factors that predispose

areas within a landscape to livestock depredation. We also examine the potential mismatch

between reality and human perceptions of livestock depredation by these carnivores whose

survival is threatened due to persecution by pastoralists.

2. We assessed the distribution of the snow leopard, wolf and wild ungulate prey through field

surveys in the 4000 km2 Upper Spiti Landscape of trans-Himalayan India. We interviewed local

people in all 25 villages to assess the distribution of livestock and peoples’ perceptions of the risk

to livestock from these carnivores. We monitored village-level livestock mortality over a 2-year

period to assess the actual level of livestock depredation. We quantified several possibly influential

independent variables that together captured variation in topography, carnivore abundance

and abundance and other attributes of livestock. We identified the key variables influencing livestock

depredation using multiple logistic regressions and hierarchical partitioning.

3. Our results revealed notable differences in livestock selectivity and ecological correlates of

livestock depredation – both perceived and actual – by snow leopards and wolves. Stocking

density of large-bodied free-ranging livestock (yaks and horses) best explained people’s threat

perception of livestock depredation by snow leopards, while actual livestock depredation was

explained by the relative abundance of snow leopards and wild prey. In the case of wolves,

peoples’ perception was best explained by abundance of wolves, while actual depredation by

wolves was explained by habitat structure.

4. Synthesis and applications. Our results show that (i) human perceptions can be at odds

with actual patterns of livestock depredation, (ii) increases in wild prey populations will intensify

livestock depredation by snow leopards, and prey recovery programmes must be accompanied

by measures to protect livestock, (iii) compensation or insurance programmes should

target large-bodied livestock in snow leopard habitats and (iv) sustained awareness

programmes are much needed, especially for the wolf.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1396
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Author Kohli, K., Sankaran, M., Suryawanshi, K. R., Mishra, C
Title A penny saved is a penny earned: lean season foraging strategy of an alpine ungulate Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2014 Publication Animal Behaviour Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue 92 Pages 93-100
Keywords blue sheep, grazing, herbivore, mountain ungulate, optimal foraging, Pseudois nayaur, trans-Himalaya
Abstract Lean season foraging strategies are critical for the survival of species inhabiting highly seasonal environments

such as alpine regions. However, inferring foraging strategies is often difficult because of

challenges associated with empirically estimating energetic costs and gains of foraging in the field. We

generated qualitative predictions for the relationship between daily winter foraging time, body size and

forage availability for three contrasting foraging strategies including time minimization, energy intake

maximization and net energy maximization. Our model predicts that for animals employing a time

minimization strategy, daily winter foraging time should not change with body size and should increase

with a reduction in forage availability. For energy intake maximization, foraging time should not vary

with either body size or forage availability. In contrast, for a net energy maximization strategy, foraging

time should decrease with increase in body size and with a reduction in forage availability. We contrasted

proportion of daily time spent foraging by bharal, Pseudois nayaur, a dimorphic grazer, across

different body size classes in two high-altitude sites differing in forage availability. Our results indicate

that bharal behave as net energy maximizers during winter. As predicted by the net energy maximization

strategy, daily winter foraging time of bharal declined with increasing body size, and was lower in the

site with low forage availability. Furthermore, as predicted by our model, foraging time declined as the

winter season progressed. We did not find support for the time minimizing or energy intake maximizing

strategies. Our qualitative model uses relative rather than absolute costs and gains of foraging which are

often difficult to estimate in the field. It thus offers a simple way to make informed inferences regarding

animal foraging strategies by contrasting estimates of daily foraging time across gradients of body size

and forage availability.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1409
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Author Suryawanshi, K. R., Bhatia, S., Bhatnagar, Y. V., Redpath, S., Mishra, C
Title Multiscale Factors Affecting Human Attitudes toward Snow Leopards and Wolves Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2014 Publication Conservation biology Abbreviated Journal
Volume 00 Issue Pages 1-10
Keywords Canis lupus, carnivore, human–wildlife conflicts, Panthera uncia, wildlife acceptance
Abstract The threat posed by large carnivores to livestock and humans makes peaceful coexistence between

them difficult. Effective implementation of conservation laws and policies depends on the attitudes of local

residents toward the target species. There are many known correlates of human attitudes toward carnivores,

but they have only been assessed at the scale of the individual. Because human societies are organized hierarchically, attitudes are presumably influenced by different factors at different scales of social organization, but this scale dependence has not been examined.We used structured interview surveys to quantitatively assess the attitudes of a Buddhist pastoral community toward snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and wolves (Canis lupus).

We interviewed 381 individuals from 24 villages within 6 study sites across the high-elevation Spiti Valley in

the Indian Trans-Himalaya. We gathered information on key explanatory variables that together captured

variation in individual and village-level socioeconomic factors.We used hierarchical linear models to examine how the effect of these factors on human attitudes changed with the scale of analysis from the individual to the community. Factors significant at the individual level were gender, education, and age of the respondent (for wolves and snow leopards), number of income sources in the family (wolves), agricultural production, and large-bodied livestock holdings (snow leopards). At the community level, the significant factors included the number of smaller-bodied herded livestock killed by wolves and mean agricultural production (wolves) and village size and large livestock holdings (snow leopards). Our results show that scaling up from the individual to higher levels of social organization can highlight important factors that influence attitudes of people toward wildlife and toward formal conservation efforts in general. Such scale-specific information can help managers apply conservation measures at appropriate scales. Our results reiterate the need for conflict management programs to be multipronged.
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1417
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Author Mishra, C., Suryawanshi, K.
Title Managing conflicts over livestock depradation by Large Carnivores Type Book Chapter
Year (up) 2014 Publication SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION – Human-Wildlife Conflict in the Mountains of SAARC Region – Compilation of Successful Management Strategies and Practices Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 27-47
Keywords Snow leopard Panthera uncia, wolf Canis lupus, Himalayas, Central Asia
Abstract Managing wildlife-caused damage to human interests has become an important aspect of contemporary conservation management. Conflicts between pastoralism and carnivore conservation over livestock depredation pose a serious challenge to endangered carnivores worldwide, and have become an important livelihood concern locally. Here, we first review the primary causes of these conflicts, their socio-ecological correlates, and commonly employed mitigation measures. We then describe a community-based program to manage conflicts over livestock depredation by snow leopards Panthera uncia and wolves Canis lupus. A threats-based conceptual model of conflict management is presented. Conflicts over livestock depredation are characterized by complex, multi-scale interactions between carnivore and livestock behavioral ecology, animal husbandry, human psyche, culture, world-views, and socio-economic and education levels of affected peoples. A diversity of commonly employed conflict-mitigation measures is available. They aim at (i) reducing livestock depredation through better livestock herding, use of physical, chemical or psychological barriers, removal of carnivores, and use of livestock guard animals, (ii) offsetting economic losses through damage compensation and insurance programmes, and (iii) increasing peoples’ tolerance of carnivores through indirect approaches such as conservation education and economic incentives. For effective management, conflicts need to be understood along two important dimensions, viz., the reality of damage caused to humans, and the psyche and perceptions of humans who suffer wildlife caused damage. The efficacy of commonly used mitigation measures is variable. A combination of measures that reduce the level of livestock depredation, share or offset economic losses, and improve the social carrying capacity for carnivores will be more effective in managing conflicts than standalone measures
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Call Number SLN @ rakhee @ Serial 1424
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