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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
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
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 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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Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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Area Expedition Conference
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 Trivedi, P.
Title Project Snow Leopard: Participatory conservation model for the Indian Himalaya Type Magazine Article
Year (up) 2009 Publication Mountain Forum Bulletin Abbreviated Journal
Volume Ix Issue 2 Pages 52-54
Keywords assessment; biodiversity; biodiversity assessment; conservation; global; Himalaya; Icimod; indian; links; mountain; network; participatory; project; Project-snow-leopard; project snow leopard; projects; research; resource; snow-leopard; snow leopard; Support
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Publisher Mountain Forum Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1815-2139 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes More details at: www.conservation.in or www.ncf-india.org and www.wii.gov.in Newsletter published biannually by Mountain Forum: www.mtnforum.org. Editorial Team: Marianne Heredge, Ujol Sherchan, Frans Neuman, Laura Keenan, Sunita Chaudhary, Suman Jaiswal. This newlstter edition is a joint product of the Mountain Forum, GMBA and MRI with support from ICIMOD, and brings together contributions from the three networks and partners. It also has a section on links to interesting organisations, resources and projects on Mountain Biodiversity. Published by the Mountain Forum Secretariat in collaboration with the respective Nodes in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America and with the assistance of the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) and the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA). Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ 1054 Serial 969
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Author Wangchuk, R.; Jackson, R.
Title A Community-based Approach to Mitigating Livestock-Wildlife Conflict in Ladakh, India Type Report
Year (up) 2009 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-9
Keywords community-based; approach; conflict; Ladakh; India; livestock; livestock depredation; livestock-depredation; depredation; snow; snow leopard; snow-leopard; leopard; wolf; wolves; Himalayan; region; Jackson; kibber; Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary; wildlife; sanctuary; sanctuaries; loss; us; villagers; predation; establishment; surveys; survey; number; change; Animal; animal-husbandry; husbandry; system; 2000
Abstract Livestock depredation by snow leopard and wolf is widespread across the Himalayan region (Jackson et al. 1996, Jackson and Wangchuk 2001; Mishra 1997, Oli et al 1994). For example, in India's Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Mishra (1997) reported losses amounting to 18% of the livestock holdings and valued at about US $138 per household. The villagers claimed predation rates increased after establishment of the sanctuary, but

surveys indicated a dramatic increase in livestock numbers accompanying changes in animal husbandry systems (Mishra 2000).
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
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Notes Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ 1014 Serial 1005
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Author Ale, S.B., Brown, J.S.
Title Prey behavior leads to predator: a case study of the Himalayan tahr and the snow leopard in Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park, Nepal Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2009 Publication Israel Journal of Ecology & Evolution Abbreviated Journal
Volume 55 Issue 4 Pages 315-327
Keywords vigilance, fear, behavioral indicator, predator, prey, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, Mount Everest
Abstract Rare, elusive predators offer few sightings, hindering research with small sample sizes and lack of experimentation. While predators may be elusive, their prey are more readily observed. Prey respond to the presence of a predator, and these fear responses may have population- and community-level consequences. Anti-predator behaviors, such as vigilance, allow us to sidestep the difficulty of direct field studies of large predators by studying them indirectly. Here we used a behavioral indicator, the vigilance behavior of the Himalayan tahr, the snow leopard’s main local prey, to reveal the distribution and habitat use of snow leopards in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal. We combined techniques of conventional field biology with concepts of foraging theory to study prey behavior in order to obtain insights into the predator’s ecology. The Himalayan tahr’s vigilance behavior correlates with the distribution of snow leopard signs. Tahr actually led us to six sightings of snow leopards. We conclude that behavioral indicators provided by prey offer a valuable tool for studying and monitoring stealthy and rare carnivores.
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Publisher Science from Israel, a division of LPPLtd. Place of Publication Israel Editor
Language English Summary Language English Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ Serial 1109
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Author Lovari, S., Boesi, R., Minder, I., Mucci, N., Randi, E., Dematteis, A., and Ale, S. B.
Title Restoring a keystone predator may endanger a prey species in a human-altered ecosystem: the return of the snow leopard to Sagarmatha National Park Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2009 Publication Animal Conservation Abbreviated Journal
Volume 12 Issue Pages 559-570
Keywords conservation, food habits, genetics, Hemitragus jemlahicus, Himalayan tahr, management, microsatellite, predation, presence, scat, scat analysis, snow leopard, Uncia uncia
Abstract Twenty-five years ago, the snow leopard Uncia uncia, an endangered large cat, was eliminated from what is now Sagarmatha National Park (SNP). Heavy hunting pressure depleted that area of most medium-large mammals, before it became a park. After three decades of protection, the cessation of hunting and the recovery of wild ungulate populations, snow leopards have recently returned (four individuals). We have documented the effects of the return of the snow leopard on the population of its main wild prey, the Himalayan tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus, a 'near-threatened' caprin. Signs of snow leopard presence were recorded and scats were collected along a fixed trail (130 km) to assess the presence and food habits of the snow leopard in the Park, from 2004 to 2006. Himalayan tahr, the staple of the diet, had a relative occurrence of 48% in summer and 37% in autumn, compared with the next most frequent prey, musk deer Moschus chrysogaster (summer: 20%; autumn: 15%) and cattle (summer: 15%; autumn: 27%). In early summer, the birth rate of tahr (young-to-female ratio: 0.8-0.9) was high. The decrease of this ratio to 0.1-0.2 in autumn implied that summer predation concentrated on young tahr, eventually altering the population by removing the kid cohort. Small populations of wild Caprinae, for example the Himalayan tahr population in SNP, are sensitive to stochastic predation events and may be led to almost local extinction. If predation on livestock keeps growing, together with the decrease of Himalayan tahr, retaliatory killing of snow leopards by local people may be expected, and the snow leopard could again be at risk of local extinction. Restoration of biodiversity through the return of a large predator has to be monitored carefully, especially in areas affected by humans, where the lack of important environmental components, for example key prey species, may make the return of a predator a challenging event.
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Notes Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ Serial 1122
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Author Zhatkanbayev, A., Dosov, N.
Title Natural death of a snow leopard close to Almaty megapolis Type Conference Article
Year (up) 2009 Publication Teriofauna of Qazaqstan and neighboring countries (the materials of international science conference “The problems of research, conservation and sustainable use for teriofauna of Qazastan and neighboring countries” Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 168-170
Keywords Kazakhstan, snow leopard, Almaty
Abstract About natural dead case of Snow leopard close to Almaty megapolis.

Published in special edition as named “Teriofauna of Qazaqstan and neighboring countries (the materials of international science conference ”The problems of research, conservation and sustainable use for teriofauna of Qazastan and neighboring countries“, November, 15-16, 2009, Almaty)” under supervision of the Institute of Zoology, Center of Biological Research, Committee of Science, Ministry of Education and Science, The Republic of Qazaqstan.
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Publisher Place of Publication Kazakhstan Editor
Language Russian Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ Serial 1129
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Author Maheshwari, A., Takpa, J., Kujur, S., Shawl, T.
Title An Investigation of Carnivore-Human Conflicts in Kargil and Drass Areas of Jammu and Kashmir, India Type Report
Year (up) 2010 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-30
Keywords India, snow leopard, Kargil, Drass, Jammu and Kashmir, Department of Wildlife Protection, WWF India
Abstract Still, there are areas from where very poor information is available on snow leopard and associated species. Keeping this in view, Kargil and Drass areas of Ladakh,Jammu and Kashmir were identified as “gaps” in available information on snow leopard. Kargil has not received much attention for wildlife studies due to its proximity to the International Boundary between India and Pakistan and resultant security implications. The only information available from the area is from a study done by Sathyakumar (2003) on the occurrence of Himalayan brown bear from Zanskar and Suru Valleys in Ladakh. But there was very poor information on the occurrence and distribution of other carnivores and conflicts with humans in Kargil. Therefore, this study was felt necessary to establish the following objectives:

1. Surveys for the occurrence and distribution of snow leopard and other large

carnivores and their prey

2. To estimate abundance of prey species

3. To study food habits of snow leopard and other carnivores based on scat analysis

4. To study the of carnivore – human conflicts

5. To study the socio-economic conditions of rural community and develop local

awareness programme
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Publisher Place of Publication India Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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Area Expedition Conference
Notes Report submitted to Rufford Small Grant. Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ Serial 1093
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Author Jegal, A.; Kashkarov, E.; Matyushkin E.N.
Title Simple method to distinguish tracks of snow leopard and lynx Type Manuscript
Year (up) 2010 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords tracks; snow; snow leopard; snow-leopard; leopard; Lynx; gobi; Altai; mountain; range; mountains; region; distribution; Case; local; hunters; hunter; Animals; Animal
Abstract In the Mongolian and Gobi Altai mountain ranges and also in some other mountains in this region, the

distribution of the snow leopard and Eurasian lynx overlaps. In some cases, local hunters cannot

distinguish the tracks of both these animals. Therefore we outline a simple method to distinguish tracks of

the snow leopard and lynx.
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Notes Two English translations of article are provided. Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ 1101 Serial 491
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Author Mongolian Biosphere & Ecology Association
Title Mongolian Biosphere & Ecology Association Report March 2010 Type Manuscript
Year (up) 2010 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords nature; tourism; surveys; survey; snow; snow leopards; snow leopard; snow-leopards; snow-leopard; leopards; leopard; attack; domestic; Animals; Animal; illegal; illegal hunting; hunting; territory; province; 2010; hunt; 1990; movements; movement; pasture; desert; number; species; birds; river; mountain; hunters; hunter; recent; government; structure; management; national; central; people; Report; gobi; Gobi Desert; reproduction; Adult; meat; food; ibex; wild; wild sheep; sheep; marmot; nutrition; schools; population; use; local; big; big game; big-game; game; 310; mountains; wolves; wolf; Seasons; times; zones; global; Mongolia; 40; history; ecology
Abstract In accordance with order of the Ministry of Nature and Tourism,

zoologists of our association have made surveys in three ways such as

reasons why snow leopards attack domestic animals, “Snow leopard” trial

operation to count them and illegal hunting in territories of Khovd,

Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor, Uvurkhangai and Umnugobi provinces from

September 2009 to January 2010. As result of these surveys it has made

the following conclusions in the followings: Reason to hunt them illegally: the principal reason is that

administrative units have been increased and territories of

administrative units have been diminished. There have been four

provinces in 1924 to 1926, 18 since 1965, 21 since 1990. Such situation

limits movements of herdsmen completely and pastures digressed much than

ever before. As result of such situation, 70% of pastures become desert.

Such digression caused not only heads of animals and also number of

species. Guarantee is that birds such as owls, cuckoo, willow grouse in

banks of Uyert river, Burkhanbuudai mountain, located in Biger soum,

Gobi-Altai province, which are not hunted by hunters, are disappearing

in the recent two decades. For that reason we consider it is urgently

necessary for the government to convert administrative unit structures

into four provinces. This would influence herdsmen moving across

hundreds km and pastures could depart from digression.

Second reason: cooperative movement won. The issues related to management and strengthening of national

cooperatives, considered by Central Committee of Mongolian People's

Revolutionary Party in the meeting in March 1953 was the start of

cooperatives' movement. Consideration by Yu. Tsedenbal, chairman of

Ministers Council, chairman of the MPRP, on report “Result of to unify

popular units and some important issues to maintain entity management of

agricultural cooperatives” in the fourth meeting by the Central

Committee of Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party /MPRP/ on December

16-17, 1959, proclaimed complete victory of cooperative. At the end of

1959, it could unify 767 small cooperative into 389 ones, unify 99.3 %

of herdsmen and socialize 73.3 % of animals. The remaining of animals

amount 6 million 163 thousands animals, and equals to 26.7% of total

animals. This concerned number of animals related to the article

mentioned that every family should have not more that 50 animals in

Khangai zone and not more 75 animals in Gobi desert. It shows that such

number could not satisfy needs of family if such number is divided into

five main animals in separating with reproduction animals and adult

animals. So herdsmen started hunt hoofed animals secretly and illegally

in order to satisfy their meat needs. Those animals included main food

of snow leopard such as ibex, wild sheep, and marmot. Third reason is that the state used to hunt ibex, which are main

nutrition of snow leopards, every year. The administrative unit of the

soum pursued policy to hunt ibex in order to provide meat needs of

secondary schools and hospitals. That's why this affected decrease of

ibex population. Preciously from 1986 to 1990 the permissions to hunt

one thousands of wild sheep and two thousands of ibexes were hunt for

domestic alimentary use every year. Not less than 10 local hunters of every soum used to take part in big

game of ibexes. Also they hunted many ibexes, chose 3-10 best ibexes and

hid them in the mountains for their consummation during hunting.

Fourth reason: hunting of wolves. Until 1990 the state used to give

prizes to hunter, who killed a wolf in any seasons of the year. Firstly

it offered a sheep for the wolf hunter and later it gave 25 tugrugs /15

USD/. Every year, wolf hunting was organized several times especially

picking wolf-cubs influenced spread and population of wolves. So snow

leopard came to the places where wolves survived before and attack

domestic animals. Such situation continued until 1990. Now population of

ibexes has decreased than before 1990 since the state stopped hunting

wolves, population of wolves increased in mountainous zones. We didn't

consider it had been right since it was natural event. However

population of ibexes decreased. Fifth reason: Global warming. In recent five years it has had a drought

and natural disaster from excessive snow in the places where it has

never had such natural disasters before. But Mongolia has 40 million

heads of domestic animals it has never increased like such quantity in

its history before. We consider it is not incorrect that decrease of

domestic animals could give opportunities to raise population of wild

animals. Our next survey is to make attempt to fix heads of snow leopards

correctly with low costs.
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Notes Approved no
Call Number SLN @ rana @ 1100 Serial 705
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