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Author Maheshwari, A., Sathyakumar, S.
Title Patterns of Livestock Depredation and Large Carnivore Conservation Implications in the Indian Trans-Himalaya Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Journal of Arid Environments Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue (up) Pages 1-5
Keywords Large carnivores Livestock depredation Participatory approach Snow leopard Kargil Himalaya
Abstract Livestock is one of the major sources of livelihood for the

agro-pastoral communities in central and south Asia. Livestock

depredation by large carnivores is a wide-ranging issue that leads to

economic losses and a deviance from co-existence. We investigated the

grass root factors causing livestock depredation in Kargil, Ladakh and

tested the findings of diet analysis in validating reported livestock

depredation. Globally vulnerable snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and more

common wolf (Canis lupus) were the two main wild predators. A total of

1113 heads of livestock were reportedly killed by wolf (43.6%) followed

by unknown predators (31.4%) and snow leopard (21.5%) in the study site

from 2009 to 2012, which comes to 2.8% annual livestock losses. Scat

analysis also revealed a significant amount of livestock in the diet of

snow leopard (47%) and wolf (51%). Poor livestock husbandry practices

and traditional livestock corrals were found to be the major drivers

contributing in the livestock depredation. Based on the research

findings, we worked with the local communities to sensitize them about

wildlife conservation and extended limited support for predator proof

livestock corrals at a small scale. Eventually it helped in reducing

conflict level and conserving the globally threatened carnivores. We

conclude that a participatory approach has been successful to generate

an example in reducing large carnivore-human conflict in the west

Himalaya.
Address
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1609
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Author Khanyari, M., Zhumabai uulu, K., Luecke, S., Mishra, C., Suryawanshi, K.
Title Understanding population baselines: status of mountain ungulate populations in the Central Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Mammalia Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue (up) Pages 1-8
Keywords conservation; human-use landscapes; hunting concession; mountain ungulates; population baselines; protected areas.
Abstract We assessed the density of argali (Ovis ammon) and ibex

(Capra sibirica) in Sarychat-Ertash Nature Reserve and its neighbouring

Koiluu valley. Sarychat is a protected area, while Koiluu is a human-use

landscape which is a partly licenced hunting concession for mountain

ungulates and has several livestock herders and their permanent

residential structures. Population monitoring of mountain ungulates can

help in setting measurable conservation targets such as appropriate

trophy hunting quotas and to assess habitat suitability for predators

like snow leopards (Panthera uncia). We employed the double-observer

method to survey 573 km2 of mountain ungulate habitat inside Sarychat

and 407 km2 inside Koiluu. The estimated densities of ibex and argali in

Sarychat were 2.26 (95% CI 1.47–3.52) individuals km-2 and 1.54 (95% CI

1.01–2.20) individuals km-2, respectively. Total ungulate density in

Sarychat was 3.80 (95% CI 2.47–5.72) individuals km-2. We did not record

argali in Koiluu, whereas the density of ibex was 0.75 (95% CI

0.50–1.27) individuals km-2. While strictly protected areas can achieve

high densities of mountain ungulates, multi-use areas can harbour

meaningful

though suppressed populations. Conservation of mountain ungulates and

their predators can be enhanced by maintaining Sarychat-like “pristine”

areas interspersed within a matrix of multi-use areas like Koiluu.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1610
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Author Khanal, G., Mishra, C., Suryawanshi, K. R.
Title Relative influence of wild prey and livestock abundance on carnivore-caused livestock predation Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Ecology and Evolution Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue (up) Pages 1-11
Keywords conservation conflict, human carnivore conflict, large mammalian carnivore, livestock depredation, Nepal, Shey Phoksundo National Park, snow leopard
Abstract Conservation conflict over livestock depredation is one of the

key drivers of large mammalian carnivore declines worldwide. Mitigating

this conflict requires strategies informed by reliable knowledge of

factors influencing livestock depredation. Wild prey and livestock

abundance are critical factors influencing the extent of livestock

depredation. We compared whether the extent of livestock predation by

snow leopards Panthera uncia differed in relation to densities of wild

prey, livestock, and snow leopards at two sites in Shey Phoksundo

National Park, Nepal. We used camera trap-based spatially explicit

capture–recapture models to estimate snow leopard density;

double-observer surveys to estimate the density of their main prey

species, the blue sheep Pseudois nayaur; and interview-based household

surveys to estimate livestock population and number of livestock killed

by snow leopards. The proportion of livestock lost per household was

seven times higher in Upper Dolpa, the site which had higher snow

leopard density (2.51 snow leopards per 100 km2) and higher livestock

density (17.21 livestock per km2) compared to Lower Dolpa (1.21 snow

leopards per 100 km2; 4.5 livestock per km2). The wild prey density was

similar across the two sites (1.81 and 1.57 animals per km2 in Upper and

Lower Dolpa, respectively). Our results suggest that livestock

depredation level may largely be determined by the abundances of the

snow leopards and livestock and predation levels on livestock can vary

even at similar levels of wild prey density. In large parts of the snow

leopard range, livestock production is indispensable to local

livelihoods and livestock population is expected to increase to meet the

demand of cashmere. Hence, we recommend that any efforts to increase

livestock populations or conservation initiatives aimed at recovering or

increasing snow leopard population be accompanied by better herding

practices (e.g., predator-proof corrals) to protect livestock from snow

leopard.
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1611
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Author Johansson, O., Ausilio, G., Low, M., Lkhagvajav, P., Weckworth, B., Sharma, K.
Title The timing of breeding and independence for snow leopard females and their cubs. Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Mammalian Biology Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue (up) Pages
Keywords Age of independence; Life-history trade-offs; Panthera uncia; Parental care; Pre-dispersal behavior; Separation; Subadult
Abstract Significant knowledge gaps persist on snow leopard demography

and reproductive behavior. From a GPS-collared population in Mongolia,

we estimated the timing of mating, parturition and independence. Based

on three mother–cub pairs, we describe the separation phase of the cub

from its mother as it gains independence. Snow leopards mated from

January–March and gave birth from April–June. Cubs remained with their

mother until their second winter (20–22 months of age) when cubs started

showing movements away from their mother for days at a time. This

initiation of independence appeared to coincide with their mother mating

with the territorial male. Two female cubs remained in their mothers’

territory for several months after initial separation, whereas the male

cub quickly dispersed. By comparing the relationship between body size

and age of independence across 11 solitary, medium-to-large felid

species, it was clear that snow leopards have a delayed timing of

separation compared to other species. We suggest this may be related to

their mating behavior and the difficulty of the habitat and prey capture

for juvenile snow leopards. Our results, while limited, provide

empirical estimates for understanding snow leopard ecology and for

parameterizing population models.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1613
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Author Krofel, M., Groff, C., Oberosler, V., Augugliaro, C., Rovero, F.
Title Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) predation and consumption of an adult yak in the Mongolian Altai. Type Note
Year 2021 Publication Ethology Ecology & Evolution Abbreviated Journal EEE
Volume Issue (up) Pages 1-8
Keywords
Abstract The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an apex predator of mountainous ecosystems in Central Asia, characterised by relatively long feeding times and low kill rates (Johansson et al. 2015; Mallon et al. 2016). Predation is mainly focused on wild ungulates and the vast majority of animals killed by snow leopards are smaller than 100 kg (Lovari et al. 2013). Throughout most of their range, Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), and argali (Ovis ammon) represent the most important prey (Hunter 2015). These species weigh up to 180 kg, which was suggested to be near the maximum limit of the prey size that snow leopard can handle (i.e. about 3 times its size) (e.g. Schaller 1977; Hunter 2015). Accordingly, researchers generally assume that prey like adult yaks (Bos grunniens) with an average body weight of 250 kg (Bagchi & Mishra 2006), are too large to be killed by snow leopards (e.g. Devkota et al. 2013; Chetri et al. 2017). In contrast, local livestock herders report that snow leopard can also kill larger prey, including adult yaks (e.g. Li et al. 2013; Suryawanshi et al. 2013), but confirmed records of snow leopard killing prey of this size appear to be lacking in the literature. We also have very limited knowledge about the consumption of snow leopard kills, and the scavengers, including conspecifics, that are using them (Fox & Chundawat 2016; Schaller 2016). Here we report on a predation event and the following consumption process of a snow leopard kill, a free-roaming adult female yak, which we studied in 2019 using snow tracking, direct observation and camera trapping in the Mongolian Altai.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1634
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Author Alexander, J. S., Agvaantseren, B., Gongor, E., Mijiddorj, T. N., Piaopiao, T., Stephen Redpath, S., Young, J., Mishra, C.
Title Assessing the Effectiveness of a Community-based Livestock Insurance Program Type Journal Article
Year 2021 Publication Environmental Management Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue (up) Pages
Keywords Large carnivores, Snow leopard conservation, Human-wildlife conflicts, Livestock insurance, Community conservation, Human-wildlife co-existence, Snow leopard
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1635
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Author Korablev, M. P., Poyarkov, A. D., Karnaukhov, A. S., Zvychaynaya, E. Y., Kuksin, A. N., Malykh, S. V., Istomov, S. V., Spitsyn, S. V., Aleksandrov, D. Y., Hernandez-Blanco, J. A., Munkhtsog, B., Munkhtogtokh, O., Putintsev, N. I., Vereshchagin, A. S., Becmurody, A., Afzunov, S., Rozhnov, V. V.
Title Large-scale and fine-grain population structure and genetic diversity of snow leopards (Panthera uncia Schreber, 1776) from the northern and western parts of the range with an emphasis on the Russian population. Type Journal Article
Year 2021 Publication Conservation Genetics Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue (up) Pages
Keywords Snow leopard, Panthera uncia, Microsatellites, Heterozygosity, Population structure, Noninvasive survey, Scat, Subspecies
Abstract The snow leopard (Panthera uncia Schreber, 1776) population in Russia and Mongolia is situated at the northern edge of the range, where instability of ecological conditions and of prey availability may serve as prerequisites for demographic instability and, consequently, for reducing the genetic diversity. Moreover, this northern area of the species distribution is connected with the western and central parts by only a few small fragments of potential habitats in the Tian-Shan spurs in China and Kazakhstan. Given this structure of the range, the restriction of gene flow between the northern and other regions of snow leopard distribution can be expected. Under these conditions, data on population genetics would be extremely important for assessment of genetic diversity, population structure and gene flow both at regional and large-scale level. To investigate large-scale and fine-grain population structure and levels of genetic diversity we analyzed 108 snow leopards identified from noninvasively collected scat samples from Russia and Mongolia (the northern part of the range) as well as from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (the western part of the range) using panel of eight polymorphic microsatellites. We found low to moderate levels of genetic diversity in the studied populations. Among local habitats, the highest heterozygosity and allelic richness were recorded in Kyrgyzstan (He = 0.66 ± 0.03, Ho = 0.70 ± 0.04, Ar = 3.17) whereas the lowest diversity was found in a periphery subpopulation in Buryatia Republic of Russia (He = 0.41 ± 0.12, Ho = 0.29 ± 0.05, Ar = 2.33). In general, snow leopards from the western range exhibit greater genetic diversity (He = 0.68 ± 0.04, Ho = 0.66 ± 0.03, Ar = 4.95) compared to those from the northern range (He = 0.60 ± 0.06, Ho = 0.49 ± 0.02, Ar = 4.45). In addition, we have identified signs of fragmentation in the northern habitat, which have led to significant genetic divergence between subpopulations in Russia. Multiple analyses of genetic structure support considerable genetic differentiation between the northern and western range parts, which may testify to subspecies subdivision of snow leopards from these regions. The observed patterns of genetic structure are evidence for delineation of several management units within the studied populations, requiring individual approaches for conservation initiatives, particularly related to translocation events. The causes for the revealed patterns of genetic structure and levels of genetic diversity are discussed.
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1633
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Author Din, J. U., Nawaz, M. A., Norma-Rashid, Y., Ahmad, F., Hussain, K., Ali, H., Adli, D., S., H.
Title Ecosystem Services in a Snow Leopard Landscape: A Comparative Analysis of Two High-elevation National Parks in the Karakoram-Pamir Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Bio One Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue (up) Pages 11-19
Keywords ecosystem services; economic value; Karakoram; Pamir; Khunjerab; national park; Qurumbar
Abstract The high-elevation mountain ecosystems in the Karakoram and Pamir mountain ranges encompass enchanting landscapes, harbor unique biodiversity, and are home to many indigenous pastoral societies that rely onecosystem services for their survival. However, our understanding of the value of ecosystem services to a household economy is limited. This information is essential in devising sustainable development strategies and thus merits consideration. In this preliminary study, we attempted to assess and compare the value of selected ecosystem Khunjerab and Qurumbar National Parks (KNP and QNP) in the services of the KNP and QNP) in the Karakoram–Pamir in northern Pakistan using market-based and value transfer methods. Our results indicated that the economic benefits derived from the 2 high-elevation protected areas were US$ 4.6 million (QNP) and US$ 3.8 million (KNP) per year, translating into US$ 5955 and US$ 8912 per household per year, respectively. The monetary benefits from provisioning services constituted about 93% in QNP and 48% in KNP, which vividly highlights the prominence of the economic benefits generated from the protected areas for the welfare of disadvantaged communities. Together with the regulatory and cultural services valued

in this study, the perceived economic impact per household per year was 10–15 times higher than the mean household income per year. Considering the limited livelihood means and escalating poverty experienced by buffer zone communities, these values are substantial. We anticipate that communities’ dependency on resources will contribute to increased

degradation of ecosystems. We propose reducing communities’ dependency on natural resources by promoting sustainable alternative livelihood options and recognizing ecosystem services in cost–benefit analyses when formulating future policies.
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Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1631
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Author Bhatia, S., Suryawanshi, K., Redpath, S. M., Mishra, C
Title Understanding people's responses toward predators in the Indian Himalaya Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Animal Conservation Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue (up) Pages 1-8
Keywords human-wildlife conflict; human attitudes to wildlife; value orientation; carnivores; tolerance; human-wildlife relationships; risk perception; Himalaya
Abstract Research on human–wildlife interactions has largely focused on the magnitude of wildlife‐caused damage, and the patterns and correlates of human attitudes and behaviors. We assessed the role of five pathways through which various correlates potentially influence human responses toward wild animals, namely, value orientation, social interactions (i.e. social cohesion and support), dependence on resources such as agriculture and livestock, risk perception and nature of interaction with the wild animal. We specifically evaluated their influence on people's responses toward two large carnivores, the snow leopard Panthera uncia and the wolf Canis lupus in an agropastoral landscape in the Indian Trans‐Himalaya. We found that the nature of the interaction (location, impact and length of time since an encounter or depredation event), and risk perception (cognitive and affective evaluation of the threat posed by the animal) had a significant influence on attitudes and behaviors toward the snow leopard. For wolves, risk perception and social interactions (the relationship of people with local institutions and inter‐community dynamics) were significant. Our findings underscore the importance of interventions that reduce people's threat perceptions from carnivores, improve their connection with nature and strengthen the conservation capacity of local institutions especially in the context of wolves.
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
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Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1630
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Author Augugliaro, C., Christe, P., Janchivlamdan, C., Baymanday, H., Zimmermann, F.
Title Patterns of human interaction with snow leopard and co-predators in the Mongolian western Altai: Current issues and perspectives Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Global Ecology and Conservation Abbreviated Journal
Volume 24 Issue (up) Pages 1-21
Keywords Depredation Human-carnivores interaction Mongolian altai Snow leopard Wolf Wolverine
Abstract Large carnivores can cause considerable economic damage,

mainly due to livestock depredation. These conficts instigate negative

attitude towards their conservation, which could in the extreme case

lead to retaliatory killing. Here we focus on the snow leopard (Panthera

uncia), a species of conservation concern with particularly large

spatial requirements. We conducted the study in the Bayan Olgii

province, one of the poorest provinces of Mongolia, where the majority

of the human population are traditional herders. We conducted a survey

among herders (N 261) through a semi-structured questionnaire with the

aim to assess: the current and future herding practices and prevention

measures, herders’ perceptions and knowledge of the environmental

protection and hunting laws; the perceived livestock losses to snow

leopard, wolf (Canis lupus), and wolverine (Gulo gulo), as well as to

non-predatory factors; the key factors affecting livestock losses to

these three large carnivores; and, finally, the attitudes towards these

three large carnivores. Non-predatory causes of mortality were slightly

higher than depredation cases, representing 4.5% and 4.3% of livestock

holdings respectively. While no depredation of livestock was reported

from wolverines, snow leopard and wolf depredation made up 0.2% and 4.1%

of total livestock holdings, respectively. Herders’ attitudes towards

the three large carnivores were negatively affected by the magnitude of

the damages since they had a positive overall attitude towards both snow

leopard and wolverine, whereas the attitude towards wolf was negative.

We discuss conservation and management options to mitigate herder-snow

leopard impacts. To palliate the negative consequences of the increasing

trend in livestock numbers, herd size reduction should be encouraged by

adding economic value to the individual livestock and/or by promoting

alternative income and/or ecotourism. Furthermore, co-management between

government and stakeholders would help tackle this complex problem, with

herders playing a major role in the development of livestock management

strategies. Traditional practices, such as regularly shifting campsites

and using dogs and corrals at night, could reduce livestock losses

caused by snow leopards.
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1627
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