Abstract: 50 mammal species permanently live in the nature reserve. There penetrate snow leopard, wolf, corsac, and wild boar on a relatively regular basis. Moral, roe deer, and elk migrate outside the Markakol depression in winter. Though mentioned in literature as species inhabiting the nature reserve, beaver, stone marten, and dhole are not met there today.

Abstract: The Annapurna Conservation Area was established in 1986 to manage environmental degradation. Its designation as a “conservation area,” as opposed to a “park,” was based on the World Wildlife Fund’s Integrated Conservation and Development approach. The goal was to maintain positive relations with indigenous people while protecting and conserving the area’s rich natural resources. The indigenous population was allowed to live in the designated area, and was also encouraged to take a partnership role in its management and sustainable development, in conjunction with the Annapurna Conservation Area Project management team. Though the Annapurna Conservation Area Project has achieved notable success in terms of both community development and protected area management, the focus on tourism (the area is Nepal’s most popular trekking destination) as the means to achieve the project’s development goals has led to a neglect of other stated goals, particularly wildlife conservation. The program lacks explicit linkages between wildlife conservation (e.g., the endangered snow leopard (Unica unica)) and community development, for example. This paper describes and analyzes how the project has handled snow leopard conservation. Alternative approaches for snow leopard conservation include coercive enforcement by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, persuasive environmental education and outreach, agricultural extension assistance, from monetary compensation for livestock killed to monetary rewards for information on snow leopard poaching. I recommend several alternatives to improve snow leopard conservation. First, establish stronger and more formal links between the Annapurna Conservation Area Project and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. The department has the legal authority to enforce the endangered species policy that protects snow leopards, but no physical presence within the conservation area. Second, agricultural outreach could provide the subsistence pastoralists with direct economic gains while reducing snow leopard depredation of livestock. This alternative fits well with the development philosophy of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Third, increase entrance fees, setting aside a portion for snow leopard conservation. This allows tourists, who value the snow leopard positively, to share in the cost of its conservation. Taken together, these alternatives will improve snow leopard conservation while maintaining the spirit and philosophy of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project.

Abstract: Collected are data on rare ungulates in the Almaty nature reserve in 1968-1973. Since recently the population of goitered gazelle has dropped sharply and is now 20-30 animals per seven ha. The nature reserve shall be expanded in order to protect the animals. Argali inhabits a desert area in the mountains of Greater and Lesser Kalkana. Argali sometimes migrates outside the nature reserve. Ibex inhabits a mountainous part of the nature reserve, its population being 10-13 animals per 1,000 ha. Predators have negligible impact on the ibex population (12.5 percent of deaths), which is preyed on solely by snow leopard and wolf.

Abstract: The data on predators and ungulates population dynamics in Almaty Nature reserve (Kazakhstan) in 1983-1987s are given. The number of snow leopard is stable (3-5 individuals), the density is 0.06 indi/1000 ha. An insignificant increase of Siberian ibex' number (660 to 700) with density of 36 indi/1000 ha is recorded.