Abstract: Snow leopard conservation work in Bhutan dates back to 1999 and 2000 when the International Snow Leopard Trust-in collaboration with the Royal Government of Bhutan and World Wildlife Fund-initiated a training workshop. More than 30 government staff were trained in SLIMS survey techniques. As a part of the training exercise, a preliminary survey on snow leopard was also carried out using the SLIMS methods in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park. Based on the survey results, we estimated there was a population of 100 snow leopards in the wild and 10,000 km2 of habitat. In 2005, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) organized the WWF/South Asia Regional Workshop on Snow leopard Conservation in Bhutan. Both regional (Bhutan, India, China, Nepal and Pakistan) and international experts revisited the snow leopard programs and developed a work plan for the overall conservation of the snow leopard in the region. This led to WWF's Regional Snow leopard Conservation Strategy. WWF is pleased to submit our final report to the International Snow Leopard Trust on the oneyear, $8,000 grant in support of Snow Leopard and Prey Population Conservation in Bhutan. With the support of the Snow Leopard Trust, we have made great strides towards achieving our goal for this project: To determine the current status of snow leopard and ungulate prey populations in prime snow leopard habitats. Major accomplishments and activities completed thanks to the generous support of the International Snow Leopard Trust include:
 Signed of a Terms of Reference between Royal Government, International Snow Leopard
Trust – India, World Wildlife Fund and International Snow Leopard Trust -US;
 Developed a joint revised project work plan; and
 Purchased basic field supplies and equipment needed for the surveys planned.

Abstract: During 21-28 December of 2007 in a framework of the ‘Tsagaangol’ project wool processing training for one week was held in Ulaangom city.
Totally, 6 people, of which 2 herders from Uureg community, 3 herders from Argaltkharig community and 1 ranger have participated.
In accordance to the curricula of the training had held 4 hours of theoretical lectures and 94 hours of practical exercises. The intermediate level course was provided for two people Mrs. Yanjinlham and Odontuya who previously involved in basic level training. Mrs. Yanjilham also was trained as trainer during this session as following the guidelines came from the trainers. During this she taught on how to design, cut out and color. During the training herders obtained the following skills:
- Clean, sort, lay out and color wool;
- 14 -16 skills on felting and tighten wool accepted internationally;
- Drawing on felt or paper with different scales;
- 4 different technology on drawing and coloring felt (color felt evenly, adsorbing, coloring
through knit and color using dry colors);
- Laying out the picture on felt using wet or dry methods and perforate using a felt needle;
- Draw picture ion felt using the wool colors;
- Design Hunnu relief patterns, draw and knit;
- Design and cut out, estimation and evaluation of resources, and different type of embroidery as dog’s teeth, triple fifths, seven spin of edges, crossing, string piping,classic khalkha stitching, quilt stitching, bottom stitching, knitting relief stitching edges,spinning different edges, terme etc.
During week long training herders learnt how to cut out 8-9 designs and produced 44 products. The training was well organized in terms of its facilitation and organization. We are grateful for herders who were very active and worked for extended hours voluntary. Willing of herders to learn and to practice has increased comparing to the previous activities.

Abstract: This study was part of an expedition to the Altai mountains in the Kosh Agach region of the Altai Republic, run by Biosphere Expeditions from 3 July to 26 August 2005. The aim was to continue a survey of snow leopard (Uncia uncia) in this area, as well as surveying the snow leopard's primary prey species, argali (Ovis ammon) and Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), together with secondary prey species.
Using the Snow Leopard Information Management System (SLIMS) developed by the International Snow Leopard Trust (ISLT), presence/absence surveys (SLIMS form 1) of snow leopard and prey species, as well as relative abundance studies (SLIMS form 2), were conducted throughout the study period across the entire survey area (approximately 200 square kilometres). Interviews with local, semi-nomadic herders also formed an important part of the research procedure. The expedition also collected data for extended mammal, bird and plant inventories.
Fresh signs of snow leopard presence recorded this year are an indication that the core area is being repeatedly used, due, perhaps, to the tentative increase in the pool numbers of the primary prey species, particularly Siberian ibex. Continued surveys show that the habitat is varied and capable of sustaining a healthy prey base for snow leopard. This, together with evidence from local people, confirmed the importance of the study area as a habitat for snow leopard and as a corridor for snow leopard dispersal. The survey area urgently needs protection, but involving the local community is vital if conservation initiatives are to succeed.

Abstract: The snow leopard (Uncia uncia) is a rare carnivore living above the snow line in central Asia. Using universal primers for the mitochondrial genome control region hypervariable
region 1 (HVR1), we isolated a 411-bp fragment of HVR1 and then designed specific primers
near each end of this sequence in the conserved regions. These primers were shown to yield
good polymerase chain reaction products and to be species specific. Of the 12 snow leopards
studied, there were 11 segregating sites and six haplotypes. An identification case of snow
leopard carcass (confiscated by the police) proved the primers to be a useful tool for forensic
diagnosis in field and population genetics studies.