Category: Journal Article

Please find details below of a new article added to our Bibliography:

Title:  Snow leopard prey selection on the mountain-adapted ibex: seasonal switching between prime-aged males and newborn kids

Author:  Johansson, O., Mishra, C., Lkhagvajav, P., Samelius, G., Alexander, J. S., Low, M.

Abstract: Predator–prey interactions occur within the context of relative prey abundance, the nutritional value of prey individuals, and their specific vulnerability to predation. Predation patterns can therefore be expected to vary between seasons, age and sex categories, with this variation important for understanding predator–prey ecology. We examined seasonal prey selection by snow leopards (Panthera uncia) on different age and sex categories of Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) using data collected from 150 kill sites. These were analysed in relation to known ibex population composition using Jacobs’ index, which estimates the strength and direction of prey preference or avoidance. Although solitary felids typically select prey of similar or smaller size than themselves, both male and female snow leopards selected for prime-aged ibex males (>5 years old), despite these being at least twice their body mass. Female ibex, yearlings and medium-sized males, which are similar in size to snow leopards, were preyed upon less than expected. In spring, snow leopards increased their prey selection of females and newborn kids, and reduced their selection of prime males. Our results suggest that the vulnerability of ibex to snow leopard predation is related to their agility in negotiating steep mountain terrain. We propose that the much larger body size of prime-aged ibex males reduces their ability to evade snow leopard ambushes on mountain slopes. In spring, the switch to predation on kids likely relates to the ease of hunting because of their lower agility, with a similar explanation for increased predation on females in late gestation. This seasonal switching between different prey categories, and the snow leopard’s specialisation to hunt in steep mountainous terrain, may impose limits on sexual size dimorphism commonly seen in other large felids. In contrast, the vulnerability of prime-aged ibex males to snow leopard predation may reflect a sexually selected handicap, imposed by high sexual size dimorphism.

URL:  https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1781

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Title: Decades of leopard coexistence in the Himalayas driven by ecological dynamics, not climate change

Author: Singh, P. B., Saud, P., Aryal, P. C., Rai, P., Muntifering, J. R., Hu, H., Karki, A., Hu, Y., Mainali, K. P.

Abstract: The interaction between two predators in overlapping habitats with distinct habitat requirements poses critical challenges for conservation and management strategies. This study explores the ecological dynamics and coexistence of common leopards (Panthera pardus) and snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in the Himalayan regions, explicitly focusing on their spatial and temporal distribution as well as factors influencing their habitat overlap. Utilizing historical accounts dating back to the 1950s and our winter sighting data from trail cameras from 2016 to 2023 in the trans-Himalayan part of Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal (3100–4696 m), we provide substantial evidence of the common leopard’s established residency at high altitudes traditionally associated with snow leopards. This challenges the notion that the co-occurrence of these species is a recent phenomenon attributable to climate change. Instead, our findings suggest a long-term adaptation of common leopards to high-altitude environments, demonstrated by their ability to survive and breed in cold temperatures as low as − 18◦C. We show that the likelihood of co-occurrence of the two leopard species increases with proximity to open forest canopy, farmland and greater distances from snowline. In contrast, steep terrain negatively impacted the likelihood of co-occurrence, highlighting the snow leopard’s specialized adaptations to rugged landscapes. Our analysis reveals a considerable overlap between common and snow leopards in sub-alpine mixed forest and alpine scrub. This overlap extends to dietary habits along the altitudinal range, with both species preying on similar wild and domestic animals, highlighting the potential for interspecies competition, especially during the winter months when prey availability decreases.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1780

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Title: Exploring sustainability in trophy hunting practices at Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal: A balancing act?

Author: Thapa, K., Shreesh, I. K., Magar, K. T.

Abstract: Since 1987, trophy hunting of blue sheep has been operated in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve in western Nepal to maintain mountain ecosystem balance. We assessed the impacts of these practices by analyzing ecological, socioeconomical, and cultural variables, including the demographic structure of the blue sheep population, income from trophy hunting, management costs, and a perception survey with 293 respondents through semi-structured interviews. The blue sheep population has significantly declined from 2,593 in 1979 to 1,290 in 2021. The young-to-female recruitment ratio also dropped sharply from 83 to 37, and the male-to-female ratio decreased from 129 to 91, indicating a dramatic population decline over 30 years. The average annual management cost for DHR showed a deficit of $322,508 compared to trophy hunting earnings over six fiscal years 2017/18 to 2022/23. Indigenous peoples and local communities practice agropastoral economies, relying on natural resources for about 75 % of their subsistence, with only 25 % coming from
overseas remittances and market enterprises. More than 90 % felt they had not benefited from trophy hunting sharing initiatives, and 75 % to 80 % expressed distrust in the blue sheep population counts, opposing current trophy hunting practices. Additionally, 69 % rejected the proposed buffer zone, while 90 % advocated for reviving customary practices over current conservation methods. In conclusion, the existing trophy hunting practices in DHR are unsustainable from ecological, socioeconomical, and cultural perspectives, threatening the entire ecosystem if left unchanged. Urgent research on predator–prey dynamics, pasture carrying capacity, and interactions among indigenous communities is needed. A major overhaul of current conservation strategies and the revitalization of customary practices are essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of trophy hunting and restoring trust with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1779

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Title: Hide and seek in time and space: Spatiotemporal segregation between snow leopard and its prey in Northern Pakistan

Author: Khan, T. U., Nabi, G., Ahmad, S., Hu, H., Hu, Y., Puswal, S. M., Ghaznavi, M., Luan, X.

Abstract: Temporal niche-partitioning is a key strategy for prey to avoid predators and for predators to successfully coexist sympatrically. However, little is known about the temporal and spatial dynamics of snow leopards with key prey species. We investigated the spring daily activity patterns and spatial density distributions of snow leopard (Panthera uncia), Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex sibirica), and domestic yak (Bos grunniens) to unravel the spatiotemporal behavior within their shared alpine habitat in Northern Pakistan using trail cameras data. The results indicated that snow leopards exhibited a bimodal activity pattern, with peaks around midnight and dawn. In contrast, the ibex displayed a predominantly diurnal pattern, starting at dawn and minimally overlapping with the snow leopard. Attended yaks showed a uniform diurnal activity pattern under human protection, while unattended yaks exhibited irregular activity across day and night, suggesting higher vulnerability to predation. Spatial density analysis revealed notable overlaps between species pairs, particularly unattended yaks and snow leopards, highlighting the influence of spatial dynamics on predator-prey interactions. The clear off-phased and contrasting pattern of activity between snow leopard and ibex in our study showed temporal partitioning in spring and indicates that unattended yak may be a more heavily predated species than previously thought. This study provides the first comparative analysis of temporal activity patterns between a key predator and wild and domestic prey in Northern Pakistan. This research broadens our understanding of animal behavior through the lens of spatiotemporal interactions and provides insights into the complex dynamics between predator and prey in the challenging alpine landscape. Our findings emphasize the importance of livestock guarding to mitigate depredation and highlight the complexities of predator-prey interactions in both time and space, along with the resulting behavioral adaptions.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1778

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Title: Climate Change and Human Pressure: Assessing the Vulnerability of Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) Habitat Integrated With Prey Distribution on the Qinghai-­Tibet Plateau

Author: Zhang, Y., Dai, Y., Li, J., Cong, W., Zhang, Y., Nie, X., Wu, Q., Xue, Y.

Abstract: Climate change is significantly altering the distribution of large carnivores and their primary prey species, with particular emphasis on the changing prey distribution in high-­ altitude regions. The Qinghai-­Tibet Plateau, known for its rich biodiversity, is highly sensitive to climate change, affecting the habitats of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur). Our study identified blue sheep as the primary prey of snow leopards through metagenomic analysis and used bioclimatic data and Land Use/Cover Change (LUCC) information to model habitat suitability under three climate scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5). Projections showed that under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, snow leopard habitats will decrease by 13.0% and 23.4%, while blue sheep habitats will decrease by 38.3% and 49.7%, respectively. These habitats are expected to shift to higher altitudes, with snow leopards experiencing a more significant shift. Based on these findings, we recommend adjusting protected area boundaries for S1 (Ideal distribution range), establishing ecological corridors for S2 (stepping stone), and implementing targeted measures to mitigate human-­wildlife conflicts in S3 (potential conflict area). To protect these species, international efforts to reduce carbon emissions, cross-­ administrative cooperation, and community-­based conservation strategies are essential.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1777

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Title: Lessons for Transboundary Snow Leopard Conservation: Findings From a GPS Telemetry Study in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, Nepal

Author: Subba, S. A., Acharya, H. R., Shrestha, S., Koirala, S., Shrestha, R., Thapa, G. J., Thapa, K., Shrestha, A., Malla, S., Bhattarai, G. P., Poudyal, L. P., Khadka, M. B., Gurung, G. S., Bhatta, S. R., Dhakal, M., Subedi, N., Pradhan, N. M. B., Bhandari, A. R., Jnawali, S. R., Limbu, K. P., Dhakal, B. K., Thapa, K.

Abstract: Ensuring the long‐term persistence of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in changing landscapes requires a deep understanding of their spatial ecology and movement behavior. To maintain viable metapopulations and ensure gene flow between populations, there is an urgent need to develop sound and effective conservation plans. This study presents findings from Nepal’s first GPS telemetry study of snow leopards, shedding light on their home range size, habitat selection, and transboundary movements. GPS data were collected from four snow leopard individuals in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, eastern Nepal, over tracking periods ranging from 20 to 659 days, yielding a total of 4707 location points. We used three home range estimators
for analysis: local convex hulls (LoCoH), fixed kernels (Kernel), and minimum convex polygons (MCP). Our results show that home range sizes were 6 to 97 times larger than previous estimates for Nepal, with LoCoH estimates of 310 and 102 km2 (MCP = 730 and 211 km2) for two adult females and 312 km2 (MCP = 1032 km2) for one adult male. Three snow leopards crossed international borders five to seven times, spending, on average, 10%–34% of their time in neighboring countries (China and India), with 28%–50% of their home ranges overlapping India. Our study demonstrates that snow leopards in Nepal have home ranges that are significantly larger than previously documented and frequently cross international borders. These extensive transboundary movements highlight the need for stronger coordination between Nepal, China, and India to ensure the long‐term conservation of snow leopards in this key region of their distributional range.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1776

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Title: Genomic evidence for low genetic diversity but purging of strong deleterious variants in snow leopards

Author: Yang, L., Jin, H., Yang, Q., Poyarkov, A., Korablev, M., Rozhnov, V., Shao, J., Fu, Q., Hernandez-Blanco, J. A., Zhan, X., Yu, L., Alexandrov, D., Dai, Q., Munkhtsog, B., Du, X., Munkhtsog, B., Ma, L., Chen, W., Malykh, S., Jin, Y., He, S., Zhang, T., Wu, G., Shi, Y., Hu, Y.

Abstract:

Background
Long-term persistence of species with low genetic diversity is the focus of widespread attention in conservation biology. The snow leopard, Panthera uncia, is a big cat from high-alpine regions of Asia. However, its subspecies taxonomy, evolutionary history, evolutionary potential, and survival strategy remain unclear, which greatly hampers their conservation.
Results
We sequence a high-quality chromosome-level genome of the snow leopard and the genomes of 52 wild snow leopards. Population genomics reveal the existence of two large genetic lineages in global snow leopards, the northern and southern lineages, supported by the biogeography. The Last Glacial Maximum drove the divergence of two lineages. Microclimate differences and large rivers between the western and central Himalayas likely maintain the differentiation of two lineages. EPAS1 is positively selected in the southern lineage with almost fixed amino acid substitutions and shows an increased allele frequency with elevation. Compared to the southern lineage, the northern lineage exhibits a lower level of genomic diversity and higher levels of inbreeding and genetic load, consistent with its recent population decline. We find that snow leopards have extremely low genomic diversity and higher inbreeding than other Carnivora species; however, strong deleterious mutations have been effectively purged in snow leopards by historical population bottlenecks and inbreeding, which may be a vital genetic mechanism for their population survival and viability.
Conclusions
Our findings reveal the survival strategy of a species with low genetic diversity and highlight the importance of unveiling both genetic diversity and genetic burden for the conservation of threatened species.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1775

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Title: New records of the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, Tibet

Author: Ding, Y., Wu, N., Liu, Y. Zhong, H., Cering, L. Shi, K.

Abstract: An abstract is not available for this content.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1774

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Title: Habitat overlap and interspecific competition between snow leopards and leopards in the Central Himalayas of Nepal

Author: Koju, N. P., Buzzard, P., Shrestha, A., Sharma, S., He, K., Li, J., Kyes, R. C., Chen, C., Beisch, W. V.

Abstract: Traditionally, leopards (Panthera pardus) and snow leopards (P. uncia) occupy distinct habitats. This study explored the coexistence of snow leopards and leopards within the Gaurishankar Conservation Area in Lapchi Valley, Nepal. Both leopard species are crucial for ecosystem stability as apex predators. Camera trapping data from 2018 to 2023 confirmed twenty species of wild mammals and two species of domesticated livestock in Lapchi Valley, where snow leopards have strong spatio-temporal overlap (Δ→0.74) with leopards. Snow leopards exhibited distinct temporal patterns before and after the leopards’ arrival in the study area. Generalized Linear Mixed Effect Models (GLMM) revealed seasonal and prey-type associations with leopard presence, highlighting the snow leopards’ preference for cold season and wild prey. Leopards, however, did not show a significant seasonal preference. The findings highlight Lapchi Valley’s ecological richness as well as the need for comprehensive conservation strategies. The record of spatial and temporal overlap between the leopards and snow leopards provides important insights into the behavioral dynamics of apex predators and the need for targeted biodiversity conservation in the face of changing ecosystems. The study emphasizes the valley’s transboundary significance, calling for collaborative efforts between Nepal and China to help promote effective conservation management. Lapchi Valley’s isolation, traditional and religious importance, and recent infrastructure developments further impact the conservation challenges.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1773

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Title: Clinical and physiological evaluation of free-ranging snow leopards immobilized with ketamine-xylazine in emergency situations

Author: Talukdar, A., Bhasin, A., Patel, D., Raina, P., Tonde, P., Savita, P.

Abstract: The current study presents data on the immobilization and physiological responses of 26 distressed free-ranging snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in the trans-Himalayan regions of Ladakh, India, spanning three years from October 2020 to December 2023. Ketamine and xylazine were utilized in a drug mixture for rescue, rehabilitation, health assessment, and other capture purposes, with average doses of 6.535 ± 0.93 mgkg−1 and 1.937 ± 0.41 mgkg−1 of body weight, respectively. The average induction occurred at 3.85 ± 1.8 min. Respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and heart rate were monitored periodically post-induction, all remaining within clinically acceptable ranges. Following an average recumbency period of 70.69 ± 16.56 min, immobilizations were reversed using intramuscular injections of Yohimbine at 0.147 ± 0.03 mgkg−1 of body weight, leading to complete recovery within an average time of 24.92 ± 7.08 min. Our findings suggest that the ketamine and xylazine mixture represents a safe and effective method for immobilizing snow leopards, particularly in emergency scenarios.

URL: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/b/show.php?record=1772