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We are delighted to invite you to view this special webinar presentation with Rodney Jackson and Rinzin Phunjok Lama.

In this webinar, Rodney Jackson – the first scientist to radio-collar snow leopards, will share milestones along his 45+year career dedicated to the research and conservation of this seldom seen big cat. Much of Rodney’s pioneering work was undertaken before the introduction of PC computers, hand-held GPS devices, or smart phones and without benefit of walkie-talkies or digital cameras. His study area in Western Nepal was only reachable via a 12-day or more trek over arduous, dangerous trails, with all supplies, food and equipment for the 3–6-month field session portered in by local people or more rarely on yaks. Rodney and his team rarely saw snow leopards but nevertheless were able to gather extensive information on snow leopard behavior, movements and habitat selection using telemetry and tracking social sign-posts along travel lanes favored by male and female snow leopards alike.

From this seminal study, Rodney will share his work training Protected Area rangers in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Mongolia using sign transects (SLIMS) to conducting the first camera trap and non-invasive studies, pioneering community-driven conservation and wildlife-livestock conflict mitigation to working with Traditional Cultural Elders, shamans and educators in Central Asia. Over the past few decades, he has focused on mentoring the next generation of conservationists.  

Rodney and Rinzin will then discuss how studies of snow leopards and their prey have changed from the “muddy boots” days of the 1970s-1990’s to involve closer and more interactive exchanges with local communities for resolving human-wildlife conflict, address climate change and laying basic framework for empowering local people to become increasingly effective as citizen scientists and front-line guardians of the snow leopard, its mountain biodiversity and their own environment. While key questions remain, like “how many snow leopards are there?”, the need for more strategic conservation action to address many growing threats remains. Indeed, the future of snow leopards’ rests with the current generation of biologists, ecologists and social scientists — men and women working in tandem with local people (especially pastoralists and herders) and government rather than being heavily driven by academia.

SLN invites you to this webinar presentation that delves into the ecological coexistence of two apex predators—the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and the common leopard (Panthera pardus)—within the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal. Drawing from a combination of historical accounts dating back to the 1950s and extensive winter camera trap data collected between 2016 and 2023 in the Annapurna Conservation Area (elevations 3,100–4,696 m), the study challenges conventional assumptions about the recent appearance of common leopards at high altitudes being solely a result of climate change.

This work unveils China’s first large-scale assessment of snow leopard populations, focusing on the Sanjiangyuan region, spanning over 360,000 km2. By integrating and standardizing seven years of camera trap data (2015–2021) from 12 sites across four organizations, we obtained a population estimation of 1,002 snow leopards (755–1,341) in Sanjiangyuan, with a density of 0.90 individuals per 100 km². These findings not only highlight Sanjiangyuan’s role as a global conservation priority but also demonstrate a scalable framework for synthesizing existing data to estimate elusive species population.

Dr. Shafqat Hussain founded Project Snow Leopard in 1999 as a pilot project and later the Organization was registered in 2007, as Baltistan Wildlife Conservation and Development Organization (BWCDO), to work with local communities to find a way to compensate them for their livestock loss, while also removing the incentive to retaliate against the snow leopard. 

BWCDO works with remote communities throughout Baltistan in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region. Their work currently covers over 18 villages across six valleys. Recently, BWCDO has also started working in Gojal Region in Upper Hunza. BWCDO work with local communities to resolve human wildlife conflict and co-existence

This webinar explores experiences as a research assistant on long-term research projects in the remote forests of Central America and Equatorial Africa. Virginia Tech University’s IX Belize Jaguar Project in Belize and the Max Planck Institute’s LuiKotale Bonobo Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have both continuously studied elusive species for more than 20 years in historically remote field sites. Utilizing diverse methods to study population dynamics, occupancy modelling, and behavior, these field sites contribute rigorous study of some of the least observed mammal species: jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), and mesocarnivores of Central America, and bonobos (Pan paniscus) of the DRC. Long-term field sites are invaluable, not just for the dynamic research projects they support, but also for the community investment they contribute, and conservation initiatives they promote in the areas surrounding project sites.

Snow leopards are more than just special animals to protect—they are sacred relatives to many Indigenous communities across Inner and Central Asia. The Land of Snow Leopard Network (LOSL), founded in 2013, works to empower Indigenous Peoples to protect snow leopards and their ecosystems while preserving cultural traditions. Snow leopards are seen as guardians of sacred mountains, sources of wisdom, and a powerful unifying force in ancient traditions. LOSL unites Indigenous communities, local groups, and Western conservation scientists across Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and the Russian Federation, making sure that snow leopard conservation is driven by both ecological science and Traditional Indigenous (Ecological) Knowledge.

Our work is deeply spiritual and holistic, recognizing the interconnectedness of all animals, sacred lands, and sacred waters worldwide. By supporting Indigenous efforts in North America to protect sacred totemic animals like Chinook salmon, orca whales, and buffalo, we are also protecting snow leopards. All of these beings are connected, and their survival depends on the health of the Earth as a whole. Our cultural survival is inseparable from the survival of our sacred animals. That is why LOSL is deeply committed to raising the next generation of Indigenous conservation and cultural leaders.

In this webinar, we are excited to share our groundbreaking collaborations with Indigenous communities in North America. In particular, we will highlight the participation of LOSL youth wing members in Run4Salmon, a powerful journey organized by the Winnemem Wintu tribe, a powerful example of how Indigenous youth across continents are coming together to protect sacred species and ecosystems. Through these efforts, we are building lasting connections, restoring balance, and keeping Traditional Indigenous Knowledge alive.

The mechanisms of interactions between apex predators and smaller carnivores may range from competition to facilitation. In contrast, interactions between predators and prey are primarily driven by prey reducing the likelihood of encounters with predators. In this study, we investigated (1) the spatio–temporal interactions between an apex predator (the snow leopard Panthera uncia) and a mesopredator (the red fox Vulpes vulpes), and (2) the temporal interactions between the snow leopard and its potential prey (Siberian ibex Capra sibirica, argali sheep Ovis ammon, Asian wild ass Equus hemionus, and Tolai hare Lepus tolai) using camera traps in the Mongolian Great Gobi–A, an area covering approximately 44,190 km². The probability of occurrence for the red fox was higher in the presence of the snow leopard than in its absence. Additionally, the activity pattern of the red fox mirrored that of the snow leopard, with both species being most active at sunset. This positive spatio–temporal interaction suggests that the presence of the snow leopard may provide scavenging opportunities for the red fox. However, other explanations cannot be ruled out. Among the prey species, the Siberian ibex and argali sheep were primarily active during the day, whereas the Asian wild ass and Tolai hare exhibited more nocturnal activity. These findings suggest that potential prey species (particularly the Siberian ibex and argali sheep) may adjust their behavior to reduce the likelihood of encounters with the snow leopard. Our results highlight complex interactions between apex and smaller predators, as well as between the apex predator and its potential prey. However, further research conducted over a longer time period, incorporating estimates of local prey abundance and dietary analyses of predators, is needed to provide more comprehensive insights.

Our webinar with Tshiring Lhamu Lama, the founding director of Snow Leopard Journey and Snow Leopard Sisters.

As the founding director of Snow Leopard Journey and Snow Leopard Sisters, Tshiring is on the frontlines of snow leopard conservation in the Dolpo Himalaya. Through innovative, sustainable, and practical projects, she works to encourage, empower, engage, and employ local youth by promoting eco-tourism, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental education. Tshiring’s efforts aim not only to shift local perceptions of the snow leopard, transforming it from a threat into a vital asset for both conservation and community well-being, but also to end the retaliatory killings of snow leopards in the Dolpo Himalayas.

Our webinar presentation with Scott Waller, from Wildlife Conservation Society’s Temperate Asia regional program.

Population density is a valuable metric used to manage wildlife populations. In the Russian Far East, wildlife managers use the Formozov-Malyushev-Pereleshin (FMP) snow tracking method to estimate densities of ungulate prey for hunting management and Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) conservation, since the carrying capacity of a landscape for tigers is closely linked with the density of available prey biomass. Yet, climate change and challenges with survey design call into question the reliability of the FMP, and wildlife managers are looking for alternative methods. Camera traps offer a promising new tool, but their suitability for monitoring prey remains unclear.

Working with the Wildlife Conservation Society and Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve, Scott and colleagues applied a rigorous scientific design of random sampling to estimate densities of preferred prey of the Amur tiger using both FMP and camera-based methods. They also converted these density estimates to prey biomass following conventions in the literature. They found that, while both track surveys and camera traps provided consistent estimates of density, cameras required more resources and effort to implement. They also consider the demands of random sampling of the landscape as restrictive, especially in other parts of the tiger’s range with more challenging terrain. Finally, they found that insignificant differences in density estimates between methods still led to large differences in prey biomass, emphasizing the need for more robust methods.

This webinar shares news about Ethical Conservation Alliance (ECA) which has been active since 2023, as a transformative force, aiming to help conserve biodiversity while addressing the historical injustices to indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs).

Recognizing the urgent need for a shift towards ethical biodiversity conservation, the ECA is working to develop cadres of frontline conservationists who are trained and have the needful tools to foster respectful relationships with IPLCs. By enabling respectful partnerships with IPLCs, the ECA aims to facilitate these communities as key stakeholders and rights holders in biodiversity protection, climate adaptation, and sustainable development. This approach aligns really well with the goals of multiple international conventions, particularly as these frameworks increasingly emphasize the importance of local and Indigenous involvement in biodiversity conservation.

The webinar also describes how conservation practitioners use resources developed by the Alliance for their own work.