Category: Webinar

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

About the Talk:

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.

About our Speaker:

Dr. Rodney Jackson was born in South Africa and grew up in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. In 1968 he came to the US to obtain his master’s degree from UC Berkeley, and upon graduating he started his career as an independent wildlife and land management consultant in California and eastern Africa. In 1981 he received the Rolex Award for Enterprise that enabled his pioneering radio-tracking study of snow leopards in the remote mountains of the Nepalese Himalaya. This four-year study led to a National Geographic cover story in 1986 and his PhD in 1996 from the University of London.

Rodney is widely acknowledged as a leading world expert on snow leopards and their high-mountain ecosystem. A founder member of the International Snow leopard Trust, in 2000 he and his wife Darla Hillard launched the Snow Leopard Project which evolved into the Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) based on his 40+ years’ experience gained in working closely with rural herders and farmers whose lives are directly impacted when snow leopards’ prey upon their livestock. In 2003 Rodney and Darla established the SLC – India Trust, now an independent NGO based in Ladakh, India.

Rodney prepared the original snow leopard section for the IUCN-World Conservation Union’s Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for Cats published in 1996. He is a long-time member of IUCN’s Cat Specialist Core Group and served on the Snow Leopard Network Steering Committee between 2003 and 2008. Rodney led the standardization of snow leopard field survey methods across the twelve snow leopard host countries, known as the Snow Leopard Information Management System (SLIMS). Working with partner agencies, he has trained biologists in survey and conservation methods for parks and nature reserves in China, Pakistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, and India. SLIMS has since been superseded by advancements in camera trapping and genetic technology for surveying snow leopard populations. Rodney has served as a consultant to the World Bank on a GEF protected areas project in Pakistan, and to the UNDP for a GEF Biodiversity Conservation Project in Upper Mustang Project in Nepal. He assisted ACTED, to develop community-based wildlife initiatives in Tajikistan centered around snow leopards and Marco Polo sheep, funded by UNESCO, along with providing technical support for transboundary and wildlife management for the Makalu-Barun National Park (Nepal)i, the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve (Tibet, China) and four protected areas in Pakistan.

Rodney has contributed to numerous scientific peer-reviewed papers and general interest publications targeting administrators and the general public.  He is an Honorary Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences and a five-time finalist for the Indianapolis Prize, among the world’s most prestigious and largest individual award for animal conservation. He numerous presentations have reached audiences across America to Britain, South Africa, Australia and Nepal. 

Rodney retired as SLC’s Executive Director in 2022, although currently serving as President of its Board of Directors, while also devoting his time mentoring the next generation of promising range-country conservationists and of course keeping his hand in special projects (including using drones for enumerate prey species in Mongolia).

About our Facilitator:

Rinzin Phunjok Lama is an internationally recognized conservationist from Humla, Nepal. He holds a BSc in Forestry from Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, and a Master’s degree in International Nature Conservation jointly from the University of Göttingen, Germany, and Lincoln University, New Zealand. Rinzin currently leads UKALI, a community-led initiative focused on trans-Himalayan biodiversity conservation in Nepal, with emphasis on his native Upper Karnali region.

Since 2014, Rinzin has been actively involved in high-altitude wildlife research and conservation, contributing numerous peer-reviewed publications. His leadership and dedication have earned him several prestigious accolades, including the WWF Nepal Conservation Award (2020), the prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise (2021), and recognition as one of Time magazine’s Next Generation Leaders (2022). In 2024, he received the Future for Nature Award and the National Geographic Wayfinder Award, and was named among OnlineKhabar’s “40 Under 40” most influential youths in Nepal.)

Date/Time:

Thursday, 10th July at 09:15 AM (Bishkek time)

Location:

ZOOM, to join this talk, REGISTER HERE

Please note:

• If you have never used Zoom before, we recommend that you try the link 10 minutes before the start of the lecture.
• Please feel free to write questions in the comment area and there will be time for questions/discussion at the end of the talk.
• Please note that the session will be recorded and later featured on the SLN website. If you have concerns about this please let us know before the session

About the Talk:

SLN invites you to our upcoming 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.

SLN invites you to join us for our upcoming webinar and is delighted to welcome Li Xueyang (Our Speaker) and Wei Chunyue (Our Facilitator).

About the Talk:

About our Facilitator:

Kayley Bateman joined the Snow Leopard Conservancy team as Programs Manager in July of 2023. She coordinates SLC’s conservation, education, and applied research programs and serves as the primary liaison between SLC and its partners. Kayley has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in Animal Science and a Master’s of Art in Biology from Miami University’s Project Dragonfly. Her involvement in Project Dragonfly’s Global Field Program focused on working effectively across diverse ecological and social settings to foster change through community-engaged education, scientific inquiry, environmental stewardship, and global understanding. Last fall, Kayley traveled to Nepal with the Snow Leopard Conservancy to facilitate the One Health – One Welfare program, an interdisciplinary approach aimed at strengthening local capacity to enhance the well-being of both animals and people in Nepal. Before joining the Conservancy, Kayley spent 15 years as an animal care specialist working directly with snow leopards, tigers, bears, and other wildlife in zoological settings.

Receiving compensation

Date/Time:

Tuesday, 22nd April at 19:00 PM (Bishkek time)

Location:

ZOOM, to join this talk, REGISTER HERE

 Please note:

SLN invites you to our third webinar of 2025.

About the Talk: 

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.

About our Speaker:

Michaela Foley is a ecology and conservation researcher with a background in animal husbandry, and field experience in remote sub-tropical and equatorial tropical forests. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology at North Carolina State University, she worked in the care of large mammals, particularly primates and carnivores, at several AZA accredited institutions in the United States. Returning to her passion for field research and conservation, she joined Virginia Tech University’s IX Belize Jaguar Project in Belize, Central America as a research assistant, and later spent a year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the Max Planck Institute’s LuiKotale Bonobo Project as a senior research assistant. Michaela grew up in New York, USA, loving animals and wanting to pursue a career in human-wildlife conflict and conservation research thanks to the books and wildlife photography that opened up the world’s ecosystems for her. 

About our Facilitator:

Miles Engell is a Teaching Professor at North Carolina State University, where she has taught for 20 years. She has a BSc from Davidson College in Biology and a PhD in Zoology from NCSU. Her classes include a large intro biology class that focuses on evolution, ecology and biodiversity, and a large course in animal behavior for upperclassmen. She also teaches a smaller class that explores the evolution of human behavior, and a graduate course in stress physiology.  Having spent a semester in Kenya studying wildlife management during college, she was happy to also become involved with and help teach, each year, a study abroad program focused on conservation issues in Namibia. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and daughters and dog, and enjoys traveling, hiking, and sharing her passion for the natural world.

Date/Time:

Tuesday 11th March at 18:00 PM (Bishkek time)

Location:

ZOOM, to join this talk, REGISTER HERE

Please note:

• If you have never used Zoom before, we recommend that you try the link 10 minutes before the start of the lecture.
• Please feel free to write questions in the comment area and there will be time for questions/discussion at the end of the talk.
• Please note that the session will be recorded and later featured on the SLN website. If you have concerns about this please let us know before the session

SLN invites you to join us for our second webinar of 2025.

About the Presentation:

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.

About our Speaker:

Amar mende! My name is Maria Azhunova. I come from Buryat-Mongol people, Ekhirit tribe on my father’s side, and Sagaan/Khongoodor on my mother’s; both tribes connect their origin to Lake Baikal, just north of the Russian-Mongolian border. Raised in a family of Indigenous and environmental activists, I understood early on that Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge, values, spiritual and cultural practices are crucial for decelerating today’s unprecedented loss of biodiversity. I have long been helping Indigenous elders, shamans, Buddhist clergy, and community leaders in efforts to address the root causes of the current environmental crisis. I am devoted to our Indigenous ethics and determined to incorporate these ethical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions into conservation efforts. With this commitment and empowerment from my Elders, I was privileged to obtain education at Harvard and Cambridge Universities.

Being the Director of the Land of Snow Leopard Network (LOSL) has helped me appreciate the Snow Leopard both as a keystone species and as a totem animal with profound religious, cultural, and ecological significance. We view the threat to Snow Leopards as both a biological loss and a loss of ancient moral reference points. Therefore, we provide a unique approach to community-based snow leopard conservation blending Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western conservation science. Our network is an inspiring example of a multinational collaboration working together in majestic mountain regions such as the Pamirs in Tajikistan, the Tien Shan in Kyrgyzstan, and the Altai and Sayan Ranges in Mongolia and the Russian Federation.

The work of LOSL is rooted in indigenous understanding of the sacredness, cultural and environmental significance of the snow leopard across Central and Inner Asia. Since we began our work with the communities of these mountain regions, there have been multiple success stories of human-wildlife coexistence and rural communities championing wildlife. Our hard work and devotion to the sacred Snow Leopards are recognized on the international level with the Disney Conservation Hero Award (2020) and Stanford Bright Award (2020).

About our Facilitator:

Ashleigh Lutz-Nelson is the Executive Director of the Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC).  Prior to joining SLC in 2020, Ashleigh worked as a Zoologist in AZA-Accredited Zoos in Florida and California for 20 years, specializing with wild carnivores, particularly felids. During this time, she worked closely with Malayan Conservation Alliance for Tigers, Pallas’s Cat International Conservation Alliance, Manul Working Group, and the Felid Taxon Advisory Group, serving as a ‘Wildlife Health Bridge’, between zoos & range country conservation organizations to build partnerships and collective impact.  Ashleigh has a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology (Pre-Veterinary) from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree from Royal Veterinary College and Zoological Society of London in Wild Animal Biology. Using her interdisciplinary experience in Coexistence Anthrozoology, she builds collaborative partnerships to further compassionate human-wildlife coexistence in our rapidly changing world.

Date/Time:

Wednesday, 19th February at 9:00 AM (Bishkek time)

Location:

ZOOM, to join this talk, REGISTER HERE

Please note:

• If you have never used Zoom before, we recommend that you try the link 10 minutes before the start of the lecture.
• Please feel free to write questions in the comment area and there will be time for questions/discussion at the end of the talk.
• Please note that the session will be recorded and later featured on the SLN website. If you have concerns about this please let us know before the session

We wish our members a very happy 2025 and as we head into the new year together, the Snow Leopard Network is excited to invite you to join us for our first webinar of the year with Marcello Franchini, an associate member of the NGO – Wildlife Initiative and Claudio Augugliaro, founder of the Wildlife Initiative.

About the Talk: 

We invite you to join us for our upcoming webinar with Tshiring Lhamu Lama, the founding director of Snow Leopard Journey and Snow Leopard Sisters.

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming webinar on Wednesday, 30th October, 2024.

About the Talk:

The Snow Leopard Network invites you to join us for our webinar with Bayarmaa Chuluunbat,  WCS – Mongolia, on Friday, 20th September, 2024.

About the Talk:

Understanding the diet composition of animals is essential for comprehending their ecology and developing effective conservation strategies, especially for endangered species. In the depressions of Great Lakes of western Mongolia, the critically endangered Mongolian saiga coexists year-round with livestock. This research aims to determine the seasonal dietary overlap between the Mongolian saiga and livestock using the microhistological method.

Bayarmaa has also created a microhistological reference key for over 120 different plant species in the steppe and desert steppe. This key is vital for determining the diet of herbivores and understanding their dietary habits in these regions. Given the widespread practice of livestock husbandry in Mongolia, understanding the dietary habits and overlaps between wildlife and livestock is crucial for conservation efforts and rangeland management. This is particularly important for endangered ungulates, many of which are found in the steppe and desert steppe. Additionally, these regions are significant for snow leopard conservation, as their diet includes these herbivores.

About our Speaker:

Bayarmaa Chuluunbat is a Wildlife Biologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society and one of the young researchers in Mongolia. Her journey in wildlife conservation began at the age of 14, when she became involved in eco-clubs focused on protecting endangered species such as the Snow Leopard, Mongolian Saiga, and Dalmatian Pelican. Growing up in the unique ecosystem of the Mongol Altai mountains, Bayarmaa developed a profound interest in observing wildlife behavior in their natural habitats. This region and her hometown, is home to many endangered species.

In high school, Bayarmaa initiated an anti-trapping campaign with the support of WWF-Mongolia to protect the world’s rarest Snow Leopard. This campaign successfully saved thousands of animals from the threat of traps. Additionally, she studied the impact of climate change and livestock on wetland plant communities in Khurkh-Khuiten river valley where is located northeastern Mongolia, which is a crucial habitat for the endangered White-naped Cranes. During her graduate studies, she investigated the seasonal dietary overlap between the Mongolian Saiga and livestock supported by WSCC, WCN and SCA.

Bayarmaa’s primary concern is balancing development with healthy ecosystems. While economic growth in Mongolia is vital, it can lead to land degradation and biodiversity loss. The shift from nomadic to sedentary lifestyles has caused overgrazing and desertification. Mongolia needs well-trained conservation professionals, and Bayarmaa aspires to be one, dedicated to sustainable development and preserving biodiversity for future generations.

About our Facilitator:

Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar (Buuvei) is a senior scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Mongolia Program, boasting 20 years of dedicated experience in safeguarding Mongolia’s unique biodiversity. He earned both his master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Buuvei is an active member of the Antelope and Equid Specialist Groups at the IUCN and serves on the steering committee of the Saiga Conservation Alliance. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with government agencies, NGOs, and local communities to develop and implement research and conservation programs focused on protecting endangered nomadic ungulates such as the saiga antelope, Asiatic wild ass, goitered gazelle, and Mongolian gazelle. His expertise covers critical areas including habitat connectivity, wildlife monitoring, spatial ecology, and biodiversity conservation.

Date/Time:

Friday, 20th September at 14:00 pm (Bishkek time)

Location:

ZOOM, to join this talk, REGISTER HERE

Please note:

• If you have never used Zoom before, we recommend that you try the link 10 minutes before the start of the lecture.
• Please feel free to write questions in the comment area and there will be time for questions/discussion at the end of the talk.
• Please note that the session will be recorded and later featured on the SLN website. If you have concerns about this please let us know before the session