Category: Webinar

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

The Snow Leopard Network is excited to invite you to our webinar on “Storytelling as a tool for conservation”.

About the Talk:

Join Dan O’Neill, a wildlife filmmaker, biologist, and Snow Leopard Trust ‘Explorer in Residence’, to discuss how storytelling and media are crucial tools in conservation. He will share his experiences from working in remote areas around the world, showing how telling engaging stories both locally and internationally can inspire action, raise awareness, and connect people with nature.

Dan will explain how documentary filmmaking and photography can be harnessed to protect endangered species and habitats in unexpected ways, helping to garner public support and even influence policy. Using visuals and real-life examples, he will demonstrate effective storytelling techniques and the role of modern media in breaking new ground.

About our Speaker:

Dan O’Neill is a wildlife filmmaker, field biologist, and certified survivalist, specialising in remote and challenging environments. He has organised numerous expeditions in search of rare animals from the pristine jungles of the northern Amazon and Mayan temple ruins of the Yucatan, to the frozen peaks of Central Asia. He is regularly involved on scientific expeditions, primarily working as an expedition leader, field technician and location lecturer. He has camera-trapped for jaguars across the Neotropics from Guyana to Mexico and assisted the Snow Leopard Trust in Central Asia.

(c) Ben Harris

About our Facilitator:

Bayarjargal Agvaantseren, Executive Director of the Snow Leopard Network.  Bayara is the former Director of the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation in Mongolia, and she currently contributes to the Snow Leopard Trust’s regional team. Bayara’s dedication to snow leopards and their conservation in the wild spans back to 1998, and her many accomplishments include – setting up community-based programs back in the early 2000s to elevating the status of protection of snow leopard habitat in the South Gobi.

Date/Time

Tuesday, 13th August @ 14:30 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 our fourth webinar of 2024 with the team from Snow Leopard Conservancy.

                                       (2023 OHOW Paraveterinarian training)

About the Talk:

The Snow Leopard Conservancy partners with local conservationists, range country and international organizations, and mountain communities living with snow leopards. SLC invests in solutions that save the lives of snow leopards and other predators from the consequence of human-wildlife conflict and build a long term foundation of coexistence, guardianship and self-reliance.  SLC’s initiatives empower Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, evidence-based science, and promote healthy mountain ecosystems across the snow leopard’s range.

(2023 OHOW Chame Animal Health Clinic)

The One-Health-One-Welfare initiative facilitates a community-driven and holistic conservation approach that bridges educational, health, and environmental challenges within the remote mountain communities of Nepal. Using a One Health framework, that aims to conserve snow leopards and their habitat by improving local livelihoods, agricultural practices, expanding snow leopard conservation education, improving access to livestock veterinary care, reducing zoonotic disease transmission, and building local capacity to address these challenges.

Nepal Snow Leopard Scout program

About our Speaker:

Ashleigh Lutz-Nelson is the Executive Director of the Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC).  Ashleigh has a B.S. in Zoology (Pre-Veterinary) from the University of Florida and a MSc from Royal Veterinary College and Zoological Society of London in Wild Animal Biology.  Prior to SLC, Ashleigh worked as a Zoologist in AZA-Accredited Zoos in Florida and California for 20 years, specializing with wild carnivores, particularly felids. She has also worked closely with Ruaha Carnivore Project, Malayan Conservation Alliance for Tigers, Pallas’s Cat International Conservation Alliance, and the Felid Taxon Advisory Group, serving as a ‘Wildlife Health Bridge’, between zoos & field conservation organizations to build collaboration and collective impact. She is the co-founder and co-director of SLC’s One-Health-One-Welfare initiative to improve animal-human health and the protection of snow leopards and other wildlife in Nepal. Using her interdisciplinary zoological and conservation background in animal behavior, welfare, veterinary medicine and creative problem solving, she aims to further compassionate human-wildlife coexistence in a rapidly changing world. 

About our Facilitator:

Koustubh Sharma is the International Coordinator of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) and the Director of Science and Conservation at the Snow Leopard Trust. With nearly 20 years of experience in ecological research, wildlife conservation and training, he helps build collaborations and coordinate alliances and at multiple levels for snow leopard research and conservation.

(2022 OHOW workshops in Phu Valley Annapurna Nepal)

Date/Time

Thursday, 16th May at 09:00am 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:

In this webinar hosted by the Snow Leopard Network, Peter van Lunteren’s presentation will explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in nature conservation, specifically emphasizing its potential applications in advancing Snow Leopard conservation efforts.

A picture of a snow leopard taken from the snow leopard network website. Box drawn by Peter. Photo credits to Shan Shui/SLT/Panthera

Peter will examine the current state of AI capabilities and discuss how conservationists can leverage automation and computer vision to enhance efficiency in their work. The focus will be on using AI for data analysis, real-time audio, and image processing in remote areas. Technologies such as camera traps, GPS collar tracking, and bioacoustic monitoring will be discussed. By addressing the current possibilities and challenges, Peter aims to shed light on how AI can be a powerful ally in the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve Snow Leopards and their habitats.

A lion with a GPS collar. Credit to Dr. Philip Stander of Desert Lion Conservation.

Peter photographing the environment in Northern Uganda.

About our Speaker:

How would I describe myself? I’m an optimistic, methodical, results-oriented, tech-savvy ecologist with a passion for developing data-driven solutions that improve the quality of ecological research and monitoring. My name is Peter van Lunteren, and I am an ecologist and data scientist. I have worked for several conservation initiatives over the past years and started out as a field biologist. I gradually came in contact with the world of conservation technology, until I eventually founded Addax Data Science. Addax specializes in the fusion of ecology, data science, and artificial intelligence to develop tailored tools to meet your specific needs. Projects range from statistical data analysis to streamlining research processes, including data flows, automated reports, dashboards, and custom species identification models for various applications, such as bird vocalizations, camera trap image analysis, or gunshot and chainsaw detection and localization.