scholarly journals On the high trail: examining determinants of site use by the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia in Qilianshan, China

Oryx ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine S. Alexander ◽  
Kun Shi ◽  
Lucy A. Tallents ◽  
Philip Riordan
Keyword(s):  
Gansu Province ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Occupancy Modelling ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Robust Techniques ◽  
Site Use ◽  
Assessment And Monitoring ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Panthera Uncia

AbstractThere is a need for simple and robust techniques for assessment and monitoring of populations of the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia to inform the development of action plans for snow leopard conservation. We explored the use of occupancy modelling to evaluate the influence of environmental and anthropogenic features on snow leopard site-use patterns. We conducted a camera trap survey across 480 km2 in Gansu Province, China, and used data from 60 camera traps to estimate probabilities of site use and detection using the single season occupancy model. We assessed the influence of three covariates on site use by snow leopards: elevation, the presence of blue sheep Pseudois nayaur and the presence of human disturbance (distance to roads). We recorded 76 captures of snow leopards over 2,906 trap-days, representing a mean capture success of 2.62 captures per 100 trap-days. Elevation had the strongest influence on site use, with the probability of site use increasing with altitude, whereas the influence of presence of prey and distance to roads was relatively weak. Our findings indicate the need for practical and robust techniques to appraise determinants of site use by snow leopards, especially in the context of the limited resources available for such work.

scholarly journals Population monitoring of snow leopards using camera trapping in Naryn State Reserve, Kyrgyzstan, between 2016 and 2019

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Rode ◽  
Claire Lambert ◽  
Lucile Marescot ◽  
Bastien Chaix ◽  
Julie Beesau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Buffer Area ◽  
The Core ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Panthera Uncia

AbstractFour field seasons of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) camera trapping inside Naryn State Reserve, performed thanks to citizen science expeditions, allowed detecting a minimal population of five adults, caught every year with an equilibrated sex ratio (1.5:1), and reproduction: five cubs or subadults have been identified from three litters of two different females. Crossings were observed one to three times a year, in front of most camera traps, and several times a month in front of one of them. Overlap of adults’ territories was observed in front of several camera traps regardless of their sex. Significant snow leopard presence was detected in the buffer area and at Ulan, situated at the reserve border. To avoid poaching on this umbrella species and its preys, extending the more stringent protection measures of the core zone to both the Southern buffer area and land adjacent to Ulan is necessary.

scholarly journals Status and conservation of the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, Tibet

Oryx ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 590-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengju Chen ◽  
Yufang Gao ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Qiong Pu ◽  
Cering Lhaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
National Nature Reserve ◽  
The Status ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Religious Reasons ◽  
Panthera Uncia

AbstractLittle is known about the status of the snow leopard Panthera uncia in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, located on the northern aspect of Mount Everest in Tibet. To address this, during May–September 2014 we conducted line transects, camera trapping, household interviews, and socioeconomic statistics analysis. We surveyed 14 transects and located 287 putative snow leopard signs, with a mean density of 1.9 sign sites km–1, 3.8 signs km–1, and 1.4 scrapes km–1. We set 41 camera traps and recorded a minimum of seven individual snow leopards. Our results were comparable to snow leopard abundance estimates for neighbouring protected areas in Nepal. Semi-structured interviews with 46 (59%) households found that local people were generally supportive of snow leopard conservation, for a variety of economic, legislative, and religious reasons. The socio-economic situation in the Reserve underwent dramatic changes between 2000 and 2014. The human population increased by 28.9%, the livestock population decreased by 9.9%, the number of tourists in 2014 was 6.8 times greater than in 2005, and the local gross domestic product underwent an annual increase of 15%. We discuss the current threats to snow leopards, and recommend that more rigorous, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary research be undertaken to provide an evidential basis for the formulation of effective conservation policies and programmes.

scholarly journals Assessing changes in distribution of the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia and its wild prey over 2 decades in the Indian Himalaya through interview-based occupancy surveys

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 620-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek Ghoshal ◽  
Yash Veer Bhatnagar ◽  
Bivash Pandav ◽  
Koustubh Sharma ◽  
Charudutt Mishra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Blue Sheep ◽  
Distribution Ranges ◽  
Site Use ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Panthera Uncia

AbstractUnderstanding species distributions, patterns of change and threats can form the basis for assessing the conservation status of elusive species that are difficult to survey. The snow leopard Panthera uncia is the top predator of the Central and South Asian mountains. Knowledge of the distribution and status of this elusive felid and its wild prey is limited. Using recall-based key-informant interviews we estimated site use by snow leopards and their primary wild prey, blue sheep Pseudois nayaur and Asiatic ibex Capra sibirica, across two time periods (past: 1985–1992; recent: 2008–2012) in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. We also conducted a threat assessment for the recent period. Probability of site use was similar across the two time periods for snow leopards, blue sheep and ibex, whereas for wild prey (blue sheep and ibex combined) overall there was an 8% contraction. Although our surveys were conducted in areas within the presumed distribution range of the snow leopard, we found snow leopards were using only 75% of the area (14,616 km2). Blue sheep and ibex had distinct distribution ranges. Snow leopards and their wild prey were not restricted to protected areas, which encompassed only 17% of their distribution within the study area. Migratory livestock grazing was pervasive across ibex distribution range and was the most widespread and serious conservation threat. Depredation by free-ranging dogs, and illegal hunting and wildlife trade were the other severe threats. Our results underscore the importance of community-based, landscape-scale conservation approaches and caution against reliance on geophysical and opinion-based distribution maps that have been used to estimate national and global snow leopard ranges.

scholarly journals Presence of the snow leopard Panthera uncia confirmed at four sites in the Chinese Tianshan Mountains

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 594-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Buzzard ◽  
Roller MaMing ◽  
Mardan Turghan ◽  
Jiawu Xiong ◽  
Tong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Tianshan Mountains ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Chinese Tianshan Mountains ◽  
Western Tianshan ◽  
Chinese Tianshan ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Survey Effort ◽  
Panthera Uncia

AbstractThe Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia is a flagship species of mountainous central Asia, and a conservation concern. China has the largest extent of potential snow leopard habitat and is thus crucial for snow leopard conservation. There are many challenges to snow leopard conservation in China, however, and there is still little information on the species for many geographical locations, including the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang province, which are important because they potentially connect snow leopard populations in Krygyzstan and Kazakhstan with those in Mongolia. We used camera traps in four areas across eastern, central and western Tianshan, with a total survey effort of 3,216 camera-trapping days. We confirmed the presence of snow leopards and an abundance of potential snow leopard prey, including the Siberian ibex Capra sibirica, in all areas. We found 2–3 individual adult snow leopards at each site, with relatively limited survey effort, and more study is needed to fully investigate the importance of the Tianshan Mountains for the species. Establishing more protected areas is essential for snow leopard conservation, and we have used data from this study to apply for protected area status for several areas.

scholarly journals Large carnivores and low diversity of optimal prey: a comparison of the diets of snow leopards Panthera uncia and wolves Canis lupus in Sarychat-Ertash Reserve in Kyrgyzstan

Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kubanychbek Jumabay-Uulu ◽  
Per Wegge ◽  
Charudutt Mishra ◽  
Koustubh Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Tien Shan ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Competition For Food ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Ovis Ammon ◽  
Tien Shan Mountains ◽  
Panthera Uncia

AbstractIn the cold and arid mountains of Central Asia, where the diversity and abundance of wild ungulates are generally low, resource partitioning among coexisting carnivores is probably less distinct than in prey-rich areas. Thus, similar-sized carnivores are likely to compete for food. We compared the summer diets of snow leopards Panthera uncia and wolves Canis lupus in Sarychat-Ertash Reserve in the Tien-Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, based on analysis of genetically confirmed scats. Abundances of the principal prey species, argali Ovis ammon and Siberian ibex Capra sibirica, were estimated from field surveys. The diets consisted of few species, with high interspecific overlap (Pianka's index = 0.91). Argali was the predominant prey, with > 50% frequency of occurrence in both snow leopard and wolf scats. This was followed by Siberian ibex and marmots Marmota baibacina. Being largely unavailable, remains of livestock were not detected in any of the scats. In the snow leopard diet, proportions of argali and ibex were in line with the relative availabilities of these animals in the Reserve. This was in contrast to the diet of wolf, where argali occurred according to availability and ibex was significantly underrepresented. The high diet overlap indicates that the two predators might compete for food when the diversity of profitable, large prey is low. Competition may be more intense in winter, when marmots are not available. Hunting of argali and ibex outside the Reserve may be unsustainable and therefore reduce their abundances over time. This will affect both predators negatively and intensify competition for food. Reduction in ibex populations will directly affect the snow leopard, and the wolf is likely to be indirectly affected as a result of increased snow leopard predation of argali.

scholarly journals Status of the mountain ungulate prey of the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia in the Tost Local Protected Area, South Gobi, Mongolia

Oryx ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lkhagvasumberel Tumursukh ◽  
Kulbhushansingh R. Suryawanshi ◽  
Charudutt Mishra ◽  
Thomas M. McCarthy ◽  
Bazartseren Boldgiv
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Camera Trap ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Wild Ungulates ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Demographic Surveys ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Ovis Ammon ◽  
Panthera Uncia

AbstractThe availability of wild prey is a critical predictor of carnivore density. However, few conservation programmes have focused on the estimation and monitoring of wild ungulate populations and their trends, especially in the remote mountains of Central Asia. We conducted double-observer surveys to estimate the populations of ibex Capra sibirica and argali Ovis ammon in the mountainous regions of Tost Local Protected Area, South Gobi province, Mongolia, which is being considered for designation as a Nature Reserve. We also conducted demographic surveys of the more abundant ibex to examine their sex-ratio and the survival of young during 2012–2013. The estimated ibex population remained stable in 2012 and 2013 and the estimated argali population increased from 108 in 2012 to 230 in 2013. The biomass of wild ungulates was c. 6% that of livestock. Mortality in young ibex appeared to increase after weaning, at the age of 12 months. We estimated the population of wild ungulates was sufficient to support 14–18 adult snow leopards Panthera uncia. The adult snow leopard population in our study area during 2012–2013, estimated independently using camera-trap-based mark–recapture methods, was 12–14. Based on our results we identify the Tost Local Protected Area as an important habitat for the conservation of these ungulates and their predator, the Endangered snow leopard, and recommend elevation of its status to a Nature Reserve.

scholarly journals Investigation of the population area of snow leopard in the Central Tian-Shan Mountains

2021 ◽  
Vol 227 ◽  
pp. 02002
Author(s):  
Mirlan Dyldaev ◽  
Akylbek Chymyrov ◽  
Askat Mukabaev ◽  
Orozbek Omurzak uulu
Keyword(s):  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Kyrgyz Republic ◽  
Survey Period ◽  
Open Source Gis ◽  
Nature Park ◽  
Tian Shan Mountains ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Tian Shan

The spatial analysis of population areal of snow leopards in the Central Tian Shan Mountains and monitoring of their population dynamics and reproduction is needed by nature conservation activities. The study area is located in the unique and remote transboundary region between the Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Kazakhstan and People’s Republic of China. The population areas, feeding base and movement of snow leopards within the Khan Tengri State Nature Park were realized by using camera traps and Geoinformation Systems (GIS). Camera traps have been used for recording the existence and activity of snow leopards in the high mountainous and uninhabited area. 14 adult and 5 snow leopard cubs are detected and recorded within the survey period in 2018-2019 with various individual characteristics of animals. The spatial distribution of snow leopard’s population was mapped and analyzed by applying open source GIS software (Quantum GIS) and satellite positioning.

scholarly journals Status and conservation of the snow leopard Panthera uncia in Api Nampa Conservation Area, Nepal

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopal Khanal ◽  
Laxman Prasad Poudyal ◽  
Bishnu Prasad Devkota ◽  
Rishi Ranabhat ◽  
Per Wegge
Keyword(s):  
Forest Products ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Encounter Rate ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Sign Surveys ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Panthera Uncia

AbstractThe snow leopard Panthera uncia is globally threatened and reliable information on its abundance, distribution and prey species is a prerequisite for its conservation. In October–November 2014 we assessed the distribution of the snow leopard in the recently established Api Nampa Conservation Area in the Nepal Himalayas. Within selected blocks we conducted sign surveys and counted the number of bharal Pseudois nayaur, its principal wild prey, along transects totalling 106 km. We recorded 203 putative snow leopard signs at an encounter rate of 1.91 signs/km. Generalized linear models of the number of signs detected per transect showed that elevation had a positive influence and human activities a negative influence on sign encounter rate; prey abundance had only a weak positive influence on sign encounter rate. Within the effectively surveyed area of c. 200 km2, we counted 527 bharal at an estimated density of 2.28 animals/km2. Recruitment of bharal was low, estimated at 48 kids/100 adult females, most likely a result of poor or overgrazed rangeland. We estimate the total number of bharal in this conservation area to be > 1,000, a prey base that could sustain 6–9 snow leopards. Based on our field observations, we identified human disturbance and habitat degradation associated with extraction of non-timber forest products, livestock grazing, and poaching as the main threats to the snow leopard. Standardized sign surveys, preferably supplemented by sampling with remote cameras or with genetic analysis of scats would provide robust baseline information on the abundance of snow leopards in this conservation area.

scholarly journals The spatial structure of а snow leopard population (Panthera uncia, Felidae, Carnivora) in east Kyrgyzstan

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 17-28
Author(s):  
Victor S. Lukarevskiy ◽  
Alexander P. Vereshchagin ◽  
Svyatoslav V. Lukarevskiy
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Information Management System ◽  
Tien Shan ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Marking Activity ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Panthera Uncia

The distribution of the snow leopard (Panthera uncia uncia (Shreber, 1775) across its geographic range is associated exclusively with the mountain landscapes. The most important factor in maintaining the integrity and viability of a population is its structure.Our studies were conducted in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and covered most of the range of snow leopard in East Kyrgyzstan. Each territory was surveyed through series of routes. The main methods used in field research were: searching for traces of vital activity, conducting short trail surveys, and using the SLIMS (Snow Leopard Information Management System) technique.In order to study the spatial structure of the snow leopard population, we conducted individual DNA-based identification and GPS registration of bioassays collected from all individuals inhabiting this territory.  Biological samples (tissue, fur, and excrement) were obtained following the protocols for collecting bioassays. A total of 146 samples (2 of wool, 2 of tissue, and 142 of excrement) were collected in nature in the Central Tien Shan Mts within Kyrgyzstan (in the Sarychat-Ertash Reserve, and in the area of the Kainar River).Snow leopard DNA was identified in 70 samples. A total of 21 individual snow leopards (8 females and 13 males) were identified. All females of a local population of the Sarychat-Ertash Reserve, with the exception of one, were directly related to each other. The same is true for most of males (11 of 13). Two females were accompanied by kittens. All females settled near the maternal site, while almost all males, which were born there, move away. There is a direct correlation between population density and marking activity.

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