Many of you know we use motion-activated cameras to study snow leopard populations, behavior, and habitat use. But those cameras, while crucial for research, only take low-resolution images. The beautiful photos you see in our calendars and newsletters are nearly always donated by talented wildlife photographers who support our mission to protect snow leopards. We asked one such photographer, Sascha Fonseca, about his recent expedition with our team in Kyrgyzstan.
When a fellow Zookeeper from Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo reached out to us to make a donation in honor of her colleague’s retirement after 35 years, we knew we wanted to highlight Allison Barr’s story. It is an incredible testament to how inspiration breeds inspiration and exemplifies the ripple effect of what can happen when you share your passion and dedication with others.
“We collared a new snow leopard yesterday. I’ve said those words many times, and it never gets old. We had just finished dinner and were enjoying the warmth of the fire when the alarm went off. We rushed to our trapping site and found ourselves in the presence of a big male cat. He explained in a very clear way what he thought of us, growling all the while until he fell asleep from the drugs.” – Senior Scientist Dr. Örjan Johansson.
The critically acclaimed Living with Snow Leopards series transports you to Asia’s high mountains to experience the reality of living with this endangered big cat in your own backyard. See firsthand how families in snow leopard range countries navigate the challenges of coexisting with snow leopards.
“Learning about snow leopard behavior, including their hunting habitat and frequency, is invaluable. It allows us to have informed conversations with local people when trying to address conflict situations.” ~ Purevjav Lkhagvajav, Director, Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation, Mongolia.
In October 2022, Snow Leopard Trust volunteer and dedicated supporter Linfang Yang had a striking idea about the possibility of using Virtual Reality (VR) as a camera trap training tool. Not only did she dream up an incredibly innovative concept, but she was persistent in bringing her immersive brainchild to life.
Members of our team recently visited Uganda with partners from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Bhutan as part of UNEP’s Vanishing Treasures programme. Yes, Uganda, where some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas live. You may wonder what connects snow leopards to mountain gorillas.
Mention the North Pole or a species at risk due to climate change and people often think of polar bears. And thanks in part to the film March of the Penguins, the emperor penguin has become synonymous with the South Pole. But did you know our planet also has a Third Pole?
That quote is from the director of our Kyrgyzstan program, who recently traveled with students to one of our summer eco-camps to inspire a connection with nature and conservation. He shared a heartwarming story about two boys who came home with a newfound passion for wildlife.
Aibek Sergek uulu, the eco-education coordinator from our Kyrgyzstan Program, recently shared his harrowing experience traveling to set up research cameras in the Sarychat mountains during a snowstorm.
