There is one more week left before Orjan takes a break from fieldwork. He will head back to Sweden soon, and he’ll return to the base camp in late August to begin the next collaring season, which will run through mid-December. Various other studies are planned in the South Gobi over the next couple of months. In June and July, a photo-camera trapping study will be conducted to estimate snow leopard population using capture-recapture modeling. Sign surveys will be conducted simultaneously as part of our effort to develop low-cost, sustainable methods for monitoring snow leopards in areas where camera trapping or genetic data collection and analysis are not always feasible. Another study will be conducted in June, involving interviews with the local herders to help us better understand and improve the socio-cultural and economic factors behind wolf trapping and other wildlife hunting, such as argali and ibex. An additional study will involve gathering data that will enable us to develop layers of geographical information regarding seasonal use of pastures, and the water and space used by people and their livestock within the landscape. Base camp will continue to buzz with activity throughout the summer, including the assembly of a donated solar power unit that will provide more than 2,300 watts of power to the current and future work of the Long-term Ecological Study. Special thanks to Stephen Gold and the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Solar Program.
Trap Camera Photo from India Courtsey of SLT/Nature Conservation Foundation.
Hi,
I was hoping to get involved with some kind of volunteer work with your organisation and was wondering if there were any opportunities to do so and who i would need to contact to become involved. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Cheers,
Lisa Scarborough