Snow Leopard Trust’s conservation partner in Pakistan, the Snow Leopard Foundation, recently piloted an apiculture project in one of the remote settings of the Upper Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The following story, told by one of the women who participated in this livelihood improvement project, illustrates how this initiative enhances household income and fosters positive attitudes toward wildlife conservation.
A recent paper led by our colleague, Ph.D. candidate Tang Piaopiao, explores the factors shaping the tolerance of Tibetan herders toward snow leopards. Below is a summary of her findings.
Leading conservationists from 22 countries with a cumulative experience of 45 decades, working across five continents and oceans, announced the creation of the “Partners Conservation Alliance” to improve how biodiversity conservation is practiced worldwide.
“Have you seen the snow leopard? No! Isn’t that wonderful?” That famous quote by renowned author and naturalist Peter Matthiessen invokes a mysticism about the snow leopard like no other. Once-in-lifetime tourist expeditions to snow leopard habitat in search of the elusive mountain ghost are becoming increasingly popular. But should you go?
Snow Leopard Trust attracts talented conservationists from all over the world who contribute to our conservation efforts. Every year, our scientists support and guide Ph.D. students at the forefront of snow leopard and ecological research. Many of the stories and blogs we share come from their studies and published works. We’re shining a spotlight on some of these dedicated students, researchers and scientists so you can hear directly from them.
One hundred fifty honey bee hives were successfully delivered to their new homes in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Relocating the bees was a challenge, as Benazir, our Project Assistant, shares, “The delivery process was so nerve-wracking because we were transporting live creatures over a long distance. The delivery kept getting postponed due to rainy weather. To add to the complexity, honey bee families are supposed to be delivered at night so they can orient themselves once they are settled. Due to the specific challenges and risks involved, we did not sleep for two nights, constantly checking on the location of the truck with the bee families.”
A snow leopard attacked livestock over several nights in a remote community in the Himalaya, endangering its own life, causing fear and anger amongst people, and damaging their livelihood. Within weeks, the community members, their livestock, and the snow leopard, were safe as our field team helped the local community build seven predator-proof corrals under …
A better understanding of semi-nomadic herders’ perceptions towards climate change can lead to more successful mitigation efforts.
Great news for snow leopards and local herding communities: the Mongolian government has decided to expand the Tost Nature Reserve in the country’s South Gobi province by 150 km2. In doing so, the government also revoked a mining license that had threatened a water source that is critical for people and wildlife.
Follow our team on a trip to our Kyrgyz partner community of Ak Shiyrak, high up in the snow leopard habitat of the Central Tian Shan mountains.
