Exciting Field Updates from the “Snow Leopard Whisperer”

Snow Leopard Trust Senior Scientist Dr. Örjan Johannson has a bit of a reputation. Yes, he and our Mongolian team of conservationists have safely collared more snow leopards than all other studies put together, but what he’s really known for are his insightful and often dry email updates from the field. We’ve compiled a sampling below from the latest collaring effort in Mongolia. Enjoy!

How Pakistan is Building a Climate-Resilient Future

Our team in Pakistan, based at the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF), is safeguarding snow leopards and fragile high mountain ecosystems by implementing various climate adaptation interventions focused on sustainable resource management, ecological restoration and community-led conservation. These initiatives help local communities build resilience in the face of a changing climate and mitigate further damage to their shared ecosystem.

Peek into the Life of a Snow Leopard Mom & Cubs

We all love photos of playful snow leopard cubs traipsing behind mom, jumping on her and wrestling their siblings. However, these endearing scenes only emerge after months of development. Born blind and helpless, the cubs remain hidden in their den for the first few months, gradually gaining strength before venturing into the outside world. Mom must provide all their nourishment and protection during this time – no simple feat, especially when she still has to hunt for her own food. These first few months are busy for a new snow leopard mom!

Where Spotted Kingdoms Converge

Snow Leopard Trust’s India Program based at the Nature Conservation Foundation, conducted a pilot camera trap survey across two valleys in the Great Himalayan National Park in the second half of last year. Cameras were set up along a gradient from 2500 to 4500 meters in an attempt to determine the elevation range where snow leopards and common leopards overlap and potentially compete for resources.