Water is essential for all life—even for cats, despite their longstanding grievance towards it! All animals rely on water—a limited resource in the more arid parts of snow leopard habitat. During our long-term research study in the Gobi Desert, we’ve encountered multiple examples of the tight connection between cats and water.
A recent study led by our team in Mongolia examined the ecological relationship between snow leopards and the Eurasian lynx. These two species share habitat across large swaths of Asia, including southern Mongolia. Despite this overlap, little is known about their interactions.
On a dark August night in 2009, a tiny snow leopard cub and her sibling trailed behind their mother through the rocky Tost mountains of Mongolia. Unbeknownst to them, they triggered one of our motion-sensor research cameras, which captured the image above. That moment was the beginning of a lifelong relationship with perhaps the most well-known and beloved snow leopard in our long-running scientific study.
While you go about your daily life, something remarkable is unfolding in the rugged peaks of Mongolia: motion-triggered research cameras are capturing extraordinary moments in the lives of Earth’s most elusive big cat. These secret “selfies” of wild snow leopards aren’t just incredible images – they’re vital pieces of a complex conservation puzzle.
Our researchers have documented a previously unseen behavior: a snow leopard digging for water in Mongolia’s Tost Mountains. This observation sheds light on how these endangered cats may adapt to drought and arid environments.
Community-based and led conservation practices have been part of Snow Leopard Trust’s modus operandi for decades. However, the performance of such programs is rarely measured, making it difficult to assess their impact. A recent study evaluated the effectiveness of our large-scale, community-based conservation initiatives in five countries.
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!
Horses are integral to the livelihood and culture of herding communities who coexist with snow leopards. Last year, one of our dedicated community partners in Mongolia, Enkhburen (Buren) Nyam, experienced the loss of a foal to a snow leopard attack. Both wolves and snow leopards pose a threat to young horses.
An initial look at our camera trap data indicates that at least six snow leopard cubs were born in Tost Nature Reserve during 2023!
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!
