Field researchers conducting our long-term ecological study are watching the movements of our known female snow leopards with fingers crossed. If the females begin to restrict their movements, it could mean that they are looking for a potential den site in order to give birth to cubs. Khashaa, Lasya and Anu are all moving within smaller regions, but have yet to settle on a location that would indicate a den.
F7 has not been travelling far since we first collared her in April, and Orjan suspects that she may be with cubs. F8, also collared in April, followed Orjan back to base camp after being fitted with her collar, and has been seen using the same locations as F7, although not at the same time. These two cats were seen within 2.5km of each other on the 28th of May.
Aztai was seen moving across his home range from east to west multiple times and was on a cluster in early May, and again 3 weeks later. M9 spent his time along the Nemegt mountain range. He has had some remarkable luck hunting, and was on two large clusters early in the month and two small clusters on the 23-24 and 28-29 of May.
Ariun (Catalina) spent some time in the southern region of Anu’s home range, coming within 1.6 km of her at one point. Mid-month, he moved into the area where we used to see Shonkor, but has since moved east.
Photo Courtesy of Snow Leopard Trust/ Panthera