Bayad has really put into perspective how challenging it is to protect snow leopards. This map is rough, but explains best what snow leopards are facing:
The green circle shows a general outline of a Protected Area set aside, in part, for snow leopards. Definitely it’s an important region for Bayad–as you can see from the large cluster of dots there. But Bayad’s dots far extend beyond this protected region. What does this mean? For the Snow Leopard Trust, it means working to promote larger Protected Areas, working with communities surrounding Protected Areas, and looking at ways to protect Bayad as she crosses borders.
That’s outstanding. It goes to show that although we try our best to dedicate necessary areas for wildlife to remain protected, the wildlife has it’s own natural agenda. I believe this is much akin to the bear underpasses in North America.
We need to continue our support to broaden the protective regions for the snow leopards.
Very interesting! It shows how protected areas are limited to protect predators with huge territories. It looks like the only solution is to promote cohabitation with people living in this area. That’s not easy but I hope it will work.
Best regards and good luck!
Thank you for your comments. This research is uncovering quite a bit. New technology has made it possible to track snow leopards with more accuracy. I am looking at the Snow Leopard Survival Strategy from 2003, which states “home range size and shape is not well known.” We’ve come a long ways, but we still have a ways to go to be able to say exactly what is a typical home range size.
Promoting co-habitation with local people is key. If you haven’t yet, take a look at our Livestock Vaccination Program in Pakistan to see how it is working to do just that.
it really goes to show how little we know about the snow leopards im glad there is finally someone trying and succeeding in studying these fantasic creatures
Is there any update on Bayad’s movements since she dropped her collar?
Rin, that is a very good question. I am off to ask our experts–please check back in a couple of days and I will try to post an answer.
I am glad to see that you people are caring for such a beautiful creature but i m sad too to see that we Pakistani people are not that much concerned about such a gift from nature. I want to work for protecting these cats but don’t know where to start……thumbs-up for such a valuable info at least now i know about the region….