Snow leopard
October 1st, 2009
World Press Photo have just released on the Net its remarkable archive gallery some 10,000 images. The above photo of a snow leopard was taken by Steve Winter, whose report here on snow leopards in Ladakh in the Indian Himalayas won the nature category in 2008. “A snow leopard walks a high mountain trail, photographed using a remotely operated camera trap. The camera recorded just a single image in five months.”
More nature reports from World Press Photo
Asia nature, India nature, Wildlife trivia | Tags: Acoounts of snow leopards, Ladakh, Snow leopard, snow leopard photographs, Snow leopards in India, Snow leopards in Ladakh, Wildlife in India|
September 3rd, 2009
Here are a couple of option to see and learn about snow leopards in the wild in Russia and Pakistan.
Snow leopard conservation volunteer holiday in Altai, Russia
These conservation working holidays will take you to the high mountains of Central Asia to survey snow leopards and their prey animals such as the argali mountain sheep and the Altai ibex, as well as other animals including marmots and birds. You will be working as part of a small international team from a base camp set at 2200 m at the foot of a 3500 m remote mountain range and overlooking a vast area of open steppe. More here
Aims:
To estimate snow leopard (Uncia uncia) activity through field signs, by tracking and observation.
To assess the status and distribution of their prey species like the argali and the Altai ibex.
Where possible, to survey other animals such as marmots, birds and other small mammals.
Note: This tourism business won an Award in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.
Snow leopard watching in Pakistan
Trip to see both the Kalash winter festival of Chamos in Pakistan – the most important time of the year for the Kalash, when life, the gods and the ancestors are celebrated in a week long party – and to seek out the elusive snow leopard, which has been sighted here three years running. More here
Typical day
Today we will move up to the old hunting lodge in Chitral Gol, the region’s National Park. Staying in the wild will give us another great opportunity to spot the Snow Leopard, but that is not all. This is also the rutting season for the famous Markhor wild goat and we will see hundreds of them fighting and playing – indeed it is the young of the Markhor that interest the Snow Leopard More here
Nature holidays, Wildlife holidays in Pakistan | Tags: Acoounts of snow leopards, Chitral Gol tourism, Conservation holiday in Russia, Snow leopard, Snow leopard conservation holidays, Snow leopard conservation volunteer holiday, Snow leopard tracking holidays, Snow leopards in Altai, Watching snow leopards in Pakistan, Where to watch snow leopards, Wildlife holidays in Altai, Working with snow leopards|
August 31st, 2009
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has released some great camera trap photos of snow leopards in the Sast Valley in Wakhan Corridor in northeastern Afghanistan. The IUCN estimates that only 100-200 snow leopards still survive in Afghanistan. The aim of the survey is to eventually establish a new protected area. The region also contains the Pallas’s cat and the Altai weasel, both classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. More on story here. Photo from here
See also: Snow leopard holidays
Afghanistan nature, Asia nature | Tags: How many snow leopards are in Afganistan, Sast Valley, Snow leopard, Snow leopards in Afghanistan|
July 27th, 2009
The latest census on tigers and snow leopards in Nepal shows a fall in the numbers of both species. The tiger population has declined, albeit slightly, from 123 in 2003 to 121. Snow leopards have fallen to between 300 and 400, while previously their number was estimated at between 400 and 500.
Snow leopard network
Update: See also Science Daily (better analysis of story)
121 Breeding Tigers Estimated To Be Found In Nepal
“The first ever overall nation-wide estimate of the tiger population brought a positive ray of hope among conservationists. The figures… show the presence of 121 (100 – 194) breeding tigers in the wild within the four protected areas of Nepal.”
“”Tiger numbers have increased in Chitwan but decreased in Bardia and Shuklaphanta,” said Mr. Anil Manandhar, Country Representative, WWF Nepal. “In spite of the decade long insurgency, encroachment, poaching and illegal trade, the present numbers is a positive sign, but we can’t remain unworried. The declining numbers in western Nepal has posed more challenges, needing a concerted effort to save this charismatic endangered species focusing on anti-poaching and illegal wildlife trade.”
See also: Snow leopard holidays
Asia nature, Nepal nature | Tags: How tigers are in Nepal, Nepal tigers, Numbers of tigers in Nepal, Snow leopard, Snow leopards in Nepal, Tigers in Bardia, Tigers in Chitwan, Tigers in Nepal|
July 22nd, 2009
Interesting account of tracking successfully a snow leopard by
Aishwarya Maheshwari of the WWF
“I was on the frontier of India’s remotest wildness, where few humans have treaded before and fewer to study wildlife. Kargil, among largest districts of India, is best known in recent history for the major military conflict that occurred here in 1999. This unfortunately overshadowed the region’s rich wildlife. For, it is here that one of world’s most elusive creature.”
Read
Asia nature, India nature | Tags: Acoounts of snow leopards, Aishwarya Maheshwari, Kargil, Snow leopard, Snow leopards in India, Wildlife of Kargil|
July 20th, 2009
Snow leopards at New York Zoo have been built a remarkable new enclosure. The Wildlife Conservation Society has fashioned miniature natural worlds that maintain the illusion of their natural habitat. Mist-making machinery creates wisps of clouds through which the pair of snow leopards can mysteriously take shape. Fewer than 8,000 snow leopards may remain in the wild; about 700 are in captivity. New York Times
See also: Snow leopard holidays
United States nature | Tags: Art in zoos, Best zoo enclosures in the world, Best zoo installations in the world, How many snow leopards are there in captivity?, Snow leopard, Snow leopards in captivity, Snow leopards in zoos|