![]() ![]() Then, around the year 2000, Ma Ming, a lecturer at the Xinjiang Institute of Bioscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, took the lead in promoting the investigation of the snow leopard in Xinjiang province. First studies were conducted in the 1970s and 1980s. Snow leopard research and conservation activities in China have come a long way. “These results illustrate how different threats can vary within one snow leopard range country, and how each area requires targeted protection measures to deal with them”, says Justine Shanti Alexander. Linxia, in Gansu province, was identified as a wild animal fur trading center, and illegal hunting of snow leopards and prey is a key threat in this area. In Xinjiang, which borders eight different countries, international borders have led to fragmentation of snow leopard, and the current lack of cross-border cooperation is a major threat. Sichuan province, meanwhile, faces a significant gap between pressures of economic development and environmental protection, with high rates of population growth and poverty posing major challenges. ![]() Photo: Shan Shui / Panthera / Snow Leopard Trust Feral dogs are a major threat to wildlife in Qinghai province. In Tibet, on the other hand, the impact of climate change could be most significant, as glaciers and frozen soils melt. For example, in Qinghai Province, stray dogs have become a major threat to snow leopards, mostly due to the collapse of the Tibetan Mastiff market and the subsequent abandonment of many dogs. The report also assesses potential threats to snow leopards across their range in China, and finds that they vary quite a bit by province. “However the challenge of scale calls for even greater effort in partnership with all concerned.” Justine Shanti Alexander, a Snow Leopard Trust ecologist who is working closely with our partners in China, Shan Shui Conservation Center. “We’re seeing a growing number of national organizations and universities working together on snow leopard conservation in China”, says Dr. The report was produced in a joint effort by the Snow Leopard Network China ( ) – a network of national academic groups and NGOs including the Snow Leopard Trust’s China partner Shan Shui Conservation Center, the Research Centre for Nature Conservation and Social Development of Peking University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Vanke Foundation, Everest Snow Leopard Conservation Centre, Green River, Xinjiang, WCS, and WWF. “What needs to be stressed is that this report was a collaborative effort by a number of organizations involved in snow leopard surveying and protection nationwide, and it really deserves praise.” Even though there may be some imperfections, it basically reflects our current level of knowledge about snow leopards and the present state of their conservation in China”, says Professor Lu Zhi of Peking University and Shan Shui Conservation Center. They have gathered and collected all the existing information. ![]() “This report was put together by young people working on the frontlines of snow leopard conservation. Various civil society organizations and research institutions within China have contributed to the new report. The report, entitled “Status of Snow Leopard Survey and Conservation, China 2018” is the most comprehensive summary of research and conservation activities with a focus on the snow leopard in China to date. We apologize for any shortcomings”, she adds. “Nevertheless, in this report, we’ve tried to summarize the existing information as best we could. Xiao Lingyun, a snow leopard researcher at Peking University and lead author of the report. Because of this, it’s impossible to give a perfect answer as to the cat’s current situation in the country”, says Dr. “The snow leopard’s vast territory and the complex and diverse social and economic conditions in this make the study and protection of snow leopards in China difficult. Photo by Shan Shui / Panthera / Snow Leopard Trust Research and conservation efforts in the country have grown significantly over the last decade. China is thought to be home to more than half of the world’s remaining snow leopards. This is still far from the target of 20%, proposed under the international effort to assess the world’s snow leopard population, PAWS. One of the key findings of the report is the fact that, despite the publication of 57 peer reviewed research papers in national or international journals that focus on snow leopard ecology or conservation in China, only 1.7% of the cat’s estimated range in the country has been surveyed systematically. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |