Increasing Threats to Snow Leopard Survival in Pakistan

Ahmad, Shafiq; Nabi, Ghulam; Hacker, Charlotte E.; Стрельников, И И; Luan, Xiaofeng

doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.818798

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It is predicted that snow leopards exhibit their activity during the peak active times of their prey. In the northern regions of Pakistan, mountain ungulates serve as the primary food source for snow leopards (Ahmad et al, 2022;Hacker et al, 2021), similar to the predator-prey relationship between snow leopards and ibex (Capra sibirica) in Mongolia, indicating a close bond between predators and prey (Hacker et al, 2021;Salvatori et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…The home range size of snow leopards varies widely, ranging from less than 12-35 km 2 in optimal habitat (Jackson et al, 2006) to as much as 400 km 2 in marginal habitats with distributed prey (Ahmad et al, 2022;Shen, 2020). In high-quality habitats, an estimated minimum home range for an adult female is approximately 2 trap stations per 16-30 km 2 .…”

Section: Data Collection Camera Trapping Videos Covering Pre-processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The communication activities of apex predators are crucial for maintaining ecosystem structure by regulating food chains in mountain landscapes (Johansson et al, 2022). However, these apex predators are globally experiencing rapid range contractions due to human activities such as land-use changes (Buzzard et al, 2017), grazing pressure (Li et al, 2023), poaching (Hacker et al, 2021;Li and Lu, 2014), retaliatory killings related to livestock damages, and the fur trade (Ahmad et al, 2022;Li and Lu, 2014). These factors are also impacting the endangered snow leopards' population, reproduction, and distribution in northern Pakistan (Ahmad et al, 2022;Li et al, 2020), ultimately leading to their inclusion on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Baltistan region in northern Pakistan is home to snow leopards and their main prey species, which act as an umbrella species and play a signi cant role in alpine biodiversity conservation efforts (Bocci et al, 2017). However, human disturbance and climate change (Ahmad et al, 2022;Din et al, 2024) have resulted in population declines and habitat range reductions, impacting both snow leopards and their ungulate prey (Ahmad et al, 2022). The abundance and distribution of these ungulates play a crucial role in determining the population dynamics, breeding status, and spatial patterns of snow leopards (Johansson et al, 2021).Currently, there is a lack of published data on wild snow leopard territorial marking and cub observations from Pakistan, underscoring the importance of any accessible information on this agship conservation species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Whispers in the snow: unveiling the spatio-temporal snow leopard (Panthera uncia) territorial marking and cub observations for conservation in Baltistan

Zaman,

Jackson,

Hussain

2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Breeding and intraspecific communication are crucial for the behavioral ecology of solitary carnivores. studying communication behaviors and observing cubs in their natural habitat pose challenges. During a seven-year research project (2015–2022) in northern Pakistan, thirty-two motion-triggered cameras were strategically placed to capture leopard behaviors. The study documented a total of 103 leopard events, with 40 occurrences in snowy conditions and 63 in snow-free areas. Nine unique communication behaviors were identified and the cameras recorded ten videos showing leopard cubs with their mother.The study revealed that snow leopards were more active in marking behaviors in snow-free areas at night and less active when snow was present. Crepuscular activities had the highest frequency with snow, while daytime, nocturnal activities had lower values. Snow leopards exhibited more marking activities in open areas and less in mixed herbaceous and shrub habitats. Daytime marking peaked in the evening with snow and at midnight without snow. Olfaction and scraping were more common in open land, while fecal deposition was frequently seen in mixed herbaceous and shrub habitats. Scraping and urine spraying were associated with cliffs and rock outcrops/boulders in open areas. Snow leopards tended to avoid scrape marks in snowy conditions, preferring urine spraying or olfaction behaviors. However, in snowless areas, leopards preferred scraping and urine marking. The study also documented ten videos of a female with cubs across various study sites. These behaviors, similar to those of other solitary felids, help understand communication behaviors among different species of solitary felids in different environmental conditions

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Data Collection Camera Trapping Videos Covering Pre-processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Whispers in the snow: unveiling the spatio-temporal snow leopard (Panthera uncia) territorial marking and cub observations for conservation in Baltistan

Zaman,

Jackson,

Hussain

2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While there have been some studies on the negative impact of dogs on livestock and wild prey in the Spiti Valley (Home et al, 2017 , 2018 ; Suryawanshi et al, 2013 ), limited research exists which considers dog's interactions with native carnivores in the entire trans‐Himalayan landscape. Feral dogs with their increasing populations are responsible for a stark decline in the primary prey of the snow leopards in Pakistan (Ahmad et al, 2022 ). Despite being considered subordinate to wolves, dogs because of their numerical superiority endanger the wild canid through hybridization, disease transmission, and competition (Atickem et al, 2009 ; Hennelly et al, 2015 ; Lacerda et al, 2009 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding carnivore interactions in a cold arid trans‐Himalayan landscape: What drives co‐existence patterns within predator guild along varying resource gradients?

Justa

Lyngdoh

2023

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Predators compete for resources aggressively, forming trophic hierarchies that shape the structure of an ecosystem. Competitive interactions between species are modified in the human‐altered environment and become particularly important where an introduced predator can have negative effects on native predator and prey species. The trans‐Himalayan region of northern India has seen significant development in tourism and associated infrastructure over the last two decades, resulting in many changes to the natural setting of the landscape. While tourism, combined with unmanaged garbage can facilitate red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), it also allows free‐ranging dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ), an introduced mesopredator to thrive, possibly more than the native red fox. We look at the little‐known competitive dynamics of these two meso‐carnivores, as well as their intra‐guild interactions with the region's top carnivores, the snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ) and the Himalayan wolf ( Canis lupus chanco ). To study interactions between these four carnivores, we performed multispecies occupancy modeling and analyzed spatiotemporal interactions between these predators using camera trap data. We also collected scat samples to calculate dietary niche overlaps and determine the extent of competition for food resources between these carnivores. The study found that, after controlling for habitat and prey covariates, red fox site use was related positively to snow leopard site use, but negatively to dog and wolf site use. In addition, site use of the dog was associated negatively with top predators, that is, snow leopard and Himalayan wolf, while top predators themselves related negatively in their site use. As anthropogenic impacts increase, we find that these predators coexist in this resource‐scarce landscape through dietary or spatiotemporal segregation, implying competition for limited resources. Our research adds to the scant ecological knowledge of the predators in the region and improves our understanding of community dynamics in human‐altered ecosystems.

show abstract

Clicks and comments: Representation of wildlife crime in Pakistan in social media posts

Haq

Abdulabad

Asghar

et al. 2023

Global Ecology and Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Increasing Threats to Snow Leopard Survival in Pakistan

Cited by 4 publications

References 14 publications

Whispers in the snow: unveiling the spatio-temporal snow leopard (Panthera uncia) territorial marking and cub observations for conservation in Baltistan

Whispers in the snow: unveiling the spatio-temporal snow leopard (Panthera uncia) territorial marking and cub observations for conservation in Baltistan

Understanding carnivore interactions in a cold arid trans‐Himalayan landscape: What drives co‐existence patterns within predator guild along varying resource gradients?

Clicks and comments: Representation of wildlife crime in Pakistan in social media posts

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About