The snow leopard or irbis is listed in the official IUCN Red List as endangered. The snow leopard is the only big cat species that permanently lives at high altitudes and symbolizes the majestic, mysterious, and rigorous world of the Central Asian mountains. Being at the top of the food chain, the snow leopard can be seen as a flagship species for the conservation of all animals species of Central Asian highlands. The range of snow peopard includes 13 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal,Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Tadzhikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Recent situation and role of economic crisis
The social and economic crises of the 90's in Russia strongly influenced the intensity and character of how the environment is used, which a dual effect on the snow peopard.
On the one hand, due to a decreased number of livestock and related pressure on natural pastures, population numbers of major prey species (ibex and argali sheep) have grown.
On the other hand, due to the fact that the living standards of the local population have declined, its pressure on biological resources has also increased. People who have lost their jobs have intensified their use of hunting grounds, including the introduction of poaching techniques highly dangerous for the snow peopard, particularly metal snares. At the same time, targeted poaching of the snow leopard increased because of the increased demand for their pelts.
I. Historic, biogeographic and ecological background
The genus has only one species, Uncia uncia (Shreber, 1775). It is one of few endemic species to the highlands of Central Asia among large mammals. In Russia, distribution of snow leopard is limited to the southern Siberian mountains.
Presence map
Most habitats of the snow leopard in Russia lie at an altitude from 2,000m and up to 3,500m. The total number of snow leopards in the world is estimated at 7,500 animals, and estimate for Russia lies around 150 to 200.
This animal is closely linked to alpine and sub-alpine zones, preferring highly or moderately cleaved rocky mountains with grasses or bushes. There are two major habitat types:
- One consists of dry alpine meadows and highlands steppes on the southern slopes, while taiga forests cover the northern slopes and ravines.
- Typical highland steppes and tundra with no forest form the other type of habitat.
Footprints of irbis in the snow
II. Problems of coexistence of the snow leopard and humans
1. Reaction of snow leopard to humans
Snow leopards do not attack humans even when wounded.
2. Direct elimination of snow leopards
Chasing snow leopards for trophies has grown recently. Nowadays, the snow leopard population is still able to compensate for the illegal take, but its reproductive potential is entirely spent on stabilising the current number.
3. Conflict between snow leopards and local herders
Livestock pasturing in the highlands is part of traditional land use that directly affects the snow leopard. In most of snow leopard range its prey population has depleted, which has forced the predator to attack livestock.
4. Elimination of major prey species
Populations of wild ungulates essentially have decreased because of uncontrolled hunting, for example ibex, red deer (which is severely affected by selective elimination of males during trophy hunting and hunting for their velvet antlers), marmots and partridges.
5. Destruction of habitats
A project under consideration is the pipeline and accompanying road across the Ukok plateau from Russia to China. If this project materializes, the snow leopard population of the plateau and Southern Altai will be fragmented and thus more endangered.
6. Inadequacy of the system of protected areas
The network is fairly well developed, but covers only very small portion of the snow leopard range. Of approximately 60,000 square km of potential area of the species habitats in Russia, only 3,500 square km (6%) lie within protected areas.
III. Strategic priorities and system of measures for conservation
1. Safeguarding the range structure
It is principally important to conserve not only the large and small groups themselves, but also these migration corridors.
2. Improving the network of protected areas
Areas usually protected areas include the home ranges of a few individuals or a family, but do not provide protection for the whole local group. One idea is to define territories with limited nature use as well as managed game and hunting areas where the population density of snow leopards is high. These territories should be not less than 400 square km with the following primary tasks:
- Conservation of typical snow leopard habitats, wintering grounds of ungulates and partridge, and marmots colonies.
- Restoration and maintenance of the numbers of wildlife in the mountains steppes , sub-alpine and alpine zones, primarily ibex, red deer, roe deer, Altai ular, etc.
After restoration of the ungulates' numbers, limited trophy hunting may be allowed in certain reserves.
3. Measures for conservation of major prey species and control over potential competitors
Maintenance of high numbers of wild ungulate species is a very important task. The necessary condition for accomplishing this task is excellent game hunting management and perfect performance by game control services.
In the Altai-Sayan, wolf, wolverine and brown bear occur in the snow leopard habitats. A concept of competition between wolf and snow leopard is being studied and strict control of the number of wolves might be recommended. Last remark: it is totally unacceptable to use poison for controlling wolves in the snow leopard habitats.
4. Prevention and elimination of poaching and smuggling
Establishment of mobile units has become the most effective mean of anti-poaching control. It is principally important to bring all cases of poaching, illegal possession, trade and smuggling to court and widely cover the results of these legal trials in the media.
5. Solutions to the conflict between snow leopards and local herders
The most effective way is the maintenance of healthy populations of wild ungulates and other prey species. In case of attacks, compensation schemes should be developed.
6. Establishment of a viable reserve population in captivity
With its current status, its reintroduction does seem necessary. However, if the situation continues to deteriorate, one cannot exclude consideration of such measures. These would require breeding centers for the snow leopard.
No comments:
Post a Comment