The Xinjiang Snow Leopard Project
Working closely with
the Xinjiang
Government and local communities we are undertaking a responsive
research
programme, to assess the current status of
snow leopards and their prey within the Taxkurgan area of West
Xinjiang. We are using this basic information to determine current
threats and devise mitigation strategies for policy makers to safeguard
this unique ecosystem and its species.
Lying within the Pamir Mountains,
the Taxkurgan area of Xinjiang Province in China has
been
identified as critical for snow leopard conservation. Livestock
management and
grazing practices in this area have changed markedly in recent years
and their impacts on this ecosystem remains poorly understood. The
significance of the
Pamirs is highlighted by continued efforts to develop trans-boundary
conservation strategies,
linking the Taxkurgan region with Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Tajikistan, forming a hub connecting the mountain ranges of Central
Asia, and hence snow
leopard populations across their range. Given the importance of this
area for
conservation, and for snow leopards in particular, we are urgently
carrying out systematic surveys of snow leopards and
their prey in the Taxkurgan
area and a detailed study of human activities and their impacts.
The involvement of the local
communities living within the Taxkurgan area is central to this
initiative. We are training and equipping a network of field staff and
community conservationists across the region. These local community
"parabiologists" are taking an active part
in the monitoring of snow leopards and other wildlife, providing vital
data
collection over the wider area.
News
Feb 2010: Happy "Year of the Tiger" (and snow leopard) to all.
Feb 2010: Team prepare for winter surveys in Xinjiang and Sichuan...Read more.
Jul 2009: Agreement made with SFA to extend our work to other areas in China
May 2009: Mariang and Shaksgam expedition a huge success... Read more.
Feb 2009: Team prepare for winter surveys of Mariang and Shaksgam valley. Read more...
Dec 2008: Project received Snow Leopard Conservation Grants award. Read more...
July 2008: Taxkurgan survey reconfirm presence of snow leopard after 23 years. Read more...
Nov 2007: MoU signed between WildCRU, BFU and Xinjiang Forestry Administration. Read more...
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