SLC Annual Report 2015

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

SLC Annual Report 2015 .FROM . .THE . DIRECTOR. & . BOARD. CHAI . .R . Over the past fifteen years, the Snow Leopard We’re also making solar-powered Foxlights Conservancy has worked according to the deep available, so herders will have a portable and conviction that mountain communities—too easily-installed predator deterrent. These flashing often ignored by policymakers—need to have a lights scare away snow leopards; with their flocks key role in snow leopard conservation. Your safe, herders will have no reason to hunt down support and investment is allowing us to serve and kill the magnificent cats. as the facilitators in a holistic approach that In Mongolia, communities celebrated our addresses livelihood improvement and nominee, Tungalagtuya Khuukhenduu, for conservation education as necessary elements receiving a Disney Conservation Fund Hero in community-based protection of these iconic Award for her innovative Nomadic Nature Trunk cats. program, bringing conservation education to Together with our local partners, our sights children in Mongolia’s remotest corners. remain set on alleviating livestock depredation, Your support for our Sacred Sites–Sacred addressing poaching, and expanding locally- Species program made progress possible in driven wildlife monitoring, while honoring building our snow leopard range-wide community traditional practices and ways of knowing. of Indigenous Cultural Practitioners (ICPs). We’re Several events occurred this past year that excited to continue developing our program for have led us to reconfirm our commitment to monitoring of snow leopards and data-recording communities. by ICPs in a way that supports the goals of the In April an earthquake devastated Nepal, as Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Plan. detailed on page 7 of our report. This catas- At the same time, we’re coordinating a ground- trophe has renewed our commitment to breaking collaboration to develop measures of promoting economic prosperity in Nepalese success from the indigenous point of view. communities while simultaneously protecting Please continue reading this report to learn the snow leopard. In response to the quake, we more about how your gifts are protecting snow are forming partnerships to expand our leopards. successful Savings and Credit network to put We are looking forward to a productive 2016, money in the pockets of those villagers who were and are ever grateful to you for continuing on this hardest hit by the natural disaster. journey with us. Rodney Jackson Caroline Gabel Founder-Director Chair 2 . Annual Report 2015 . COMMUNITY. -.BASED . CONSERVATION. ACTION. BHUTAN Partners: Bhutan Foundation; Nature Recreation and Ecotourism Department; Jigme Dorji National Park Staff of Jigme Dorji National Park and seven members of the Yutoed and Nubri communities visited Ladakh, India, to learn about SLC-India’s highly successful Himalayan Homestay program. A similar program is being developed in Bhutan, operated by local women, as a culturally appropriate and wildlife friendly alternative livelihood. Following the model of Mongolia's Nomadic Nature Trunks program, Bhutan Foundation began developing an educational “Snow Leopard Chest” for distribution to schools and teachers in the National Park. The Chest includes lessons, posters, games, and other materials for conducting interactive educational exercises aimed at increasing community awareness of the importance of protecting the snow leopard, its natural prey (blue sheep, below right), and its high-mountain ecosystem. Photos: Bhutan Foundation Veterinarians continued treating domestic dogs, carriers of a form of mad-cow disease, a major cause of mortality among yaks (above) in Bhutan. Regular treatment of domestic and feral dogs is the most cost-effective means of controlling this serious disease, and for fostering long-term community support for protecting large predators like the snow leopard. Concluding three years of collaboration and mentoring, we are happy to announce that the Bhutan Foundation and Jigme Dorje National Park will assume responsibility for program administration. Snow Leopard Conservancy’s Mission Ensuring snow leopard survival and conserving mountain landscapes by expanding environmental awareness and sharing innovative practices through community stewardship and partnerships The GuideStar Exchange Seal demonstrates the Conservancy’s commitment to transparency Annual Report 2015 . 3 . COMMUNITY. -.BASED . CONSERVATION. ACTION. INDIA Partner: Snow Leopard Conservancy-India Trust The Conservancy secured funding from the Australian Himalayan Foundation for Snow Leopard Conservancy-India to carry out corral predator-proofing in the remote district of Zanskar. Community consultations and assessments of livestock depredation were carried out, and four corrals were completed with four still under construction. Delays were mostly due to uncommonly heavy rains in the region, which resulted in flooding that washed out trails and bridges. In turn, communications and transportation were severely affected. People who had planned to work on the corrals were instead engaged in road and bridge repair. It took a month for wire mesh to reach Zanskar, where the order would normally have been delivered within a week. Given the changing weather patterns across the region, corral improvements will now be undertaken in spring as soon as the snow melts. IndiaTrust - Photos:Snow Leopard Conservancy For every corral secured, up to five snow leopards are prevented from preying on the livestock within. Cats like the one above, photographed via trail camera by SLC-India, are thus safe from retaliation by herders. 4 . Annual Report 2015 . COMMUNITY. -.BASED . CONSERVATION. ACTION. MONGOLIA Partner: Nomadic Nature Conservation Congratulations to the Conservancy’s partner and nominee Tunga Khuukhenduu on receiving a 2015 Disney Conservation Hero Award! The Disney Conservation Fund’s Conservation Heroes program celebrates individuals around the world for their passion to conserve nature and create a brighter tomorrow. As a researcher, Tunga recognized that rural Mongolians had no access to environmental education. Working with conservation organizations like the Conservancy, she created “Nomadic Nature Trunks,” which are travelling classrooms for school students, with interactive lesson plans on conservation of Mongolia’s ecosystems. Nomadic Nature Conservation Tunga’s dynamic and playful teacher training style (seen above) has made this program extremely popular with remote communities in Mongolia’s Altai Mountains. The Conservancy facilitated adaptation of the model Tunga created, for use in Bhutan in 2015. Tunga shows her Conservation Hero medal to a friend. Annual Report 2015 . 5 . COMMUNITY. -.BASED . CONSERVATION. ACTION. MONGOLIA, Continued Tunga undertook evaluation and monitoring in six snow leopard protected areas to assess the effectiveness of the Nature Trunk program. These sites are a two-day drive from the capital, Ulaanbaatar, where half of Mongolians live. Nomadic Nature Conservation Evaluation methods included key informant interviews, focus group meetings, and questionnaires, such as are being completed by this herder couple. Survey questions included whether the community gained new knowledge about biodiversity conservation, wildlife, and mountain predators; whether the teaching skills of park staff, community leaders, and teachers has been improved; what challenges if any were encountered in using the trunks; whether the community’s negative attitudes towards snow leopards are changing; and whether best management practices are being implemented in the pilot areas. Results of the evaluation revealed that the trunk program is thriving in far western Mongolia’s Altai Mountain region, where eco-clubs have been initiated by particularly motivated teachers. In the southern Gobi desert areas, further training and encouragement are needed for the program to gain widespread acceptance. *Park staff in the protected areas rated the trunks as *In Uvs Province, >50% of eco-club graduates go on the most important tool for public awareness work. to major in environmental studies. One respondent has a son studying biology, another who’s a bird- *Many teachers asked for their own trunk to keep at watcher and researcher, a daughter with a Forestry the school. They also asked for a refresher training. degree, and another working as a geologist. *One biology teacher developed her own lesson plan *Uvs Province has participated with Russia’s Tuva based on the trunk contents and training she region in a trans-boundary summer eco-club; the received; Nomadic Nature Conservation staff were Tuva protected area administration has asked for invited to sit in on the class. their own trunk. 6 . Annual Report 2015 . COMMUNITY. -.BASED . CONSERVATION. ACTION. NEPAL Partners: Department of National Parks & Wildlife Conservation; National Trust for Nature Conservation-Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Lo Manthang Unit Office Students from four schools in Upper Mustang celebrated Environment Day with a snow leopard awareness rally and inter-school art competition. The next day, a group of five boys and nine girls—all Snow Leopard Scouts—hiked with their teachers and a local herder to the site of the Environmental Awareness Camp. Scouts learned about ways to reduce conflict between humans and wildlife, such as predator proofing corrals and installing Foxlights. They also were taught to use binoculars, GPS, and camera traps. They found fresh signs of snow leopards and classified a herd
Recommended publications
  • Snow Leopard Survival Strategy 2014
    Snow Leopard Survival Strategy Revised Version 2014.1 Snow Leopard Network 1 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Snow Leopard Network concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Copyright: © 2014 Snow Leopard Network, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. Suite 325, Seattle, WA 98103. Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Snow Leopard Network (2014). Snow Leopard Survival Strategy. Revised 2014 Version Snow Leopard Network, Seattle, Washington, USA. Website: http://www.snowleopardnetwork.org/ The Snow Leopard Network is a worldwide organization dedicated to facilitating the exchange of information between individuals around the world for the purpose of snow leopard conservation. Our membership includes leading snow leopard experts in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. The main goal of this organization is to implement the Snow Leopard Survival Strategy (SLSS) which offers a comprehensive analysis of the issues facing snow leopard conservation today. Cover photo: Camera-trapped snow leopard. © Snow Leopard
    [Show full text]
  • Snow Leopard Conservation in Mongolia
    SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVATION IN MONGOLIA Batbold Dorjgurkhem WWF Mongolia November 2016 Snow leopard • Top predator in the living mountain ecosystems spread across 2 million km2 • Just about 3,500-7,000 individuals left in the wild • Little known about their ecology, hence means of mitigating threats Snow leopard countries Russia Mongolia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan China Uzbekistan Tajikistan Afghanistan Pakistan India Nepal Bhutan Snow leopard status in Mongolia One of the WWF flagship species with estimated numbers around 800-1200 in 103000 sq.km (2nd largest in the world) Snow leopard status in Mongolia Snow leopard status in Mongolia – Threats to snow leopard • Prey reduction due to competition with livestock and illegal hunting (growing livestock population) • Retaliatory killing (overlapping the habitat is intensifying SL-Human Conflict) • Poaching and illegal trade • Development of mining related infrastructure Main partners for SL conservation: - MEGDT - PA administrations - Local and regional governments - CBOs and herders Main funding and implementing sources: Snow Leopard conservancy WWF MAS Mongolian Irves center Snow Leopard Conservation Grants Program National Science Foundation National Geographic Society Texas A&M University Tost mountain • Among the highest known snow leopard densities in the world • Rich in wild prey populations Tost mountain/Conservation • Snow Leopard Enterprise – Provides sustainable cash income through handicraft products sold all over the world – Active for over 10 years in this region – More than 100 families
    [Show full text]
  • Defining Priorities for Global Snow Leopard Conservation Landscapes T ⁎ Juan Lia,B,K, , Byron V
    Biological Conservation 241 (2020) 108387 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Biological Conservation journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/biocon Defining priorities for global snow leopard conservation landscapes T ⁎ Juan Lia,b,k, , Byron V. Weckworthb, Thomas M. McCarthyb, Xuchuang Liangc, Yanlin Liud, Rui Xinge, Diqiang Lid, Yuguang Zhangd, Yadong Xued, Rodney Jacksonf, Lingyun Xiaog,k, Chen Chengg,k, Sheng Lih, Feng Xui, Ming Mai, Xin Yangj, Kunpeng Diaok, Yufang Gaol, Dazhao Songm, Kristin Nowelln, Bing Heo, Yuhan Lik, Kyle McCarthyp, Mikhail Yurievich Paltsynq, Koustubh Sharmar,s, Charu Mishrar,s, George B. Schallert, Zhi Lug,k, Steven R. Beissingera,u a Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA b Panthera, New York, NY 10018, USA c Wildlife Conservation Society, Beijing 100101, China d Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China e Wildnessxj, Ürümqi, Xinjiang, China f Snow Leopard Conservancy, Sonoma, CA 95476, USA g Center for Nature and Society, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China h College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China i Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China j Green river, Sichuan, China k Shan Shui Conservation Center, Beijing 100871, China l School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, USA m Chinese Felid Conservation Alliance, Beijing 101101,
    [Show full text]
  • SLC Annual Report 2017
    SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVANCY Annual Report . 2017 . FROM. THE . FOUNDER. -.DIRECTOR . Dear Snow Leopard Conservancy Supporters: There was good news for snow leopards in 2017. These magnificent cats were reclassified on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List from Endangered to Vulnerable, reflecting a slowed rate of decline and populations that are stabilized or even slightly increasing in several countries. This improved status of the cats is in part a result of your support for the Conservancy’s community based conservation efforts. Thank you! We completed a ten-year, range-wide genetic research effort that suggests there are three distinct Photo: Lyubov Ivashkina subspecies of snow leopards. The international team was lead by Conservancy partner Dr. Jan Janečka. If accepted by the broader scientific community, this discovery opens the door to regionally-based Red List assessments in the future and, I hope, more strategic targeting of resources and conservation measures. As we celebrate these milestones, we must also renew our commitment to community-based conservation of snow leopards and their habitat. Climate change, infrastructure development, poaching, conflict between herders and snow leopards—all continue to contribute to the vulnerability of a species that is both an ecological indicator and a sacred totem. Your support has enabled the Conservancy to grow the number of predator-proofed livestock corrals in Pakistan, to install more Foxlights in the Nepal Himalaya, and to reach ever more people across the range countries through Snow Leopard Day celebrations. On Page 9 of this Report, we feature Shafqat Hussain and Ghulam Mohammad. They are the driving forces behind the Baltistan Wildlife Conservation & Development Organization (BWCDO), which was awarded the prestigious UN Development Programme's Equator Prize.
    [Show full text]
  • In Nepal Rodney M. Jackson Ph.D. Thesis, University of London 1996
    Home Range, Movements and Habitat Use of Snow Leopard (Uncia Uncia) In Nepal Rodney M. Jackson Ph.D. Thesis, University of London 1996 1984 - Female snow leopard photographed using a remotely-triggered camera © National Geographic Society Note: The original thesis contained no photographs. I have added a few photos illustrating the study area and focal species for the reader’s convenience. The suggested citation is: Jackson, R.M. 1996. Home range, movements and habitat use of snow leopard (Uncia Uncia) in Nepal. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London (External Programme), London, United Kingdom. 233 pages. HOME RANGE, MOVEMENTS AND HABITAT USE OF SNOW LEOPARD (Uncia uncia) IN NEPAL by Rodney Malcolm Jackson A thesis submitted to the University of London for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The External Programme April 1996 ABSTRACT Home ranges for five radio-tagged snow leopards (Uncia uncia) inhabiting prime habitat in the Nepal Himalaya varied in size from 11-37 km2. These solitary felids were crepuscular in activity, and although highly mobile, nearly 90% percent of all consecutive day movements involved a straight-line distance of 2 km or less. No seasonal difference in daily movement or home range boundary was detected. While home ranges overlapped substantially, use of common core spaces was temporally separated, with tagged animals being located 1.9 km or more apart during the same day. Spatial analysis indicated that 47- 55% of use occurred within only 6-15% of the total home area. These snow leopards shared a common core-use area, which was located at a major stream confluence in an area where topography, habitat and prey abundance appeared to be more favorable.
    [Show full text]
  • Snow Leopard Conservancy Field Notes by Rodney Jackson
    Snow Leopard Conservancy Field Notes by Rodney Jackson Leh, Ladakh February 18, 2005 This year’s trademark can only be described as “snow, snow, snow and yet more snow.” In fact it is the most severe winter for 20 years, with many communities cut off from the outside world, including 1,500-plus vehicles stranded along the main highway into the Srinagar Valley by snowdrifts 10-15 feet deposited during a rapid succession of winter storms of surprising severity even in the Himalayan region. One of our staff members, Tashi was stranded for 15 days in Zanskar, along with 40-50 foreigners, from disruption of the normally accessible Chaddar (frozen or ice-river), trekking route. This is Zanskar’s only wintertime lifeline to food and other vital supplies. This year it was broken by a combination of avalanching and thawing associated with periods in which temperatures hover just above 32 degrees – causing melting and weakening of the ice sheets under which the Zanskar River flows strongly. Were the thin, transparent platforms to give way, one’s chances of surviving the extremely frigid waters would be pretty bleak. Cliffs, towering many thousands of feet high fringe the gorge, leaving travelers no option of walking along a river bank for there simply is none for most of the deep gorge. In fact, no alternative but to walk on ice or through odd pools of dammed water, and hope the surface will hold your weight and that of the porters carrying all the gear. As I write, Indian Air Force helicopters are being organized for a rescue mission.
    [Show full text]
  • Silent Roar | UNDP and GEF in the Snow Leopard Landscape
    25years Empowered lives. Resilient nations. Silent Roar UNDP AND GEF IN THE SNOW LEOPARD LANDSCAPE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONTENTS Managing Editors: Midori Paxton, Tim Scott, Yoko Watanabe Compilation and Editing: Erin Charles INTRODUCTION 2 CO-MANAGEMENT ON THE ROOF 21 CONCLUSION 44 OF THE WORLD—CHINA Core Writing Team: Erin Charles, Midori Paxton, Tim Scott, Doley Tshering, Inela Weeks SNOW LEOPARD RANGE MAP 4 PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: 23 We wish to acknowledge the UNDP and GEF staff, consultants, and partners who contributed to this publication: GOVERNMENTS AND GOVERNANCE Tehmina Akhtar, Ana Maria Currea, Adriana Dinu, Lisa Farroway, Gustavo Fonseca, Uyanga Gankhuyag, Christian LESSONS LEARNED: RUSSIA, 23 ART AND CULTURE Hofer, Daniar Ibragimov, Kyle Kaufman, Khurshed Kholov, Fan Longqing, Cathy Maize, Ruchi Pant, Pakamon MONGOLIA, AND KAZAKHSTAN Pinprayoon, Evgeniia Postnova, Ajiniyaz Reimov, Olga Romanova, Nadisha Sidhu, Nargizakhon Usmanova, SNOW LEOPARDS IN LITERATURE 19 SECTION 1: WHY SNOW LEOPARDS? 6 STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING 24 Maxim Vergeichik, Katerina Yushenko, Yuqiong Zhou, with special thanks to Marc Foggin and John MacKinnon WHY PROTECT THE HIGH 8 PROTECTED AREAS—KAZAKHSTAN SNOW LEOPARDS AND 21 for generously permitting the extensive use of their photographs. TIBETAN BUDDHISM MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPES? PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: TRAINING 25 We wish to acknowledge the central role of the GSLEP Secretariat: Hamid Zahid (Chair), Abdykalyk Rustamov CULTURAL-POLITICAL SYMBOLS 37 UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY 8 OF TRAINERS (Co-chair), Kyial Alygulova, Yash Veer Bhatnagar, Chyngyz Kochorov, Andrey Kushlin, Keshav Varma, with special LAND USE PLANNING & BIOLOGICAL 26 SACRED BELIEFS, MYTHS 40 ASIA'S WATER TOWER 9 thanks to Koustubh Sharma and Matthias Fiechter for their technical review of this document, contributions CORRIDORS— KYRGYZSTAN AND LEGENDS of text, photographs, maps and invaluable feedback on all aspects of the publication; and the Permanent CULTURAL HERITAGE 9 LESSONS LEARNED: BHUTAN 27 Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN in New York: Madina Karabaeva.
    [Show full text]
  • Snow Leopard Conservancy Nepal Program 54 Red Panda Network 55 the Now Leopard S Magazine Editors: Prof
    The Snow Leopard jflif{s klqsf c+s–#, h]7 @)&$ lxp“lrt'jf Volume 3, May 2017 Reflections on the GSLEP Meeting First Radio-tracking Study held in Kathmandu of Snow Leopard Snow Leopard in Nepali Currency Note k[i7 1 l lxp“lrt'jf Editorial epal supports a significant population of Snow In January 2017, the Nepal Government hosted the 2nd Leopard, and has a commendable record for Steering Meeting of the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Nprotecting this rare cat. The Snow Leopard & Protection Program (GSLEP), involving all 12 snow Conservancy (SLC), is proud to partner with the Nepal leopard range countries – Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, government and local NGOs. Rodney Jackson, SLC’s Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Founder Director, was the first person to radio-collar snow Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. leopards (see story on page 6). Participants discussed the status of management plans to Three decades later, Nepali scientists from the Department secure 20 snow leopard “landscapes” by year 2020. These of National Parks (DNPWC) and Wildlife Conservation, landscapes are to be located in all 12 range countries, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), and WWF cumulatively covering an area of 500,000 sq. km., and Nepal attached GPS collars to three snow leopards, including are intended to provide habitat and prey of sufficient the first female cat, in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. quality enabling each to support viable populations of These cats have been moving between Nepal, India and 100 breeding snow leopards. Four issues emerged as China (Tibet), highlighting the importance of international requiring immediate attention: 1) resource mobilization; collaboration for their conservation.
    [Show full text]
  • Habitat Monitoring of the Snow Leopard Uncia Uncial in Api Nampa Conservation Area Nepal
    Habitat monitoring of the Snow leopard Uncia uncial in Api Nampa Conservation Area Nepal i Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.1. Taxonomy ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.2. Morphology .................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.3. Social Behaviour ............................................................................................................................................ 2 1.2.4. Prey Species................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2.5. Status and Distribution.................................................................................................................................. 3 1.2.6. Legal Status ..................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Snow Leopard
    Snow Leopard WWF WILDLIFE AND CLIMATE CHANGE SERIES This assessment is one in a series resulting from a WWF study that assesses the vulnerability of numerous species to the effects of climate change. For each species, we also recommend climate- adaptive management strategies. SNOW LEOPARDS (Panthera uncia) may be quite resilient to the direct impacts of climate change in the near term: they are able to tolerate a wide range of temperatures, they have minimal freshwater requirements and they have a high dispersal ability. However, the snow leopard’s small population size coupled with significant knowledge gaps about the species make this big cat potentially vulnerable to a changing climate. Additionally, snow leopards are susceptible to the indirect impacts of climate change. The effects of climate stressors on humans, and DETERMINING SPECIES VULNERABILITY subsequent changes in livelihoods, may The study identified the key vulnerabilities of a species exacerbate the ongoing human impacts based on four factors: on snow leopards, including poaching SENSITIVITY: the inability of the species to persist, and habitat encroachment. Climate as is, under changing climatic conditions. To assess effects on snow leopard prey may also sensitivity, we looked at IUCN Red List status, have a negative impact. geographic range, population size, temperature Priorities for climate-informed snow tolerance, reliance on environmental cues (for leopard conservation should include reproduction, migration, hibernation), symbiotic Snow leopard range interactions, diet, abundance of food sources, ensuring access to a secure prey freshwater requirements, habitat specialization and susceptibility to disease. base; gaining a better understanding of snow leopard biology, particularly ADAPTIVE CAPACITY: the ability of the species to respond to changes in climate.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Annual Report
    2019 ANNUAL REPORT Creating a Future Coexistence Collaboration 1 STAFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Veleta Allen – Chief Financial Officer David Berger Stephanie Carnow – Director of Marketing and Communications Christine Hemrick 2019: Hope for Wildlife Jean-Gaël “JG” Collomb, Ph.D. – Executive Director Charles Knowles Sophie Croen – Community Engagement Manager John Lukas Seret Dirar – Senior Accountant Margaret McCarthy Brooke Edell – Conservation Funds Manager Rebecca Patton Rachel Fowler – Donor Engagement Coordinator Bill Unger Amy Frankel – Salesforce System Administrator Akiko Yamazaki We look back at 2019 as a year of hope. In the face of complicated global challenges, our Charles Knowles – President, Co-founder community of conservationists and donors proved that together, we are helping wildlife and Peter Lindsey, Ph.D. – Director, Lion Recovery Fund Rebecca Patton – WCN Director/Vice President and Board Director people thrive. With big ideas and big hearts, through hard work and teamwork, we protected Madison Pruett – Marketing and Communications Associate wildlife and wild places on nearly every continent on Earth. We are proud to share some of these Pauline Russell – Gift and Legacy Manager achievements in our 2019 Annual Report. Tommy Sheridan – Conservation Network Manager Rebecca Stievater – Grants Manager This year, WCN expanded our efforts to protect wildlife and found important ways to strengthen Kylie Swall – Accounts Payable and Compliance Analyst conservation through collaboration. With pangolins being poached at catastrophic levels, WCN Paul Thomson – Director of Conservation Programs Kaitlin Tillett – Digital Marketing Manager partnered with Save Pangolins to create the Pangolin Crisis Fund (PCF). The PCF funds projects David Vasquez – Marketing Coordinator aimed at stopping the illegal trade that threatens all pangolins with extinction.
    [Show full text]
  • Over 100 Years of Snow Leopard Research a Spatially Explicit Review of the State of Knowledge in the Snow Leopard Range
    OVER 100 YEARS OF SNOW LEOPARD RESEARCH A SPATIALLY EXPLICIT REVIEW OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE SNOW LEOPARD RANGE OVER 100 YEARS OF SNOW LEOPARD RESEARCH A SPATIALLY EXPLICIT REVIEW OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE SNOW LEOPARD RANGE RISHI KUMAR SHARMA & RASHMI SINGH CONTENTS Acknowledgements 7 Executive Summary 11 Introduction 12 Methods 14 Results 17 Discussion 25 Conclusions 30 Limitations 31 References 32 Appendix I 35 Appendix II 37 Citation Sharma R. K. and Singh R. 2020. Over 100 Years of Snow Leopard Research: A Spatially Explicit Review of the State of Knowledge in the Snow Leopard Range. WWF, Gland, Switzerland. © MUHAMMAD OSAMA / WWF-PAKISTAN A snow leopard examining a camera trap © RISHI KUMAR SHARMA/NCF/HPFD in the Upper Spiti Landscape, Western Himalaya ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are grateful for the inputs of the following colleagues: Ravi Singh, Sana Ahmed, Byron Weckworth, Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India WWF-Pakistan Panthera Sejal Worah, Babar Khan, Rodney Jackson, WWF-India WWF-Pakistan Snow Leopard Conservancy Dipankar Ghose, Bing He, Justine Shanti Alexander, WWF-India WWF-China Snow Leopard Network and Snow Leopard Trust Wendy Elliot, Nilanga Jayasinghe, WWF-International, WWF-US Koustubh Sharma, Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Ghana Gurung, Margaret Kinnaird, Protection Program (GSLEP) and WWF-Nepal WWF-International Snow Leopard Trust Alexander Karnaukhov, Aditi Singh, Yash Veer Bhatnagar, WWF-Russia Programme Researcher, WWF-India Senior Scientist, Nature Conservation Foundation Chimeddorj Buyanaa, Meenal Pahuja, WWF-Mongolia Programme Researcher, WWF-India OVER 100 YEARS OF SNOW LEOPARD RESEARCH | 7 A Himalayan Ibex, one of the important prey species for snow leopard.
    [Show full text]