Current status and conservation of snow leopards in Mongolia

Mongolia is second only to China in the number of wild snow leopards and extent of snow leopard habitat. Snow leopard research and conservation in Mongolia has expanded in the past three decades since the pioneering work of the Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (MACNE) in partnership with Dr. George Schaller was undertaken. Many accomplishments can be highlighted from this period, including the most extensive radio-collaring study of the species anywhere, and one of the more successful and novel community-based conservation programs. Furthermore, several camera-trapping surveys have been conducted allowing for rigorous estimation of the snow leopard population size in the country and a better understanding of the species ecology. Yet snow leopards are still facing many threats including poaching for trade and killing in retaliation for livestock depredation, despite the fact that human attitude toward the species seems to be improved in a large part of its range in the country. Competition between livestock and mountain ungulates is causing a decline in this wild snow leopard prey resource. Several key initiatives are highlighted and a list of urgently needed actions is provided.