Snow leopard conservation & research: Highlands of Scotland to the Highlands of Nepal

05/03/2016 in RZSS

Springtime at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park generally means two things: the weather is going to get a bit warmer (hopefully) and, more importantly, the main breeding season is upon us for many of the Park’s animals. One new arrival that have been causing some excitement are the snow leopards.

Arguably one of the most majestic cat species on earth, these cold mountain specialists are endangered across their range, with numbers as low as 4,000 to 6,500. Brought to the Park as part of the European Endangered species Programme (EEP), the snow leopards are proving to be incredibly popular and, with both cats getting along well, staff are hopeful for snow leopard cubs in the near future. This would not only boost the captive population, but draw more attention and awareness towards this magnificent species.

Having the leopards at the Park is, however, just one element of our commitment towards snow leopard conservation and research. In 2015, RZSS signed a three year partnership with the Snow Leopard Trust and Nordens Ark Zoo in Sweden to deliver a joint project on snow leopard and Pallas’s cat conservation. Founded in 1981, the Snow Leopard Trust is the leading authority on the study and protection of the endangered snow leopard, whilst Nordens Ark Zoo are the holders of the EEP and the international studbook.

This partnership has allowed us to build a strong framework for both Pallas’s cat and snow leopard projects that will increase our chances for success. As part of this project, we are also working with field researchers across the Pallas’s cat and snow leopard range; these groups are regularly providing data and evidence of snow leopard presence and distribution. In this way, we can strengthen the link between field research in the wild and captive breeding programmes for the species – an immensely valuable tool for ensuring a collaborative and effective approach toward species conservation.

One of the perks of being part of several different cat conservation projects is that every day and every email can bring new challenges and new surprises. About two weeks ago, shortly after the snow leopards were given a Valentine ’s Day enrichment treat, I received an email from Nepal. As some of you may remember from a previous blog, there is a Pallas’s cat researcher in Nepal (Ganga Ram Regmi) that we have been supporting over the last few years with resources, cameras and funds to help him with his field research and conservation efforts. Ganga is always very good at keeping in touch and sending back any interesting information and this email was no different.

Ganga’s email included a link to several video files. As I quickly scanned the labelled clips I saw various species named – beech marten, griffon vultures, wolves, Pallas’s cat and golden jackal – but one file caught my eye; it was labelled “snow leopard + mating call”. As I clicked on the file I watched with a smile on my face as a snow leopard walked right past the camera and stopped for a moment on a high ridge with the snowy Himalayas in the background, before giving out a loud mating call as it searched the mountains for a potential mate.

Within an instant it was easy for me, sitting in an office in the Highlands of Scotland, to see exactly how in-situ and ex-situ conservation and research efforts work hand in hand. We need to raise awareness and funds in zoological collections to make sure that people care and support us in our efforts for endangered species conservation. I always try and make the link between what we do in the zoo world and what goes on in the wild, and hopefully the images and video give you this insight.

Conserving endangered species will rarely happen through one person or one project; rather, we need networks and partnerships to work together for the greater good of any given species. Whether it is wildcats in Scotland, snow leopards in Mongolia or Pallas’s cats in Nepal, it is clear that the more we work together the more we will achieve.

I look forward to sharing more exciting new with you all next time,

David      

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