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Map of surveys for snow leopards in and around Tumor Peak Natural Reserve.
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Field surveys were carried out by the International Snow Leopard project team to estimate snow leopard abundance and density in the Tumor Peak Natural Reserve in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang), China. A total of 48 linear transects with a total length of 48.92 km were surveyed at 5 potential distribution sites during October to Novemb...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... within TPNR ( Ma et al., 2006). From September to November, 2004, we conducted linear transect surveys at the 5 potential distribution sites of the snow leopard in TPNR (Figure 1) to estimate its abundance and density based on suitable habitat. The reserve (E79° 43′～80° 55′, (Ablimit, 2004). ...
Context 2
... within TPNR ( Ma et al., 2006). From September to November, 2004, we conducted linear transect surveys at the 5 potential distribution sites of the snow leopard in TPNR (Figure 1) to estimate its abundance and density based on suitable habitat. The reserve (E79° 43′～80° 55′, (Ablimit, 2004). ...
Context 3
... within TPNR ( Ma et al., 2006). From September to November, 2004, we conducted linear transect surveys at the 5 potential distribution sites of the snow leopard in TPNR (Figure 1) to estimate its abundance and density based on suitable habitat. The reserve (E79° 43′～80° 55′, (Ablimit, 2004). ...
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Citations
... These were followed by a compelling report on snow leopard distribution in China (Ma et al., 2002). Later, snow leopard work of this kind focused predominantly in Xinjiang, surveying the whole province (Ma et al., 2005), or specific localities like Tomur National Nature Reserve (Turghan et al., 2011;Xu et al., 2011a), Muzat Valley in Tomur (Ma et al., 2006), the Baytag mountains (Xu et al., 2007), and the Kunlun Mountains (Xu et al., 2008). Riordan and Shi (2010) ...
China holds more snow leopards than any other country, possibly over half the global population. The unprecedented rate of socioeconomic change in China over the past 20 years places unique pressures on wildlife and ecosystems within its borders. Of the large predators in China, the snow leopard has arguably suffered least as a consequence of these changes. Their occurrence in remote mountain regions, where there are few people, has contributed to their continued survival. We outline the status of snow leopards in China, the long history of research on the species and thoughts on the way forward in conserving this iconic cat.
... These were followed by a compelling report on snow leopard distribution in China (Ma et al., 2002). Later, snow leopard work of this kind focused predominantly in Xinjiang, surveying the whole province (Ma et al., 2005), or specific localities like Tomur National Nature Reserve (Turghan et al., 2011;Xu et al., 2011a), Muzat Valley in Tomur (Ma et al., 2006), the Baytag mountains (Xu et al., 2007), and the Kunlun Mountains (Xu et al., 2008). Riordan and Shi (2010) ...
... The severities the potential threats to the avifauna at different sites were estimated based on literature reviews, preliminary interviews and field assessment (Mardan et al., 2011). ...
An updated checklist of bird species that occur in the Arjin Mountain Nature Reserve and its adjacent areas, including parts of Kunlun Mountain, Qimantagh and Kumkul Basin, is provided as part of the basic data for a second nation-wide field survey of wildlife resources of China (2010-2020). The information provided is based on field observations made from 2010 to 2017. A total of 172 bird species belonging to 95 genera of 42 families of 19 orders were identified as occurring in the reserve, accounting for 37.9% of the total bird species in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Among them, 85 species are migrants, 49 species resident, 33 species summer visitors and 5 species winter visitors. Six species of birds viz., Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica), Eastren Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus), Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus), Robin Accentor (Prunella rubeculoides), Tibetan Rosefinch (Carpodacus roborowskii) and Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) are being reported for the first time from Xinjiang. Among them, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is reported from China for the first time.
Key words : Bird species, Diversity, Arjin Mountain, Nature Reserve, Conservation
... Some publications have speculated that the snow leopard is facing new threats from the rapidly increasing human population, agricultural conversion of natural habitats, the presence of stray or feral dogs, as well as mining and hydro activities within mountainous regions (Xu et al. 2008;Turghan et al. 2011;Li et al. 2013a). The Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (Snow Leopard Working Secretariat 2013) also highlight a range of other potential threats in China, including lack of appropriate policy, lack of transboundary cooperation, climate change and disturbance related to cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) collection. ...
China holds more snow leopards than any other country, possibly over half the global population. The unprecedented rate of socioeconomic change in China over the past 20 years places unique pressures on wildlife and ecosystems within its borders. Of the large predators in China, the snow leopard has arguably suffered least as a consequence of these changes. Their occurrence in remote mountain regions, where there are few people, has contributed to their continued survival. We outline changes to China that have affected snow leopard, including policy and legal developments. China holds the majority of snow leopards and suitable habitat. We highlight challenges and opportunities for snow leopard survival in each province they are found. Opportunities for working across borders are especially important for China, because it abuts 10 of the other 11 range states, and these regions are vital to maintaining snow leopard range connectivity.
... Some publications have speculated that the snow leopard is facing new threats from the rapidly increasing human population, agricultural conversion of natural habitats, the presence of stray or feral dogs, as well as mining and hydro activities within mountainous regions (Xu et al. 2008;Turghan et al. 2011;Li et al. 2013a). The Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (Snow Leopard Working Secretariat 2013) also highlight a range of other potential threats in China, including lack of appropriate policy, lack of transboundary cooperation, climate change and disturbance related to cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) collection. ...
China holds the greatest proportion of the snow leopard's (Panthera uncia) global range and is central to their conservation. The country is also undergoing unprecedented economic growth, which increases both the threats to the snow leopard and the opportunities for its conservation. In this paper we aim to review published literature (from 1950 to 2014) in English and Mandarin on snow leopard ecology and conservation in China in order to identify thematic and geographic research gaps and propose research priorities. We first retrieved all published items that considered snow leopards in China (n = 106). We extracted from these papers 274 reports of snow leopard presence in China. We then reviewed a subset of papers (n = 33) of this literature, which specifically focused on snow leopard ecology and conservation within China. We introduced a thematic framework that allows a structured and comprehensive assessment of findings. This framework recognizes four critical and interrelated topics underpinning snow leopard ecology and conservation: habitat (distribution and protected area coverage); prey (distribution and abundance, predator-prey relationships); human interactions (hunting and trade, livestock interactions and conflicts); and the underlying policy context. Significant gains in knowledge as well as research gaps and priorities are discussed with reference to our framework. The modest quantity and limited scope of published research on the snow leopard in China calls for a continued and intensified effort to inform and support national conservation policies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
... However, over the last decade, government intervention to the miners and progressive wildlife protection policy measures, such as the elimination of gold mines, resulted in a significant recovery of Kiang populations, in some areas like Aqqik Kul (Table I, Fig. 2), where the densities of wildlife were reported to be very low (Bleisch 1999). Predation has not been a key threat following the drastic decline of predators such as snow leopard in Xinjiang (Turghan et al., 2011). Poaching sitll remains a threat in remote mountainous areas like Aqqik Kul and Whale Lake, particularly in winter. ...
The Kiang (Equus kiang Moorcroft, 1841) is listed as a Least Concern species by the IUCN. From 2011-2012, field surveys were conducted in the Arjin Mountain Nature Reserve in Xinjiang, China to collect up to date information about the current population and conservation status of the Kiang (Equus kiang Moorcroft, 1841). During the survey, direct (observation) and indirect (questionnaire survey) methods were used to collect information about the Kiang. The study area was divided into seven main sites (At Atkan, Kara Dong, Kara Qokka, Ixak Patti, Ayak Kum, Aqqik Kul and Whale Lake) within the nature reserve. The study was conducted in the early morning and late afternoon, when the Kiang is most active. A total population of 8,500-9,500 Kiangs were estimated for the reserve of 45,000km2, with the highest population in Ayak Kum (34.9%), followed by Ixak Patti (22.06%), Aqqik Kul (21.01%), Whale Lake (12.98%), Kara Qokka (5.18%), Kara Dong (3.53%) and At Atkan (0.30%). The overall population density of the sites was recorded as 0.63±0.23 animals/km2, with the highest density of 1.47/km2 recorded in Ayak Kum, while the lowest observed density of 0.01/km2 was recorded in At Atkhan. Although the results are encouraging, the species is still threatened, and intensity of the potential threats varied between sites. Fencing, intensified competition with domestic livestock, road infrasrtucture construction and mining activities were the major threats to the conservation of the Kiang in the Arjin Mountain Nature Reserve. We recommend that such threats need to be addressed and monitored specifically in future for the conservation of the Kiang population.
This chapter summarises the findings in Qilianshan National Nature Reserve and present the work as a case study of local level planning for snow leopard conservation in China’s protected areas. The discussion then takes a wider view and discuss the opportunities and challenges that snow leopard conservation faces in China as a whole, and suggest related priority research issues.
