Photo: Courtesy of the Shanshui Conservation Center
China has completed its first large-scale snow leopard population assessment, which is also the largest-scale snow leopard population survey officially published globally, according to a press release issued by the Qinghai Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau on Thursday.
From 2015 to 2021, with the support of foundations, researchers from four institutions collaborated with local community rangers to conduct infrared camera monitoring at 12 long-term monitoring sites within the Sanjiangyuan area. They accumulated nearly 10,000 independent records of snow leopard activity, according to a statement from the Beijing-based Shan Shui Conservation Center, a Chinese NGO dedicated to species and ecosystem conservation.
The collaborative study has revealed that within the approximately 360,000 square kilometers of the Sanjiangyuan area, the average population density of snow leopards is about 0.90 per 100 square kilometers, leading to an estimated population of around 1,002 individuals. The research findings have been officially published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation.
"This underscores the high value of snow leopard conservation in Sanjiangyuan and emphasizes China's important role in global snow leopard protection efforts," Xiao Lingyun, associate professor from the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences under Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and the corresponding author of the study, told the Global Times, adding that this research also provides technical references for future large-scale surveys in other regions and establishes China's academic institutions as leaders in snow leopard research.
Accurately assessing the snow leopard animal community is essential for understanding and tracking the health of high-altitude ecosystems.
Linda Wong, vice secretary-general of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), told the Global Times that this recent study shows that the Sanjiangyuan area has a relatively high snow leopard density, with its population exceeding 10 percent of the global estimate. This highlights the area's critical importance in global snow leopard conservation.
"In fact, Sanjiangyuan is not only a key habitat for snow leopards in China, but could also play a major role in supporting the global snow leopard community."
Photo: Courtesy of the Shanshui Conservation Center
The approach used in this assessment is impressive. By using stratified sampling and high-quality habitat data, the study went beyond international standards, covering 28.2 percent of snow leopard habitats, well above the 20 percent required by international guidelines, noted Linda Wong.
"This strengthens the reliability of the results and helps science-based policymaking for future conservation efforts, helping guide more targeted protection measures," she said.
Professor John MK Wong, an independent expert of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, told the Global Times that the groundbreaking assessment provides valuable insight into the status of snow leopard populations in the Sanjiangyuan area.
This long-term monitoring effort by Chinese scientists sets a new benchmark for snow leopard conservation, and international cooperation will further enhance shared knowledge and practices, John MK Wong noted.
"In the future, we also need to consider the challenges posed by climate change, particularly in high-altitude regions," said John MK Wong.
Taking advantage of the data gained will be imperative for research and conservation work.
"I think that analyzing yearly trends will be essential in assessing the effectiveness of ongoing conservation efforts, both within and outside protected areas. It would also be beneficial to clarifying whether this study focused primarily on protected areas or covered a broader landscape," he said.
The snow leopard is also dubbed as the "king of the snow mountains." The species is under first-class national protection in China and is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Ecological connectivity of habitats is key to ensuring gene flow, adaptive evolution, and migration capabilities within species populations. This is especially important for migratory species. In high-altitude ecosystems like those of snow leopards, eco-connectivity is particularly crucial.
As a migratory species, snow leopards necessitate international cooperation for their conservation. Snow leopard habitats span multiple countries, including China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, "where habitat connectivity may face challenges due to human disturbances and climate change," said Linda Wong, who noted China' commitment and ability to protect migratory wildlife species as it co-sponsored the UN Resolution on biodiversity conservation in 2021.