(October～December 2005)

 by MaMing and XuFeng

The main purpose of this survey is to study on the behavior ecology, density, population size and individual activity of Snow Leopard by the means of infrared trapping camera. Oh, it is the first time in China! In 71 days’ field work totally 36 cameras were set up in Muzat Valley and got about 2094 trap days total. At least 32 pictures of Snow Leopard, 22 pictures of other species and 72 pictures of livestock were taken in Muzat Valley. Meanwhile 20 transects were run and 31 feces sample were collected. We also observed the behavior of ibex for 77.3 hours and totally found about 264 ibexes in the research area.

The Xinjiang Snow Leopard Group was founded in 2004. During the years of 2004 and 2005 the specialists of XSLG/XCF/ISLT studied on the Snow Leopard in Altay Mountains, Baitag Mountains, Eastern Tianshan Mountains and the Tomur Feng Area of the western Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang. The main research on the Snow Leopard is in the sign survey such as footprint, scrape, scent spray, urine, feces, claw rake, hair, resting place, food remain and so on (MaMing et al 2005, XuFeng et al 2005).

The winter it is the fourth time on the Snow Leopard survey in Xinjiang. Experts are from China, India, Kirghiz and USA, total 12 persons joined in the field work. From the preparation to the end of the field work, it totally spent half year for this trip. The field work lasted for 71 days from October 18^th to December 27^th. After the experience of a cold winter, long and lonely night, the lofty and perilous peaks with narrow mountain path, very dangerous icy river, illness and terrible traffic accident, the members of the group finally accomplished the investigation successfully.

Except using the infrared triggered remote cameras to record the Snow Leopard, we also surveyed for the ungulate (including the sign, group size and behavior survey). Last but not the least we also do some interview, field training and propaganda for the wildlife protection.

Some experts from Xinjiang Snow Leopard Group (XSLG), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Department of Wildlife Protection in Xinjiang Forest Bureau, Management Bureau of Tomur Feng Protected Area, International Snow Leopard Trust (ISLT) and Xinjiang Conservation Fund (XCF) took part in the field work in this winter. In China it is the first time for such a survey and it’s also a real challenge for us.

Survey Place:

Survey place is in Muzat valley, Tomur Feng Protected Area, Xinjiang, China. The Tomur Feng, "Iron Peak" in Uygur, is the highest peak in the Tianshan Mountains, 7435.3 m above sea level. The range of Tianshan is continuous 3000 km long. And Tomur is the boundary peak between China and Kirgizstan (near Kazakhstan). Around the Tomur Peak there are 15 peaks at the attitude more than 6000 m, e.g. Snow Lotus Peak, Arktshi Peak (white jade in Uigur), Qulebos Peak ( tiger in Uigur), Science Peak, Tailan Peak, Keqkar Peak (buck in Uigur) etc. And more than Five Mountain’s altitude are over 6800m, which form the highest-peak group in Tianshan Mountains range.

The confirmed area is 1000 km² between in 80º00’E and 80º50’E, 41º30’N and 42º30’N, the north slope belongs to Zhaosu County of Ili Kazakh Autonumous State, and the south slope belongs to Wensu County and Baycheng County of Aksu Region. The Muzat River as a tributary of Tarim River is one of the most important channels of ancient Silk Road from south to north.

Main research content in Xinjiang:

1.      Sign survey on Snow Leopards (the same way as before).

2.      With the help of infrared trigger remote cameras, started the Cameras Trapped Project in China.

3.      Ungulate survey (including sign research, distribution, group size, population size, day behavior study et al).

4.      Questionnaire investigation, field work training, protection and propaganda (including the questionnaire of trading of Snow Leopard fur and bone, illegal hunting, protection and management, confliction between the Snow Leopard and shepherd).

Result

The field work was continued 71 days and finished in 27^th December 2005, developed all 71 rolls of the films in January 2006. In this time total 48 cameras were brought in field. There were total 779 pictures to be taken by 36 cameras with 2094 trap days in Muzat Valley. There are total 32 pictures of Snow Leopard in 4 areas and 16 points by 22 cameras (see tables 1). And there are 22 pictures on other species and 72 pictures on livestock. The research area is about 250 km². Meanwhile about 20 transects were run and 31 samples of feces and hair were collected by XSLG. The behavior of ibex also was observed for total 77.3 hours in 18 days and totally found about 264 ibexes in the area.

Table  1.  The data of pictures on Snow Leopard in Muzat Valley from October, November to December 2005

Problems

There were total 48 cameras we got from Biskek to Urumqi in the end of Oct. 2005, but there were about 12 bad cameras to be broken in Kirghizia during the summer 2005.

Distribution of some cameras is not the proper point to use in some points.

The battery is not working in cold winter ( from -15°C to -20°C ).

The delay mode of camera is not good in the season in Muzat Valley (1-5-8 or 1-6-8 ?).

Sometimes the monitor of equipment is not aiming at animals.

Stop all collection in field work, because we do not hope to disturb the Snow Leopards, and wish to take more pictures by the cameras. So few samples were collected in the trip.

Also because the limit of area, the group just run about 20 transects.

In winter few people live in the valley, sometimes the questionnaire survey was difficult.

Acknowledgements

Firstly we must say thanks to Dr. Thomas McCarthy, Dr. Raghunandan Singh Chundawat, Mr. Kubanychbek Jumabay Ulu, Mr. Kyle McCarthy, Mr. Toby Wheeler, Mr. Aizezi, Mr. Zhumahong, Mr. Mulaming, Mr. Keranmu, Mr. Aisha, Mr. Tuniyazi, Mr. Ablimit, Mr. Zhang JinShuo, Miss Chen Yun, Mr. Hu Kanpin, Mr. Wen bo, Prof. Gu Jinhe, Prof. Li Weidong, Mr. Zhu Fude, Mr Niu Yaling, Mr. Tuerhong and Mr. Liu Pujiang for their support to the Snow Leopard project.

We also must express our thanks to Xinjiang Forest Bureau, The management bureau of Tomur Feng Protected Area and Tianshan Forest Farm, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography CAS, International Snow Leopard Trust (ISLT), Xinjiang Conservation Fund (XCF), WWF－China, Kerry EAS Logistics Limited and DingHua Transport Company.

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