The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is one of the world’s most threatened large cats and is classified as ‘Endangered’ by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Retaliatory persecution of snow leopards by pastoralists, depletion of wild prey populations, habitat degradation and the high demand for snow leopard pelt and bones pose serious challenges to the continued survival of the species. As the snow leopards live in difficult landscapes, their conservation and monitoring requires specialized techniques and skills. Due to a lack of adequate technical know how among field personnel responsible for on-the-ground snow leopard conservation, evaluation of population trends of this endangered species, or the impacts that conservation programs are having on its status, have been largely hampered.

The project aims to address this challenge by developing a training tool kit for snow leopard conservation and monitoring, and using it for capacity enhancement of field conservationists in at least two range countries of the snow leopard. This largely self-contained tool kit will include a set of field equipment (for demonstration), friendly audio-visual materials, spreadsheets, necessary software and manuals/booklets. This tool kit will be used for training a wide range of target groups by adjusting the level of detail and technicality across the snow leopard’s range.

The training tool kit will be introduced to conservation practitioners, field biologists, field wildlife managers, forest rangers, NGOs, volunteers and local community members. As part of this project, the tool kit will be used for conducting field training workshops in at least two of the snow leopard range countries, each lasting at least 5-10 days. CDs (with presentations, exercises and software), booklets and manuals will be distributed to the participants. The equipment, which will be for demonstration purposes only, will be re-used in subsequent training workshops.

The project goal is to equip snow leopard conservation practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and tools for effective conservation and monitoring. As part of the initial project, we aim to train 30 conservation practitioners in at least two snow leopard range countries (possibly China, India, Mongolia, and/or Kyrgyzstan). The training tool kit will help the trainees implement the field and analytical methods for conservation of snow leopards, its prey and habitat. After the initial training workshops, improvements will be made to the tool kit, which can subsequently be made available and used across the snow leopard’s range.