Long description:

Snow Leopards, Second Edition provides a foundational, comprehensive overview of the biology, ecology and conservation of this iconic species. This updated edition incorporates all the recent information from range-wide surveys and conservation projects, the results of technical and advances particularly in genetics, camera trapping and satellite tracking, and evaluates emerging threats. New chapters synthesize the novel scientific methods and statistical analyses used to develop density and population estimates and how they inform conservation and management estimates. Sections cover historical information, the main biogeographic patterns, evolutionary trends, conservational efforts, and cultural significance.

Status and distribution are fully updated for all 12 countries where snow leopards occur. Other sections describe established and emerging threats, including human-wildlife conflict, illegal trade, infrastructure development, and climate change along with conservation solutions used to address these threats. The book concludes with a final section on global snow leopard initiatives and future potentials.

Table of Contents:

I: Defining the snow leopard
1. Taxonomy, morphology and phylogeny
2. Behavior and ecology
3. Biogeography and status overview
4. Snow leopard diet and prey
II: Conservation concerns
5. Livestock predation by snow leopards: conflicts and the search for solutions
6. Living on the edge: Depletion of wild prey and survival of the snow leopard
7. Illegal killing and trade
8. Climate change impacts on snow leopard range
9. Diseases of wild snow leopards and their wild ungulate prey
10.Emerging threats to snow leopards from energy and mineral development
11. Linear infrastructure and snow leopard conservation
12. Harvest of caterpillar fungus and wood by local people
13. Snow leopard, common leopard, and wolf: Are they good neighbors?
14. Promoting coexistence through improved understanding of human perceptions, attitudes, and behavior toward snow leopards

III: Conservation solutions in situ
15. The role of mountain communities in snow leopard conservation
16. Building community governance structures and institutions for snow leopard conservation
17. Incentive and reward programs in snow leopard conservation
18. Livestock husbandry and snow leopard conservation
19. Religion and cultural impacts on snow leopards conservation
20. Trophy hunting as a conservation tool for snow leopards
21. Environmental education for snow leopard conservation
22. Law enforcement in snow leopard conservation
23. Transboundary initiatives and snow leopard conservation
24. Corporate business and the conservation of the snow leopard: Worlds that need not collide
IV: Conservation solutions ex situ
25. Management of captive snow leopards in the EAZA region
26. Role of zoos in snow leopard conservation: The Species Survival Plan in North America
27. Captive snow leopards as ambassadors of wild kin
28. Rescue, rehabilitation, translocation, reintroduction, and captive rearing: Lessons from the other big cats


V: Techniques and technologies for the study of a cryptic felid
29. Snow leopard research-A historical perspective
30. From VHF to satellite GPS collars-Advancements in snow leopard telemetry
31. Conservation genetics of snow leopards
32.Camera trapping-Advancing the technology
33. Drones for snow leopard conservation
34. PAW: Population assessment of the world's snow leopards


VI: Snow leopard status and conservation: Regional reviews and updates
35. Snow leopard status and conservation in Afghanistan
36. The snow leopard in Kyrgyzstan
37. Conservation of snow leopards in Kazakhstan
38. The snow leopard in Tajikistan
39. The snow leopard in Uzbekistan
40. Snow leopard conservation in Bhutan
41. Securing India's snow leopards: Status, threats, and conservation
42. Conservation of snow leopard in Nepal
43. The current state of snow leopard conservation in Pakistan
44. Current status and conservation of snow leopards in Mongolia
45. Snow leopard conservation in Russia
46. Snow leopard status and conservation in China


VII: The future of snow leopards
47. Sharing the conservation message
48. Global strategies for snow leopard conservation: a spot-joining synthesis
49. The global snow leopard and ecosystem protection program
50. Future prospects for snow leopard survival