<
https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/press_releases/?9671466/WWF-395-increase-in-snow-leopard-numbers-in-Bhutan-a-milestone-achievement>
"16 September 2023 (Thimphu, Bhutan) - The presence of 134 snow leopards has
been confirmed in Bhutan by the National Snow Leopard Survey 2022-2023,
supported by the Bhutan For Life project and WWF-Bhutan. This represents a
39.5% increase from the country’s first survey in 2016, when 96 individuals
were counted.
Bhutan’s second national survey covered more than 9,000 km sq of snow leopard
habitat across the northern alpine landscape of the country with 310 camera
trap stations. It found an overall density of 1.34 snow leopards per 100 km sq,
which was comparatively higher in the west than in central and eastern Bhutan.
Snow leopards were also recorded in several new locations. With a vast expanse
of suitable snow leopard habitat bordering India and China, the survey suggests
Bhutan can serve as a source population for snow leopards in the region.
Speaking at the launch of the survey results, Karma Tshering, Secretary of the
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, said that while the survey results
confirm Bhutan as a stronghold for snow leopards, “it is also a species in
peril; the IUCN Red List designates the snow leopard as Vulnerable. Without
protection, this magnificent species could face extinction in the near future.”
Found in twelve countries across Asia’s high mountains, snow leopards are
threatened by habitat degradation, prey depletion, conflict with humans,
poaching and climate change. The global population of snow leopards is
declining, but the survey suggests conservation efforts in Bhutan to restore
snow leopard habitat and combat poaching are having a positive impact. The snow
leopard is listed as a protected species and it is illegal to kill or harm
them."
Via
What Could Go Right? September 28, 2023:
<
https://theprogressnetwork.org/social-attitudes-decarceration-climate-transition/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
