Snow Leopard Survival Strategy - Panthera

approximately 46% of estimates of its 1900 range. Jaguar
status and distribution is unknown in another 12% of the
jaguar’s former range, including large areas in Mexico,
Colombia, and Brazil. But over 70% of the area where
jaguars are thought to still occur was rated as having a
high probability of supporting their long-term survival.
Fifty-one jaguar conservation units representing 30
different jaguar geographic regions were prioritized
as the basis for a comprehensive jaguar conservation
program.
Schneider, R. R. and S. Wasel. 2000. The effect of
human settlement on the density of moose in northern
Alberta. Journal of Wildlife Management 64(2):513-
520.
The objective of our study was to determine the net
impact of human settlement on moose (Alces alces) at a
large scale. Our study area was northern Alberta, Canada,
which is divided into a White Zone in which agriculture
is permitted and where most human settlement is
concentrated, and a Green Zone which is comprised of
boreal forest with minimal human settlement, Moose
densities were determined using a 1993 moose census
that covered almost all of northern Alberta. We found
a linear decline in the density of moose with increasing
distance from the White Zone. The median density of
moose in the White Zone was 0.40 moose/km 2 compared
with 0.25 moose / km 2 in the Green Zone. Within the
White Zone both human settlement and the density of
moose declined with increasing latitude. While access is
generally assumed to have a negative influence on moose,
we found that at the regional scale the density of moose
was positively associated with the density of roads. The
regions with the greatest moose densities also had the
greatest intensity of licensed hunting. We hypothesize
that the observed association between settlement and the
density of moose reflects a causal relationship and we
provide arguments to support our supposition.
Schwartz, M. K., L. S. Mills, Y. Ortega, L. F. Ruggiero
and F. W. Allendorf. 2003. Landscape location affects
genetic variation of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis).
Molecular Ecology (12)7:1807-1816.
The effect of a population’s location on the landscape
on genetic variation has been of interest to population
genetics for more than half a century. However, most
studies do not consider broadscale biogeography when
interpreting genetic data. In this study, we propose an
operational definition of a peripheral population, and
then explore whether peripheral populations of Canada
lynx (Lynx canadensis) have less genetic variation than
core populations at nine microsatellite loci. We show
that peripheral populations of lynx have fewer mean
numbers of alleles per population and lower expected
heterozygosity. This is surprising, given the lynx’s
capacity to move long distances, but can be explained
by the fact that peripheral populations often have smaller
population sizes, limited opportunities for genetic
exchange and may be disproportionately affected by ebbs
and flows of species’ geographical range.
Sharma, U. R.. 1992. Park-people interactions
in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Doctoral
Dissertation. University of Arizona. 275 pp.
The following issues of conflict between Royal Chitwan
National Park (RCNP) and its human neighbors have
been addressed in this research: firewood shortage,
shortage of grazing land and fodder, and crop/livestock
depredation by park wildlife. In addition, previous
estimates of annual grass-cutting in the park have been
revised. Out of 16 village units, or 144 wards, in the study
area that are within 5 km of the RCNP (total study area
about 598 sq. km) in the Chitwan District of Nepal, 14
wards were randomly selected for detailed investigation.
The investigation included interviews of 140 randomly
selected heads of households, livestock census, yearround
monitoring of crop/livestock depredation by park
wildlife, and monitoring of 11 patches of grassland/
savanna (totalling 365 ha) in the nearby park-land for
recording trespass grazing. In addition, 1818 randomly
selected grass-cutters were interviewed to estimate
the harvests of resources in the park. Major resources
left remaining after the harvest were field-assessed.
Information concerning the subsistence systems and
ethnicity of local people has been described. Intensity of
livestock grazing in the bordering grasslands/savannas
inside the park was found to be 4.1 heads/ha. The
livestock biomass was estimated to have been growing
by 2.36 percent, and a change in the mix of livestock
ownership, including an increase in buffalo and goats,
was noticed. Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) was found to
be the principal crop raiding animal, followed by wild
boar (Sus scrofa), and chital (Axis axis). Tiger (Panthera
tigris) and leopard (Panthera pardus) were threats on
livestock. Smaller carnivores also caused substantial
damages to domestic birds. Annual losses of crop and
livestock sustained by the average household have been
estimated. No strong correlation between distance to park
and crop or livestock damage could be found. There were
61,614 participants in the annual 15-day grass-cutting.
On the average, 3 m tons of grasses, reeds, binding
materials, and firewood per household were harvested
from the park. Net contribution from these harvests to the
economy was estimated to be US$ 325,166. Competing
theories on national park management are examined and
a new concept for park management is proposed.
Silori, C. S. and B. K. Mishra. 2001. Assessment of
livestock grazing pressure in and around the elephant
corridors in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, south
India. Biodiversity and Conservation 10(12):2181-
2195.
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in southern India plays an
important role in biodiversity conservation, especially of
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