The First Book about Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia) in China Titled “Snow Leopards in Xinjiang” Published

The first book about snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in China titled “Snow Leopards in Xinjiang”, written by Prof. MA Ming et al. from Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, was published by Science Press in March 2013.

Snow leopard, one of the international endangered species, is only distributed in China and China’s 11 neighborhood countries. Now, there are only 3,500–7,000 individuals in the snow leopard populations in the world. China, as the largest country that snow leopard distributed worldwide, has the broadest distribution area and the largest population size of snow leopard. In China, snow leopard is mainly distributed in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Xinjiang. However, the density of snow leopard distribution is very low even in Xinjiang, with less than one individual/100 km² in the western mountains of Xinjiang.

This book firstly summarizes the research progress of snow leopard in Xinjiang during the past ten years. It mainly introduces the biological characteristics, distribution and population of snow leopard in the world, and discusses the basic method and high technological equipment to search for snow leopard. Finally, the book analyzes the current problems of management and conservation for snow leopard and provides some measurements and suggestions to protect snow leopard.

Besides, the book introduces the other various aspects of the snow leopard, including the records of snow leopard in ancient books, a brief history of evolution for the big cat family, filed survey records, snow leopard in the zoos, introduction of nature reserves that snow leopard distributed in Xinjiang, and the conservation experiences of snow leopard in other countries.

The book provides an insight into the knowledge in terms of snow leopard research, and meanwhile, offers a scientific perspective to protect the snow leopard.

Contact:

Prof. MA Ming

Email: maming@ms.xjb.ac.cn