In a wide-ranging survey of households in the Tajik Pamirs (where traditional corrals are built with solid walls & roofs with small skylights or windows) over 75% of all livestock killed by snow leopards were *inside* corrals. #EncounterUncia

1.The PARTNERS Principles is a tool that can be used to engage local communities in wildlife conservation, through eight broad principles: Presence, Aptness, Respect, Transparency, Negotiations, Empathy, Responsiveness, and Strategic Support #EncounterUncia Snow Leopard Network

The PARTNERS Principles can be used to promote coexistence with active listening, empathetic and responsiveness during encounter events. #EncounterUncia

#EncounterUncia In western China, the Tibetan Plateau includes the Valley of the Cats, named for its high density of #snowleopard. Peaceful coexistence w/ herders means good chances of seeing a cat, especially summer when females hunt more to sustain cubs. Snow Leopard Network

Snow leopards are usually found in mountain areas but sometimes they are encountered in unusual areas. The South Gobi habitat includes “island mountains” surrounded by desert steppe. #EncounterUncia @SnowleopardNet Snow Leopard Trust GSLEP_Secretariat Panthera WWF

We are pleased to see that people are leaving snow leopards alone and not disturbing or capturing animals encountered in unusual habitats. “leave them alone!” #EncounterUncia

As our snow leopard conservation program at WWF-India expanded across the Himalayan region, the stories and incidents of unusual encounters began rising. Well intentioned individuals and institutions took decisions that were not necessarily helpful for snow leopards or people.

When encountering snow leopard cubs in the wild, we caution against ‘rescuing’ them, as snow leopard mothers often leaves cubs alone when hunting and would eventually return to find them.

On most occasions, it’s best to just leave the #SnowLeopard alone, it’s likely too stressed & tired, and, given an opportunity, will get back to the rugged mountains at the first possible opportunity. #EncounterUncia

Engaging with the local communities, building active partnerships, and spreading awareness are as crucial as developing policies that provide clear guidance on dealing with unusual encounters with #SnowLeopards! #EncounterUncia advisory available here: globalsnowleopard.org/wp-content/upl…

Follow #EncounterUncia TwitterConference hosted by Snow Leopard Network & GSLEP_Secretariat with Snow Leopard Trust Panthera & WWF where global experts discuss experiences, practices, do's & don'ts as we improve our understanding of interactions with the Mountain Ghost, the #SnowLeopard

After ~18 months in captivity, Shirin (a snow leopard) was released back into the wild ~100km away from where she was caught for killing livestock. The arc of her story (depredation→capture→prolonged captivity→translocation) is not uncommon in the Pamirs. #EncounterUncia

This is so cool 😎

Introducing Choidog, a passionate conservationist working in #Mongolia🐆 Choidogjamts believes that #genderequity is crucial for successful #conservation. He's is inspired by his strong #women-led (70%) #snowleopard team at SLCF, making real difference for #wildlife & people!

Snow leopards a symbol of the qilianshan mountains of Gansu and Qinghai; with over 50,000km2 now protected under one of the countries first Nature Reserves.

Discussing community led conservation in action! Today we brought together 7 local and international NGOs in Mongolia to share experiences and strategies to promote ethical and effective conservation. #communityled #partners Snow Leopard Trust Nadia Mijiddorj WCS