雪豹,这种美丽而神秘的猫科动物,是中亚山地生物多样性的旗舰种,它见证了游牧民族征服世界的整个历史。在过去的20年里,由于栖息地退化、食物的减少、偷猎或者报复性捕杀等原因,雪豹的数量已经下降了20%甚至更多。早在1975年雪豹就被列在CITIES附录I里面,1988年被IUCN列为濒危动物,1988年被列为我国国家一级保护动物。现在,全世界的雪豹在野外仅存大约3500只,其中至少有60%的雪豹分布在中国(McCarthy, Chapron, and Network 2003),即大概还有2000-2500只(Fox 1994; Schaller 1990),所以中国是最重要的雪豹分布国之一。而青海省位于中国有雪豹分布的六个省和地区的中央。夏勒估计在青海省大约有650只雪豹分布在65000平方公里的栖息地里面(Schaller, Ren, and Qiu 1988)。
从2009年开始,我们与 Panthera基金会,山水自然保护中心,中国林业科学院,青海省林业局,三江源生态环境保护协会等单位合作,在青海省开始了对雪豹的分布、种群数量、食物、栖息地以及与当地人的冲突等问题的研究项目。此项目的主要目标是:1)确认雪豹在青海省的关键栖息地;2)了解在青海省的关键栖息地内雪豹及其主要猎物的种群相对多度;3)在青海建立起雪豹及其伴生野生动物的监测网络;

Surveying and Mapping Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) Habitats For Conservation Priorities in Sanjiangyuan Region in Qinghai, China
Project Leader:Lu zhi, Wang dajun, Li juan
As a "flagship" and "umbrella" species, snow leopard(Uncia uncia) witness the history of nomads setting out to conquer the world. However, snow leopards are suspected to have declined by at least 20% over the past two generations (16 years) due to habitat and prey base loss, and poaching and persecution. And snow leopard has been listed as endangered on the IUCN list since 1988 (IUCN 2008), in CITES Appendix I since 1975(CITES), and Convention of Migratory Species since 1985(CMS).With nearly 60% of the total range (McCarthy, Chapron, and Network 2003) and estimated 2000-2500 individuals (Fox 1994; Schaller 1990), China is the most important snow leopard range country.