Big Paws, Bigger Impact
Snow Leopard Research in Mongolia
The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut joined snow leopard research efforts in Mongolia's remote mountains. These elusive big cats are a keystone species, and understanding their behavior is critical to protecting fragile ecosystems. Our team's work connects Connecticut conservation to global biodiversity, showing how local expertise can drive international impact.
Five Key Takeaways from Our Snow Leopard Research Expedition
1. Camera Trap Insights
The Nature Conservancy deployed camera traps that captured rare images of snow leopards in their natural habitat, confirming population presence in critical areas.
2. GPS Tracking for Movement Patterns
Data from GPS collars revealed seasonal migration routes, helping conservationists prioritize habitat connectivity.
3. Community Partnerships
Local herders shared knowledge about snow leopard sightings, strengthening community-based conservation strategies.
4. Climate Change Impact
Research showed shrinking alpine zones, underscoring the urgency of climate adaptation measures for snow leopard survival.
5. Global Collaboration
This expedition highlights how TNC in CT’s expertise contributes to international efforts to protect endangered species.
Quote: Erica Anderson
It's affirming that we're onto something here. That means this work can help design plans that protect prime snow leopard habitats. They're essential for survival.
Her bags were packed. She was ready to travel across the world. And she hoped to see one thing during her month-long research trip to Mongolia. But Erica Anderson knew the chances of that special sighting were slim.
That's just the nature of snow leopard research.
Still, she understood that expanding her new expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from the Nutmeg State to Mongolia's formidable mountains would be worth it...for these big, mysterious cats and the environmental questions they could help answer. As the Conservation Information Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut, Erica is sharing more about her trip, and how she is helping to connect wildlife corridors for species on the move—in Connecticut and now across the globe, too.
Snow Leopard Research: Why It Matters
Snow leopards are among the world’s most endangered big cats. Their survival depends on vast, rugged habitats that are increasingly threatened by climate change and human activity. Research about snow leopards helps scientists identify migration corridors, prey availability, and habitat health—essential data for conservation planning.
From Mongolia to Connecticut: Erica's Insights from the Field
Snow leopards are short and stocky with big paws and long back feet. It all helps them move quickly across this rocky, rugged, sometimes very snowy terrain. Their coat patterns are also distinct—you can tell them apart on TNC cameras.
My work uses GIS as a way to depict where you might find a snow leopard, particularly in the Altai (Western Mongolia), and then maps ways leopards could get from Point A to B through modeling. That can lead to modeling habitat suitability across the region, and will support work by TNC in Mongolia. There are limited published behavior studies, mostly from snow leopards in captivity, and very few on migration or dispersal of snow leopards in Mongolia. But we do have data from tracking collars and population estimates from camera footage. I’m building off that and looking at habitat-use characteristics, movement patterns, and how these overlap with nearby nomadic herding communities.
Snow leopards studied by TNC have traveled our predicted path. We’re studying the right area! It’s affirming that we’re onto something here. That means this work can help design plans that protect prime snow leopard habitats. They’re essential for survival. It can protect herding community livestock, too—if snow leopard habitats are thriving and connected, they may choose alternate territories and food sources. Mapping can help herders plan for risks associated with settling camps in these areas. TNC is working with herders across Mongolia on these community-led conservation initiatives.
TNC held a community-based organization (CBO) fair while I was in Mongolia. It was a beautiful gathering of 500+ herders. They connected with TNC and discussed the CBO program’s challenges and successes, while celebrating efforts together. After the cultural events, I presented my work in the learning sessions.
When you see the impact on people in their day-to-day lives, there’s even more reason and hope behind the work. I was able to visit with CBO members in the field to share the work and learn more about the community’s cultural ties to the snow leopard. This ground-truthing is imperative to future research and community-led conservation programs. Spending time with community members was more than I could have expected and I am truly grateful.
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