Tag Archives: Snow

Rare Photos Showcase Snow Leopard Cubs in Their Den

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Two of the five snow leopard cubs recently photographed in Mongolia

SLCF-Mongolia/Snow Leopard Trust

A team of researchers explored two snow leopard dens in the Tost Mountains of Mongolia, studying and capturing images of five cubs, which provided a rare chance to gather data on this endangered species.

Before their expedition in June and July, researchers had not been able to access snow leopard nests globally since 2019. Örjan Johansson of Snow Leopard Trust noted, “The burrows are situated in tight cracks and caves. We only get one opportunity. If the mother returns before we locate the burrow, we have to stop our search. Going back more than once is too intrusive.”

Johansson and Bren Nyam, a local field ranger, pinpointed the burrow’s approximate location by tracking GPS collars that had been previously attached to 20 adult female snow leopards.

The burrow where the cubs were found was located by tracking the mother’s whereabouts

SLCF-Mongolia_snow Leopard Trust

Johansson explained, “The range of female snow leopards’ homes in Mongolia’s South Gobi region typically spans about 130 square kilometers, which is approximately 2.5 times the area of Manhattan. Without the GPS collar, we would not have discovered their burrows.” However, even with the collars, the team had to search an area as vast as 60,000 square meters to pinpoint the exact location.

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is categorized as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with an estimated 3,920 to 6,390 individuals remaining in the wild. These cats inhabit alpine terrains across Central Asia, spanning 2 million square kilometers across 12 countries, including China, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Their populations face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and conflicts arising from livestock predation.

Johansson noted, “To effectively model and predict population trajectories of multiple species, we must grasp essential factors such as fertility, mortality, and the dynamics of animals entering and leaving an area.” He collaborated with the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation on this project.

“Visiting the dens is crucial as it is the only means to gather information on average litter sizes and cub survival rates during their first five to six months. Before this age, cubs typically remain secluded with their mothers. Accessing the burrow allows researchers to collect invaluable data that would otherwise be unattainable. Such information is essential for enhancing understanding of snow leopard ecology and informing conservation strategies for a sustainable future.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Camera Trap Survey Shows Predominance of Indian Snow Leopards

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The successful conservation of certain endangered species relies on a precise scientific evaluation of their presence and population dynamics. This data can often be volatile or lacking in scientific credibility, particularly for low-density carnivorous species like the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), which inhabit remote and challenging environments. In a recent study, a team of scientists from India’s Ladakh and Wildlife Institute employed a double sampling strategy to evaluate the population and distribution of snow leopards and their prey across the Trans-Himalaya region of Ladakh.

Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia). Image credit: Union Territories, Wildlife Conservation Agency, Ladakh.

“Large carnivorous animals are among the most emblematic species, symbolizing robust ecosystems and conservation hope,” remarked Ladakh researcher Pankaj Reina alongside her colleagues from the Union Territory.

“Their position as apex predators plays a crucial role in regulating nutrition, nutrient cycling, and disease control.”

“Nevertheless, large carnivorous species face widespread extinction, significantly affecting the functionality of contemporary ecosystems.”

“Within the realm of elusive large carnivores, the snow leopard is the flagship species of the mountainous regions spanning 12 countries in South and Central Asia.”

“Snow leopards are renowned for their elusive, wide-ranging behaviors, necessitating a landscape-level approach for effective population monitoring and conservation.”

In their study, the authors investigated the population and distribution of snow leopards across a vast 59,000 km2 area of Ladakh.

Initially, they conducted a thorough survey to gather evidence of snow leopards, including tracks, droppings, and scratch marks.

They also assessed the presence of other large carnivores such as brown bears and lynx, as well as wild herbivores and livestock.

Subsequently, they deployed 956 camera traps covering over 8,500 km2 of snow leopard habitat, facilitating accurate population estimates across the region.

Using artificial intelligence, they analyzed images to identify individual snow leopards based on their unique forehead patterns.

The team estimated that Ladakh hosts approximately 477 snow leopards, representing 68% of India’s total population.

Snow leopard density was observed to vary between 1-3 individuals per 100 km2, with Hemis National Park noted for having the highest recorded density globally.

Remarkably, up to 61% of snow leopards in Ladakh coexist with human populations.

Resource-rich grasslands, characterized by moderate climates and complex terrains, tend to be prime habitats for snow leopards.

“A profound respect for wildlife among the communities in Ladakh, coupled with the economic benefits from snow leopard tourism and effective conflict management strategies, supports some of the highest snow leopard densities globally.

“To capture images of the snow leopard’s forehead, I positioned myself strategically in front of the camera.”

“This involved applying a small amount of perfume near the camera placed by a favored scented rock atop a high ridge.”

“Out of curiosity, the snow leopard lowers its head to investigate the scent, allowing us to capture invaluable photographs.”

“The fingerprinting of snow leopards employs specialized pattern recognition software that models the 3D features of the snow leopard’s forehead, extracting and cataloging spot patterns for comparison with other photographs, ensuring accurate matches.”

“This approach has significantly enhanced our work, improving the accuracy of individual identification—critical for population estimates using statistical models.”

The team’s research paper was published online in the journal PLOS ONE.

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P. Reina et al. 2025. A comprehensive assessment of snow leopard distribution and population in Ladakh, India’s Trans Himalayas: Standardisation Methods for Evidence-Based Conservation. PLOS ONE 20(5): E0322136; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322136

Source: www.sci.news

Review: Lonely Mountains: Snow Rider Offers an Exciting Skiing Challenge with Some Thrilling Twists

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I was captivated by Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a simplistic mountain biking game that was released in 2019. obsessed I played those tracks repeatedly until I mastered the art of braking, skidding a tire on a rock, getting stuck in a tire and being flung off, speeding down a straight path, and carefully navigating over ledges. Like a Lycra-clad mountain goat. The serene soundtrack of chirping birds and rustling leaves (occasionally interrupted by the harsh thud of riders colliding with rocks) made the experience very soothing for me. However, what truly drew me in was the Zen-like focus required to descend the mountain, speeding down without crashing 300 times. I honed my skills to perfection, finely tuning my trajectory to make the difference between cutting a second off my run and veering off track, leading to a crumpled heap.

For years, I had eagerly anticipated the release of a snow sports-themed sequel. Instead of sun, rocks, and dirt, there was now glistening snow, and bicycles were replaced with skis. It seemed unbelievable at first, but after a few initial runs on the snowy mountains, I humbly realized I had a lot to learn. I struggled with turns while applying the brakes, found myself sliding backward on hills, constantly bumped into trees, missed jumps, and tumbled across frozen lakes in confusion. The challenges in each course seemed daunting, and my first multiplayer race was a humiliating experience.




Just you and nature…single player mode. Photo: Megagon Industries

However, after a few hours of practice, I found myself gracefully carving through more challenging courses while immersing myself in the soothing sounds of snow. Achieving a seamless run down the mountain, with the wind in my ears, felt exhilarating. But when I missed a turn and ended up in a ditch, the enchantment was quickly shattered, prompting me to return to the checkpoint and start over.

This rhythm of triumph and failure still resonates with me in Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders. The minimalist soundscape, visually stunning representation of natural landscapes, and the sense of achievement from conquering a course remain as captivating as ever. While there are areas that could be improved, such as adding more customization options for the skier, the high difficulty from the start and precise controls pose challenges for new players in progressing through the mountain. Additionally, the introduction of multiplayer racing and team skiing comes with its own set of drawbacks.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/bsoXrGCdO8E?wmode=opaque&feature=oembed" title="Lonely Mountains Snow Riders – 21st of January – Release Date Announcement" height="480" width="854" allowfullscreen="




Lonely Mountains: Snow Rider – Trailer

Currently, the multiplayer aspect is plagued by technical issues shortly after release. When multiple players appear on screen at once, such as at the start of a race, the game experiences shaking or freezing temporarily. In a game where every millisecond counts, losing control, even momentarily, can make it unbearable to play. I encountered crashes while loading courses, got kicked out of multiplayer games, and saw other players mysteriously lose connection. While these issues may be addressed by developers in the future, for now, they remain a hindrance to the overall experience. The core problem lies in the wide variability of player skill levels.

In an 8-player race, 3 participants may swiftly descend the mountain within 3-4 minutes, while others take considerably longer. Once you cross the finish line, you can either skate aimlessly or watch lower-ranked players struggle in the same section repeatedly. This can be disheartening, especially if you happen to be the unlucky last player.




Massive Freeze…Multiplayer options need fixing. Photo: Megagon Industries

The team mode requires cooperation to navigate mountains, set checkpoints, and revive fallen players, but the concept seemed lost on the players I encountered. I found myself descending the mountain like a medic while others raced past me, eventually regrouping at base camp with players who seemed content to linger. Thank you all for your company and assistance!

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is now available for £20.99

Source: www.theguardian.com

Researchers have identified numerous instances of snow leopards dispersing from the Tibetan Plateau.

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of snow leopard (panthera uncia) It is a large cat endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas. How this apex predator gradually adapted to its extreme environment remains a mystery due to Tibet’s sparse fossil record. In a new study, scientists examined five records outside Tibet of the snow leopard lineage. Their findings suggest that snow leopards dispersed from the Tibetan Plateau multiple times during the Quaternary period. The anatomy of modern snow leopards shows adaptation to steep slopes and cold/high-altitude environments. The new results suggest that snow leopards gradually strengthened such adaptations, especially since the Middle Pleistocene (800,000 years ago).

We predicted the appropriate distribution and morphospace of extant and fossil snow leopards. Image credit: Jianhao Ye.

The snow leopard is one of the emblematic animals of the Tibetan Plateau and is also distributed in the mountainous regions of Central Asia as well as the Mongolian Plateau.

It has distinctive features that clearly distinguish it from other members of the genus, including long, dense fur, long tail, short face, steep, broad forehead, and large cheek teeth. pantera.

Snow leopards typically live in alpine regions above 3,000 meters above sea level or above the tree line, but can also be found much lower, below 1,000 meters in some areas of Siberia.

The snow leopard’s status on the IUCN Red List is: vulnerablethere are 4,000 individuals. However, as global warming progresses, their distribution is expected to shift northward or to higher altitudes, which will have a major impact.

“Although the unique characteristics of the snow leopard have long been recognized, the correlation between these characteristics and their adaptation to the environment of the Tibetan Plateau, as well as their evolutionary history, remains largely unknown,” said the institute’s researchers. said Dr. Qigao Jianzuo. Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peking University, and colleagues.

“This gap in understanding is primarily due to the rarity of snow leopard fossils on the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas.”

In this study, researchers described snow leopard fossils collected from five archaeological sites in Longdan, Gansu Province, China; Arago in France. Zhoukoudian area 3, Beijing, China. Manga Larga, Portugal. Niuyan Cave, Mendougou, Beijing, China.

With the exception of the Uyan Cave fossil, which can be classified as a modern snow leopard, the others show significant differences compared to extant snow leopards.

Scientists concluded that the snow leopards found outside the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are not an independent lineage, but rather consist of smaller branches from the main snow leopard branch.

These branches may indicate multiple dispersions of snow leopards from Tibet at different times.

To study the evolution of key morphological characters, the authors conducted a systematic analysis of the functional morphology of modern snow leopards using anatomy, geometric morphometrics, and finite element analysis. carried out.

Their findings show that snow leopards have large eye sockets and highly developed binocular vision, and have advanced stereopsis that allows them to quickly focus on prey even in complex terrain. It suggests that.

“Snow leopards have short snouts and steeply angled jaws, with canine teeth characterized by an approximately circular cross-section,” the researchers said.

“This structure allows them to exert great force and subdue strong prey, but it can also reduce their flexibility.”

“Furthermore, the snow leopard’s well-developed frontal sinus system warms the air it breathes, increasing its respiratory efficiency, making it a well-adapted animal to cold, low-oxygen environments.”

“Additionally, snow leopards have a prominent tympanic sac, which increases their sensitivity to infrasound and allows them to detect prey sounds from greater distances in open areas.”

“Thanks to their large cheek teeth (i.e. premolars and molars), they are able to eat most of the meat of their prey before it freezes in cold environments.”

“Additionally, these teeth improve the snow leopard’s ability to chew on already frozen carcasses.”

“The snow leopard’s scapula and pelvis are relatively small, but the bones in its distal limbs are elongated.”

“This suggests that although their forelimb strength is low, they have high movement flexibility, making them suitable for running and jumping in mountainous areas.”

“Most of these traits represent adaptations to the mountainous environment and their primary prey, Caprinae (sheep and their relatives). Capriidae tend to be slower, but shorter and shorter. It has sturdy limbs and strong horns that provide excellent resistance.

“Only some of the snow leopard’s adaptations are related to high-altitude, low-oxygen conditions.”

The researchers also studied the functional form of the fossil snow leopard by correlating its various morphological features with its functions.

They discovered early snow leopards, including the early Pleistocene. pantera Ah. Pirenaica From Longtan and early Middle Pleistocene Panthera Pirenaica The Frenchman’s lower jaw was already steeply angled, but not yet shortened.

Additionally, their cheek teeth were not enlarged. This suggests an early adaptation to caprine prey. However, no significant specialization for cold environments was evident at this stage.

Fossils from later periods such as the late Middle Pleistocene pantera Ah. anthea Zhoukoudian locality 3 and from the late Pleistocene Panthera Uncia Lusitanawas found to be very similar to modern snow leopards and exhibit comparable adaptations.

However, certain characteristics, such as the development of the ectotympanic cavity and the degree of forehead enlargement, were generally less pronounced in Europeans. Panthera Uncia Lusitana Compare it to the modern snow leopard.

“Bayesian analysis of the rate of morphological evolution indicates that snow leopards began to change rapidly during the Middle Pleistocene,” the authors said.

“This period coincides with the appearance of large ice sheets on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.”

“Since the Middle Pleistocene, global climate change has increased, resulting in more severe and prolonged ice ages.”

“These conditions have allowed the snow leopard to expand its range beyond the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.”

“Notably, the Middle Pleistocene was also the time when many members of the Capriinae began to migrate from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to northern China and Europe, paralleling the migration of snow leopards from the plateau.”

To determine whether fossil snow leopards have similar ecological adaptations to modern snow leopards, researchers analyzed the relationship between the distribution of modern snow leopards and climate data.

They took a random forest approach and trained a model known as species distribution modeling to predict how snow leopards would adapt based on climate conditions.

They then applied climate data from the Last Glacial Maximum to assess the potential maximum distribution of extant snow leopards during that period.

“This result indicates that the potential suitable distribution of snow leopards during the Last Glacial Maximum was significantly larger than it is today,” the scientists said.

“However, regions such as Europe and Beijing were outside of areas considered suitable for distribution.”

“This suggests that fossil snow leopards may have developed different ecological adaptations than modern snow leopards.”

“Therefore, the distribution of fossil snow leopards cannot be fully predicted using modern snow leopard models.”

“Furthermore, it should be noted that these fossil remains are generally located at relatively low altitudes (below 500 meters), but in mountainous environments, and usually contain fossils of the family Caprinae.” It’s important.”

“The only exception is archaeological sites in Portugal, where there are no animal records. This observation suggests that mountainous terrain and associated prey availability may be more important for snow leopards than high altitude, low oxygen conditions. This suggests that there is a possibility that

“Uuyan Cave is the only known place in the world that contains both snow leopard and leopard fossils.”

“We know that today’s snow leopards sometimes share habitat in transition zones near tree lines, so the Niuyang Cave discovery suggests that similar environmental conditions existed there when the fossils were deposited. It suggests possibility.”

“Tracing the evolutionary history and functional-morphological adaptations of the snow leopard, an important target for ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, by integrating paleontology, molecular biology, finite element analysis, and species distribution modeling. I was able to do that.”

“Our findings reveal the evolutionary path of snow leopards and suggest that mountainous terrain may have played a more important role in their survival than climate factors alone.”

These insights are important for ongoing snow leopard conservation efforts and also demonstrate the utility of paleontological conservation.

Dr João Madurell Malapeira said: “Our analysis shows that altitude and snow are definitely not the limiting factors for the distribution of this species, but rather the presence of open and steep spaces. I have come to the conclusion that this may be the case.” Researchers at the University of Florence and the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

“In other words, snow leopards have always adapted to life in the mountains, but they don’t necessarily have to live at high altitude or in places with snow.”

“And this is an encouragement to ensure their survival in climate change conditions like the current one.”

team’s paper Published in a magazine scientific progress.

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Qigao Jiangzuo others. 2025. Insights into the evolution and adaptation to high altitude and cold environments in the snow leopard lineage. scientific progress 11(3);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp5243

Source: www.sci.news

Hikers and melting snow reveal ancient ecosystem in the Alps before dinosaurs

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Deep beneath the snow-covered slopes lie prehistoric wonders waiting to be discovered. Recently, hikers in the Italian Alps stumbled upon an ancient ecosystem that predates even the dinosaurs, thanks to melting snow.

The groundbreaking discovery was announced on Wednesday, revealing well-preserved reptile and amphibian footprints dating back 280 million years to the Permian period, according to scientists.

Cristiano Dal Sasso, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum of Milan, described the impressive footprints left by animals at that time, with some measuring 2 to 3 inches long. These fascinating finds are now on display at the museum.

The fossil was unearthed in the mountains of Lombardy, Italy, where the melting snow and ice exposed these ancient treasures due to the ongoing climate crisis.

Researchers move rocks containing fossil footprints in the Italian Alps.
Elio della Ferrera / Milan Museum of Natural History

In the summer of 2023, Claudia Steffensen stumbled upon one of these fossils while hiking in the Valtellina Orobie mountains. This discovery led to a series of investigations by experts like Orsonio Ronchi and Lorenzo Marchetti, unraveling the mysteries of this ancient ecosystem.

Researchers were amazed by the abundance and preservation of the fossils, which provide valuable insights into the Permian period just before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Computer-generated images show what prehistoric reptiles looked like.
Fabio Manucci / Milan Natural History Museum

The rapidly changing climate has played a significant role in revealing these fossils, as rising temperatures have caused snow and ice to melt, exposing the long-hidden remains.

As more footprints and fossils emerge from the mountains in the coming years, researchers warn that studying the past can shed light on the environmental challenges we face today. It serves as a stark reminder of the impact our actions can have on the world.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Longest-Lasting Snow Patch in Britain Disappears for the Fourth Consecutive Year

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overview

  • For the fourth year in a row, the snow has melted in parts of Scotland known for remaining snowy all year round.
  • This is the 10th time in more than three centuries that it has disappeared.
  • Such snowflakes could serve as a harbinger of the broader effects of climate change.

A patch of snow in the Scottish Highlands called the Sphinx typically remains all year round and remains frozen throughout the summer. But it has melted away four years in a row, making it only the tenth time in more than three centuries that it has happened.

The Sphinx that flanks Brelliach, Britain's third highest mountain, has historically been known to persist even after most of the snow and ice has disappeared each year on Scotland's Cairngorm Mountains, making it historically the longest-lasting snow in Britain. It was considered a zone. range.

But by September, like every year since 2021, this patch completely melted away. By comparison, the Sphinx disappeared only three times in the 20th century.

Experts say such snowy areas tend to be sensitive to small fluctuations in temperature, which could serve as a harbinger of the broader effects of climate change. The Sphinx's melting could therefore provide clues to how climate change is affecting the Scottish Highlands, the rest of Scotland and the world.

Grant Moir, chief executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “The fact that the Sphinx is melting for the fourth year in a row is a good indicator of these changes.” “Climate change has always been relatively high on the agenda for us as a national park and is increasingly impacting the Highlands. We can learn from the Sphinx about the changes that are happening to our climate. can.”

The Sphinx is located in Brelliach, part of the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland.
climate center

In addition to melting snow, highlands experience frequent storms and floods interspersed with long periods of dry weather, increasing the risk of wildfires, Moir said.

Changes in snow cover across the plateau affect mountain ecosystems by altering the natural hydrological cycle in which snow gradually melts from the mountains and flows into streams.

“It's really impacting things like salmon spawning areas and the river as a whole,” Moir said. “We need to mitigate some of these impacts and we need to think about what we can do to adapt to changing patterns.”

He added that Cairngorms Park was also home to some of the UK's most endangered species.

Its ripple effects extend beyond the natural environment. The national park is home to about 18,000 people and is visited by about 2 million people each year, Moir said. However, he said severe storms and flooding could displace residents, cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt the region's valuable tourism industry.

“It's always been important to try to strike the right balance to ensure that nature and people can thrive within the national park,” Moir said. “What we are trying to do is make sure we invest in things that are good for nature, biodiversity and people.”

Records show that the Sphinx's snow belt has melted only 10 times in more than 300 years.
climate center

Ian Cameron, author of The Vanishing Ice: Diaries of a Scottish Snow Hunter, has spent more than 25 years studying snow in the hills and mountains of Scotland. Every year he publishes his findings on the region's snow cover in the British Meteorological Society's annual report.

Prime Minister David Cameron wrote last year that the Sphinx's fate was a story with “little prospect of a happy ending”.

“There is little doubt that we are witnessing a change in the language used to describe snow in Scotland.” he wrote. “In the past, the adjective that best described the Sphinx was 'permanent,' but that had to be changed to 'semi-permanent,' then 'permanent,' and then 'semi-permanent.' But even this descriptor will not be able to withstand the pressure exerted by continued disappearances. We are now witnessing an era where patches of snow may remain only occasionally. ”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Denisovans from the ancient past hunted snow leopards in Tibet.

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The snow leopard was one of the animals hunted by the Denisovans

Klaus Honal / Alamy

The ancient humans known as the Denisovans hunted a wide variety of animals on the Tibetan Plateau, including blue sheep, yaks, and snow leopards. This diverse diet allowed them to thrive at high altitudes tens of thousands of years before the arrival of modern humans.

“The Denisovans were very behaviorally flexible,” Fried Welcker “They're really able to adapt to their local environment and the species that live there,” say researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.

The Denisovans are one of the most mysterious groups of humans that ever lived on Earth. They were first described in 2010 based on DNA extracted from a finger bone fragment found in the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of Russia. This was the first time a group of humans had been identified based solely on DNA.

Denisovans were likely once widespread in South Asia because many people in South and Southeast Asia today carry Denisovan DNA. The Denisovans were highly adaptive, inhabiting various regions from Siberia to Southeast Asia. However, very little is known about their physical characteristics due to the scarcity of remains.

In 2019, Welcker and other researchers described a 160,000-year-old jawbone found in the Baishiya karst caves of Xiahe, on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Proteins extracted from one of the teeth were identified as Denisovan.

The following year, another group Denisovan DNA in cave sedimentsThe DNA could have been dated to 100,000, 60,000 or even 45,000 years ago, suggesting the Denisovans lived there for more than 100,000 years.

The Tibetan Plateau is 4,000 meters above sea level. The air is thin, cold, and dry – a tough place to live. To understand how the Denisovans managed to survive for so long, Welcker and his colleagues studied animal bones from the Baishiqiao cave. By observing the bones' shapes and extracting characteristic proteins, they were able to identify 2,005 of the 2,567 bones or bone fragments found.

The most numerous were blue sheep (Pseudo Nayaur) Among them were sheep and goats, Welcker said. Other medium-sized herbivores included wild yaks, Tibetan gazelles, and red deer. There were also small animals with grooved teeth, such as flying squirrels and porcupines. Plus larger carnivores, such as spotted hyenas, wolves, and snow leopards, as well as birds, such as golden eagles.

Most of the bones appear to have been brought there by Denisovans – 19 percent bear clear evidence, such as cuts made by stone tools – while less than 1 percent bear tooth marks or other signs indicating they were brought there by rodents or carnivores.

View of the white cliff caves on the Tibetan Plateau

Zhang Dongzhu Group (Lanzhou University)

“This is the second site where we can be absolutely certain that Denisovans were present and that the associated assemblages concretely represent their behavior.” Samantha Brown At the University of Tübingen, Germany.

Stone tools but no human remains have been found at other sites on the Tibetan plateau, so it's unclear who lived there. Further afield, a single molar found in 2022 at Tam Ngu Hao 2 limestone cave in Laos may point to a mysterious human presence. Tentatively identified as Denisovan.

Brown says it's not possible to draw many inferences about Denisovan capabilities from so few remains, “but we expect that Denisovans were once found as far north as Siberia, and possibly as far south.” [the islands of] Southeast Asia. As more of their remains are discovered, we may really begin to understand that the Denisovans were highly adaptive.”

One of the bones found in the White Cliff Cave, a rib fragment, turned out to belong to another Denisovan. It was found in sediments dating back 48,000 to 32,000 years ago, making it the youngest Denisovan specimen known to date. Stone tools found at Nuwia Devou on the plateau This provides evidence that modern humans were living there by 40,000 years ago, suggesting that Denisovans and modern humans coexisted in the region.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Can ‘iron snow’ potentially sustain life in Europa’s oceans?

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The only example of life in the universe is Earth, a rocky planet with over 70% water on its surface. As far as we know, all life on Earth relies on water to survive and thrive, so scientists refer to other planets where liquid water is known to exist as “habitable.”

But scientists also know that a puddle of water alone is not enough to sustain life. Life depends on a constant flow of electrons between molecules, which Electronic GradientTo create energy, electrons move away from areas of high electron density. Reducelow density areas, so-called Oxidize.

Scientists have found several planets and moons in our solar system that have liquid water. Researchers are particularly intrigued by Jupiter's moon Europa, because remote sensing has revealed that it has a salty liquid ocean about 100 kilometers (60 miles) deep on top of a crust of iron-rich rock, with a layer of ice about 10 kilometers (6 miles) thick on top of that.

Europa has no atmosphere to protect it from the sun's radiation, which allows chemical reactions to take place that consume electrons on its surface, creating an oxidizing environment. In contrast, its iron-rich crust creates a reducing environment beneath its oceans. This means that an electron gradient naturally forms along the path from Europa's oxidizing surface to its reduced ocean floor. Scientists want to know if life could harness this electron gradient to obtain enough energy to sustain itself and survive.

Researchers studying Europa From the data Cassini and Galileo The mission found that Europa's ocean temperatures range from 0 to -13 degrees Celsius, or 32 to 9 degrees Celsius. They found that the hottest temperatures are found closest to the ocean floor, where heat is generated by reactions between water and rock, similar to Earth's hydrothermal systems. They also found that some of the most abundant molecules near Europa's surface are all oxide molecules, such as carbonates and sulfates.

Based on these temperature constraints and the amount of energy provided by oxidizing molecules on Europa's surface, a team of researchers from the University of Akron and the University of Southern California calculated the amount of energy available for life in Europa's ocean and investigated whether three types of Earth microorganisms could live beneath Europa's ocean. The microorganisms they tested generate energy using carbonates, sulfates, or iron particles. They reasoned that because all three of these oxidizing molecules are found on Europa's icy surface, if delivered to the ocean floor, the organisms could combine with reducing molecules on the ocean floor to generate energy.

The researchers calculated that in Europa's environment, molten iron near the surface layer of ice would form solid particles when exposed to penetrating radiation from the sun, and slowly fall to the ocean floor — like snow falling from the sky on Earth, except instead of water ice particles, the ocean rains down in the form of rust-like, reddish iron particles.

The scientists calculated that iron oxide snow would provide a larger electron gradient than carbonates or sulfates, ultimately generating more energy for life. They estimated that iron snow could provide up to 2.5×1026 More than 100 microbial cells are found on Europa's ocean floor per year, which represents about 0.1% of the total number of microbial cells currently living in Earth's oceans.

However, the authors caution that only around 10% of the energy produced by organisms on Earth is used to generate cells — the remaining 90% is used to maintain metabolism, meaning that the number of cells that microbial life could actually generate from Europa's underwater iron pathways would be much lower than the authors estimate.

Nevertheless, the authors suggest that these cell count calculations could be used to design missions to search for life on Europa: When future satellites orbit Europa, researchers could estimate how much cell mass we might expect from microbes living in the iron passages on the Europa ocean floor.


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Source: sciworthy.com

Research shows that foxes are less likely to sustain injuries while diving in the snow due to their elongated nose

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Certain fox species dive into the snow to catch prey. This is a hunting mechanism called rat hunting. Red fox (Vulpes Vulpes Vulpes) and arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) It can dive into the snow at a speed of 2-4m/s. Scientists at Cornell University have found in a new study that a highly curved, elongated snout generates less impact force when it penetrates the snow, reducing the chance of injury in a crash. This skull shape allows the fox to reach deep into the snow, giving it an advantage in catching small rodents at greater depths. As a result, the authors predict that red and arctic foxes living in snow-covered areas will have higher hunting success when hunting mice in the snow.

Yuku other. They studied a hunting technique employed by red foxes and arctic foxes known as mousing. In this hunting technique, they dive headfirst into the snow to capture their prey. Image credit: Yellowstone National Park.

The red fox and the arctic fox dive into the snow to catch their prey. This behavior is known as mouse trapping.

These foxes can locate animals under several feet of snow due to their excellent sensitivity to rustling sounds that peak at frequencies between 2 and 10 kHz.

The fox senses the location of its prey and quickly dives into the snow at 2 to 4 meters per second, catching it completely by surprise.

Previous studies investigated this mouse behavior in terms of diving mechanisms and success rates.

Red foxes tended to jump in a northeast direction, and hunting success was much higher when foxes jumped in this direction compared to all other directions, suggesting that foxes take advantage of the Earth's magnetic field. It was suggested that they were hunting.

However, the mechanical aspects of snow diving, which are also important for hunting success, are not well understood.

“The fox's sharp snout does not compact the snow significantly and penetrates it with little resistance,” said Professor Seong-Hwan Jeong, a researcher in Cornell University's Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering.

In the study, Professor Jung and his colleagues scanned the skulls of foxes and arctic foxes, as well as lynx and puma skulls.

They 3D printed skulls and attached sensors to each to measure impact forces.

The skulls were then dropped into both snow and water, and the researchers fed the data into a computer model to compare the effects of both.

Researchers found that the fox's sharp nose penetrates the snow with little resistance, minimizing potential tissue damage when diving headfirst.

Professor Chong said, “Despite the high-speed impact, snow behaves like water if it is not compressed very much.''

“However, the flattened feline's snout compacted the snow upon impact, creating significant and potentially damaging drag.”

When targeting mice in the snow, the fox's long snout allows it to reach its prey faster, since the mouse is very sensitive to surrounding movements and can quickly escape.

Other behavioral studies have shown that foxes listen for the rustling of mice and other animals beneath the snow by shaking their heads before plunging, thereby gauging the depth of the sound source.

“Although this is a very dangerous process, there have been no reports of foxes being injured,” Professor Chong said.

Regarding this research, paper inside Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Jisoo Yuk other. 2024. Effects of skull morphology on fox snowdiving. PNAS 121 (19): e2321179121; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2321179121

Source: www.sci.news

The specialized adaptation of fox skulls for diving into snow

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Red fox diving into the snow to catch prey

Maxime Riendau/Getty Images

Some foxes can dive headfirst into snow without causing harm, and we now know how the shape of their skulls is adapted to this technique.

In colder climates, where small rodents live deep beneath the snow, red foxes (Vulpes Vulpes Vulpes) and arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) has a special hunting technique known as mouse. They use their strong sense of hearing to pinpoint the location of their prey, then jump into the air and dive face-first into large piles of snow at speeds of up to 4 meters per second, catching their prey by surprise.

“This is a very interesting and unique behavior,” he says. Jung Sung-hwan At Cornell University in New York. “Not all foxes do that.”

To learn more about why red and arctic foxes are so adept at snow diving, Jung et al. scanned.

Their analysis found that felines tend to have broader and shorter snouts compared to foxes. This creates a stronger bite, which is more beneficial for felines, which typically hunt alone, Jung said.

Foxes, on the other hand, which hunt in packs, had much longer and more pointed skulls. This leads to a weak bite. The red fox and the arctic fox have similarly narrow muzzles that are slightly longer than other foxes.

The researchers dropped a 3D-printed model of a regular arctic fox skull and a flattened version of the skull into snow from a height of 50 centimeters.

“What we found is that a sharper nose compresses the snow less, reducing the impact,” Jung says. This reduces the risk of injury. Its longer, pointier snout gently pushes the snow aside, as if it were liquid, he said. “Such an elongated shape helps foxes dive safely into the snow so they can focus on hunting.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Review of South Park Snow Day: A Wild and Entertaining Playground Melee

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TIt’s snowing heavily in South Park, Colorado, and young Eric Cartman is looking for a chance to skip school. Huddled in his bed, he clenches his fists and closes his eyes tightly, hoping that the blizzard will worsen to Biblical levels so that the next morning the school can declare a snow day. When he wakes up, the city is in panic – scores of dead, widespread panic buying of toilet paper, and weather so unprecedented that many fear it’s a sign of the end. Of course, he’s overjoyed.

What follows is the titular Snow Day, in which neighborhood children paint a fantasy war on a bright white canvas, in which elves and humans fight according to rules that may change in an instant with the development of a “random” card. Masu. South Park has always been great at capturing the bits of childhood we forget as we grow older, and with the premise of Snow Day!, developer Question Games has captured just such nuggets. I’ll find out. Give some kids a free day and a cardboard sword, and they’ll build an entire universe and bicker about exactly how it works.

What this means for players is the roguelike elements that were completely removed from South Park’s previous two 2D turn-based role-playing games, 2014’s The Stick of Truth and 2017’s sequel The Fractured But Whole It is a cooperative action game with

You can be forgiven for feeling some regret about that parting. Those story-driven games gave us countless gags that were too vulgar to tarnish this fine publication, and the abrupt transition to retro 8-bit graphics when they entered Canada When, for example, they found creative ways to use the medium itself for comedy. Frankly, the writing in Snow Day! isn’t all that sharp. But its advantage is its pick-up-and-play accessibility and unexpected depth as a roguelike.

Battle small children in your ramshackle Tolkien cosplay, deploying basic melee and ranged attacks as you race through the burbs, collecting toilet paper (new gold since panic buying began) and modifier cards. Masu. These are things like dealing extra damage to bleeding enemies or increasing the range of your farts. The more you progress through the match, the more specialized playstyles you can specify, making each battle more interesting.

Especially when a bullshit card drops. This gives you and your enemies ridiculous abilities like laser eyes and meteor showers. They’re done sparingly and are always met with enough ire from Cartman and others to remind you that these rules are supposed to feel like they’re being improvised by a 10-year-old.

Control isn’t always good. In fact, it rarely feels that way, as attack and movement animations are marred by the floating feel and lack of proper weapon feedback. But on snowy days! Keep your brain focused by allowing you to plot more efficient builds. Every card you choose has consequences, as there’s always a tougher battle around the corner and a boss fight at the end of your run. This won’t keep you and your pals in South Park’s perennial winter for as long as popular hangout spaces in co-op games like Fortnite. But for those nostalgic for the days when snow meant freedom, it offers a weekend of farting, chaotic fun.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Guide to Viewing the 2024 Snow Moon: Witness the Final Full Moon of Winter

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The upcoming full moon in February 2024, known as the snow moon, will be the second one of the year. Despite being a micromoon this month, it signifies the end of winter and the coming of spring.

Wondering when is the best time to witness this full snow moon in the UK? How close is the micromoon? And the current constellation of the moon? Here is everything you need to know about the full moon in February 2024.

If you want to enjoy a clear night sky, explore our beginner’s guide to astronomy. To get familiar with some unique constellations, this guide is the perfect starting point.

Interested in capturing beautiful moon photos? Check out our practical moon photography guide that is filled with expert advice from astrophotographers and even BBC Night Sky presenter Pete Lawrence. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, we have tutorials to suit your needs.

When will we see the snow moon in 2024?

If the skies are clear, the snow moon will be visible in the early morning and evening on February 24, 2024, across the UK, US, and other parts of the world.

The peak illumination of the full moon in February will happen at 12:30 PM GMT. For viewers in the UK, this means that the moon will be fully illuminated during the day when it is below the horizon. However, it will still appear “full” when it rises at night and for a few days after.

In London, the Snow Moon will rise in the east-northeast on February 24 at 5:27pm GMT and set in the west-northwest at 7:32 a.m. on February 25th.

In New York, the Snow Moon will rise in the east-northeast on February 24 at 5:55 pm ET and set in the western sky at 7:18 am on February 25th.

In Seattle, the Snow Moon will rise in the east-northeast on February 24 at 6:07 pm PST and set in the west at 7:40 a.m. on February 25th.

What’s unique about the 2024 Snow Moon?

This year’s Snow Moon is special for two reasons. First, it falls on the day before the moon reaches its apogee, making it the smallest full moon of the year. Secondly, it coincides with the Lunar New Year celebrations, including the Lantern Festival.

On February 24th, National Tortilla Day is also celebrated in the US, giving you another reason to toast the full moon with chips and dip.

When is the best time to view the 2024 Snow Moon?

The best time to observe the snow moon is in the evening of February 24th, just after sunrise, or before moonset on the morning of February 24th. The moon will be closest to full illumination and low on the horizon in both cases.

In London, the moon will set at 7:21 a.m. GMT on the morning of February 24th, offering a picturesque sight low on the horizon. And if you wait until evening, the moon will rise at 5:27pm GMT on February 24th, just after sunset.

The Earth’s counterclockwise rotation means that the moon will appear to move across the sky from left to right in the Northern Hemisphere and from right to left in the Southern Hemisphere at a rate of 15 degrees per hour.

Why is February’s full moon called the snow moon?

February is one of the coldest months of the year in the Northern Hemisphere due to the cooling effects of winter and the sun’s lower angle. The snow moon gets its name from the significant snowfall experienced in the US, Canada, and Europe during this time.

What constellation is the moon in?

On February 22nd, the Moon will be in Cancer, and by the full moon, it will have moved into Leo, situated between Regulus and Keltan. Three days later, the moon will shift to Virgo, followed by Libra from March 1st.

Is the snow moon a supermoon?

No, the February 2024 snow moon is not a supermoon, as it will be a micromoon. Supermoons occur when the moon is closest to Earth, known as perigee, making it appear larger and brighter in the sky.

How far away is the moon?

During apogee on February 25, the moon will be 406,312 km (252,470 miles) away from Earth, making it the smallest full moon of 2024. The farthest point of the moon from Earth will be on October 2, 2024, at 406,516 km (252,597 miles) during a new moon.

What causes a full moon?

A full moon occurs when the side facing Earth is fully illuminated by the sun, as the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment, known as “syzygy,” only lasts for a moment but signifies a full moon in the lunar cycle.

The moon’s cycle lasts about 29.53 days, with the full moon marking the midpoint. The sun and moon balance each other during a full moon, with the moon appearing full all night but technically only being “full” for a brief moment.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

India’s initial snow leopard study shows that there are only 718 of them remaining

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Snow leopard in Ladakh, India

Wim van den Heever/naturepl.com

India’s first snow leopard survey estimates that there are 718 big cats living in six mountainous regions of the country.

They make up about 10 to 15 percent of the world’s population, and conservationists believe they number between 3,000 and 5,400 people.

snow leopard (panthera uncia) inhabit vast areas of remote mountainous regions, making them one of the most difficult predators to study.

The study, led by Wildlife Trust of India, was conducted from 2019 to 2023 and involved setting up 1,971 camera traps covering 120,000 square kilometers of habitat.

This represents over 70 per cent of the snow leopard’s potential habitat across the trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Approximately 34 percent of this area is under legal protection.

While 241 cats were photographed, evidence of leopard feces, fur, and body marks was found in the survey area, which covers approximately 100,000 square kilometers.

Snow leopards live in 12 countries in Asia, but primarily in the rugged Himalayas of China and India. The species was listed as endangered in 1972 and reclassified as endangered in 2017, but is still considered to be in decline.

“Snow leopards are beautiful, mysterious, ghostly animals, but they’re so much more than that,” says biologist George Schaller, who first photographed a snow leopard in Pakistan in 1971. “Snow leopards tend to symbolize the region and people of the time.” We begin to focus on the region as a whole, not just the snow leopard. Protecting it therefore protects the area for the benefit of all wildlife and local communities. ”

India’s goal is to use this baseline for long-term population surveys to improve monitoring, said Bhupender Yadav, India’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Forests and Climate Change. This is what the agency did in his 1970s with Project Tiger, creating conservation measures to increase the tiger population.

“These periodic assessments provide valuable insights to identify challenges, address threats, and develop effective conservation strategies,” says Yadav.

But some local figures fear the announcement could backfire. “This is one of the rarest animals, and this number may change the way we look at it,” said wildlife photographer Morap Namgair. snow leopard tour In Ladakh. “People might think 718 is an exaggeration, so it might change the psychology of conservation.”

Namgeir believes local people must take the lead in conservation efforts. “As locals, we share the mountain, so we have a responsibility to keep its numbers at the same level, if not increase,” he says. “They are the world’s most difficult animals to study, and we may never know how many there are. But we are committed to our efforts because protecting them protects us all.” Have to.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The United States is experiencing a snow deficit despite recent storms

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The storm is pummeling much of the northern United States, a welcome relief for some areas that have seen little snow in recent months.

A late start to winter until early January limited ski resort operations and raised early concerns about water supplies for the summer.

“We’re playing catch-up now,” said Dan McEvoy, a regional climatologist at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada.

About 800 monitoring stations track snowfall across the West. More than 90% of those stations reported measurements below the median. Mr McEvoy said it was perfect for this time of year. It’s not unusual for parts of the West to be below seasonal averages, but it’s unusual for so many areas to be below them at once.

In Western states, the size of the snowpack affects how much water farmers can use, how severe the wildfire season is, and how much electricity hydroelectric dams can generate. Climate scientists predict that as the climate warms, snowpack will decrease, further threatening already tight supplies in much of the West.

Scientists have struggled to quantify the impact of climate change on snowpack, but the results of the study were published Wednesday. Published in Nature magazine They found that climate change is the cause of the decreasing trend in snowfall.

“Our analysis reveals that many of the world’s most populated basins lie on cliffs of rapid snowfall,” the authors write.

Previous studies have shown that snowfall is decreasing. Quantifying snow cover (the amount of water stored as snow) is more difficult because it varies significantly from year to year and is difficult to measure. In some cases, the atmosphere warms and can hold more water, leading to more snowfall or more extreme events.

“Snow is a very bad canary for a coal mine,” said Justin Mankin, an author of the Nature paper and a climatologist at Dartmouth College, who continued the study because the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change did not cooperate. . We were able to talk clearly about how the overall snowpack had changed.

For the study, Mankin and Dartmouth Earth System Scientist Alexander Gottlieb analyzed snowpack in 169 river basins in the Northern Hemisphere. They identified clear snowpack trends in 82 of these basins and sharp declines in the snowpack that supplies water to populated areas. Researchers were able to confirm that human influence, or global warming, is causing changes in 31 watersheds.

Their research suggests that many watersheds in the Northern Hemisphere are nearing rapid loss, with the potential to rebuild water supplies for more than 2 billion people.

“When snow falls off a cliff, it accelerates and falls off the cliff,” Mankin said. “We are fundamentally unprepared.”

In most parts of the country, winter has just begun. On January 1st, after a mild December, snow fell on just 20% of the continental United States. Based on satellite analysis of the National Operational Hydrological Remote Sensing Center. The recent storm surge has increased by about 45% as of Wednesday.

McEvoy said a ridge of high pressure blocked moisture in December, leaving areas in the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains with dry conditions. Snow fell in parts of the Midwest, including Chicago, Minneapolis, and the Dakotas.

“Normally in late December we have snow on the ground. We really didn’t have any,” McEvoy said of those cities, adding that some parts of the Midwest saw average monthly temperatures in December that were below normal in degrees Fahrenheit. He pointed out that the temperature was 10 to 15 degrees higher.

Meanwhile, warmer temperatures and several storms in the Pacific Northwest hindered snowpack development. Rain wiped out the snow after the storm in the Northeast.

Recent storms have put 164 million people in the United States under weather warnings, and the situation will improve, not ease.

“From what we’ve seen so far, it doesn’t look like a pattern that will completely eliminate the snow drought,” McEvoy said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center predicts a warm and dry winter for most northern states, due in part to strong El Niño conditions. El Niño is a naturally occurring pattern associated with warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that slow trade winds. .

“El Niño is a double whammy, with warmer waters from the Pacific Ocean adding more heat and energy to the atmosphere as a result of warming due to climate change,” McEvoy said. “This combination allows us to have a warm year ahead.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Utilizing DNA from Polar Bear Snow Tracks to Support Conservation efforts

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Researchers have developed a breakthrough method to protect polar bears by analyzing DNA from footprints in the snow. This non-invasive technique can also be applied to other snow-dwelling animals such as lynx and snow leopards, providing a safer and more efficient way to collect data essential to wildlife conservation.

Scientists have discovered a way to capture DNA Observations from snow tracks – a promising non-invasive way to monitor elusive animals like polar bears.

The polar bear is a symbol of the Arctic, an elusive and vulnerable animal. Close monitoring of polar bear populations is critical to polar bear conservation, but polar bears are so difficult to find that critical data about population size and connectivity between those populations is lacking. I am. Scientists have now developed a helpful new tool: DNA analysis using skin cells shed from bear tracks in the snow.

Dr Melanie Lancaster of the World Wildlife Fund’s Global Arctic Program said: ‘Finding polar bears in the Arctic, let alone counting them and understanding how they are coping with climate change, is particularly difficult. “And it’s expensive and time-consuming.” , senior author of the study Frontiers of conservation science.

Innovative forensic techniques in preservation

The scientists were inspired by forensic techniques that can be applied to trace amounts of degraded DNA samples. These techniques eliminate the need to physically capture bears, which can be stressful and dangerous for both bears and humans, and is a concern for some local indigenous communities. Instead, scientists can look at the source of accidentally released DNA: environmental DNA.

A polar bear in Utchagvik, Alaska.Credit: Elizabeth Kruger, World Wildlife Fund

“Many Inuit have expressed concerns about invasive research methods,” said the article’s author, Elizabeth Krueger of the World Wildlife Fund. “People are concerned about the welfare of individual polar bears and the health and safety of those who may later harvest the bears. This is one reason we are so excited about new methods like this. The person collecting the samples does not need to see or even be seen by the polar bear.”

Environmental DNA: a non-invasive tool

A common form of environmental DNA is deposited when animals defecate. However, the quality of DNA is not always sufficient for the individual-level analysis required for preservation. Furthermore, in the case of territorial animals like her other two, seed Scientists tested lynx and snow leopards, and the collection of faeces can affect the animals’ behavior. So the researchers focused on the skin cells in snowy footprints.

“Trucks typically contain fresh cells and the DNA is intact due to the cold ‘storage’ temperatures. “The DNA that passes through the intestine is further degraded, making it more difficult to study,” said lead author Dr Michaela Helström from MIX Research Sweden AB.

Real-world tracking and sampling

The researchers collected snow from individual footprints made by polar bears in Alaska and Eurasian lynx in Sweden in the wild and in captivity. They also collected snow from footprints made by captive snow leopards. Additional substances such as hair, saliva, and mucus were also sampled to ensure that the traces yielded accurate genotypes.

Twenty-four wild polar bear tracks and 44 wild lynx tracks were sampled. The researchers melted and filtered the snow to collect environmental DNA and analyzed the microsatellites. Although the concentration of DNA recovered from footprints collected in the wild was very low, we were able to recover nuclear DNA from 87.5% of wild polar bear footprints and 59.1% of wild lynx footprints. We were able to genotype 13 of the wild polar bear samples and identify 12 different individuals.

They were able to genotype 11% of the lynx footprints, but this percentage increased significantly when scientists examined only footprints sampled by trained personnel. They were able to recover nuclear DNA from 76% of the samples collected by trained personnel and genotype 24% of the samples.

A step-by-step approach

This technology has great potential to inform conservation of these animals, better understand animal populations and behavior, and manage conflicts with humans through accurate animal identification. Although non-invasive sampling has a low success rate, it is easy to collect and can greatly expand sample size.

“We hope this method will be adopted by the polar bear research community as a new way to collect information about polar bears, with the participation of hunters, volunteers, and indigenous communities,” Lancaster said. “We also hope that this method can be extended to other animals that live in snowy environments. We have started by showing that this method works for lynx and snow leopards as well. I did.”

Reference: “Capturing environmental DNA from snow tracks of polar bears, lynx, and snow leopards for individual identification” Michaela Hellström, Elisabeth Kruger, Johan Neslund, Mia Bister, Anna Edlund, Patrick Hernvall, Viktor・Birgerson, Rafael Augusto, Melanie L. Lancaster, October 11, 2023. Frontiers of conservation science.
DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2023.1250996

Source: scitechdaily.com

A spectacular first photo of a snow leopard captured under the stars

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Looking for ghosts requires special patience. The chances of finding it are low, but doubting means giving up, so keep looking.

This is a technique for tracking snow leopards. Morap Namgair learned that early. He was five years old when he first saw the animal in his remote village of Ulay in Ladakh, India. The area is full of wildlife and is a paradise for aspiring photographers like Molap and his younger brother Stanzin. These big cats are called locally. Shanimmortalized in the BBC series Planet Earth II They were mainly grateful to their father, Norbu, who followed them as a crew member.

Ladakh had just become famous for its sightings, but everything was shut down due to the pandemic. That’s when the brothers vowed to photograph something no one had ever photographed before: a snow leopard under the stars. They hoped the image would highlight the beauty of this mountain region and its apex predator, thereby spurring efforts to conserve both. The region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, threatening landscapes and wildlife. The brothers believed that if the outside world could only see what was at stake, that would influence the government’s actions.

They spent months blanketing the area with cameras. However, halfway through the project, Stanzin died of heart disease. Although it was difficult, Morap pushed forward on his own.

Last August, on a 33°C (91°F) day, he climbed a ridge at 4,900 meters above sea level. “What I found on camera was a dream come true,” Morap says. He was bittersweet though. “Buddhism believes in reincarnation. I always look at snow leopards and often think, ‘What would happen if Stan Jin was reincarnated as a snow leopard?’ Perhaps he will stop for a photo or perhaps say hello. Maybe he did.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com