Protecting Snow Leopards

Thank you for supporting David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation through GlobalGiving. As well as providing you with your bi-annual Snow leopard project report full of fantastic news and results of this project we would also like to inform you about an exciting campaign.

The Tost Nature Reserve in Mongolia covers over 7,000km2 and is the countries only protected area dedicated to snow leopard conservation. In 2016, and with the support of DSWF, the park became federally protected and its former mining and hunting concessions were withdrawn. Over the past 12 months, DSWF have continued supporting a snow leopard ecological study is the Tost Nature Reserve making it the longest snow leopard survey of all time. With DSWF support, our ground-based conservation partners are amassing the largest dataset of snow leopard photographs and conducted five camera trap surveys covering roughly 9,000km2. In addition, DSWF supported seven rangers to effectively conduct 7,452km of patrols in the new reserve.

One of the prime threats to snow leopards in Mongolia remains retaliatory killings by herders after cattle is killed. This year, DSWF supported the construction of a series of new corrals to keep around 2,000 cattle safe. Since their construction, zero livestock have been killed in the predator-proof corrals dramatically mitigating human-wildlife conflict. DSWF have also continued to support a long-term insurance scheme covering 12,000 livestock offering direct compensation and increased herder tolerance for predators.

Whilst Kyrgyzstan remains one of the world’s last remining strongholds for snow leopards, there is sadly a general disconnect with nature, especially among children. DSWF funding was planned to be used for in-person eco-camps and in-school nature clubs to reconnect children with nature, however this was not possible due to Covid-19. As such our ground-based conservation partners used our funding to develop a new remotely delivered conservation education program for children. This programme aimed to encourage positive values for nature and to equip children with knowledge as a basis for conservation action and continued learning. The team were able to reach over 300 children and their teachers from 18 rural schools.

How can you help this vital work continue?

This week GlobalGiving are hosting their annual Little by Little Camnpaign this means that all donations donated through GlobalGiving to David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation between Monday 13^th and Friday 17^th September will receive 50% match funding from GlobalGiving. So, if you donate £20 today, we receive £30 towards Snow Leopard conservation making your contribution work that little bit harder!

We are hugely grateful that you have chosen to support us to help turn the tide on extinction. Thank you.

Little by Little Campaign T’s and C’s

• Campaign runs from Monday 13^th to Friday 17^th September.
• Donations up to the amount of $50 / £36 will be match funded by 50%.
• One donation per unique donor will be match funded.
• New monthly donations set up this week will be 50% match funded and your 4th donation will be 100% matched!
• All DSWF GlobalGiving Projects are eligable for match funding.