Population density of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in the Yage Valley Region of the Sanjiangyuan National Park: Conservation implications and future directions

Figures & data

Figure 1. The Yage Valley region in the Sanjiangyuan National Park on the Tibetan Plateau, western China, showing the rugged terrain on the north bank and the camera trap layout in the valley. Capital letters are references to camera trapping sites

Figure 2. Ungulate prey species of snow leopards observed during the drift in the core area of the Yage Valley. BS = blue sheep; WD = white-lipped deer; TG = Tibetan gazelle; AM = alpine musk deer; KI = kiang

Table 1. Potential snow leopard prey species captured by camera traps in the core area of the Yage Valley

Common name	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
Blue sheep	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√		√	√
White-lipped deer		√	√			√	√				√
Alpine musk deer		√
Himalayan marmot			√		√		√
Pika			√	√		√	√	√
Woolly hare											√
Domesticated yak	√				√	√	√
Domesticated horse			√

Notes. Capital letters are references to camera trapping sites. The symbol √ indicates successful captures.

Table 2. Capture details of snow leopard individuals in the core area of the Yage Valley

Bank	No.^a	Image type	Day or Night	Body part	Date	Time	Exclusive
North	1B	Photo	Day	Tail	19 Oct	13:42	Yes
	1F	Photo	Day	Tail	12 Oct	18:45
	2J	Photo	Night	Tail	12 Sep	21:52	Yes
	3B	Photo	Day	Tail	2 Jun	10:51	Yes
	3B	Photo	Day	Tail	2 Jun	10:51
	4J	Photo	Day	Tail	9 Oct	18:56	Yes
	4F	Screenshot	Night	Tail	25 Jun	23:07
	5B	Screenshot	Night	Tail	23 Oct	2:21	Yes
	5I	Screenshot	Night	Tail	9 Oct	22:09
	6F	Screenshot	Day	Tail	2 Jul	19:11	Yes
	7A	Photo	Day	Left flank and hindlimb	28 Aug	19:13	No
	8F	Screenshot	Night	Left flank and hindlimb	14 Oct	7:33	No
	8F	Photo	Day	Left flank and hindlimb	14 Oct	18:38
	9F	Photo	Day	Left flank and hindlimb	25 Jul	20:47	No
	9F	Photo	Night	Left flank and hindlimb	4 Jul	21:04
South	1H	Photo	Day	Tail	31 Aug	18:55	Yes
	1G	Screenshot	Day	Tail	16 Sep	10:07
	2H	Photo	Day	Tail	7 Sep	18:20	Yes
	3G	Photo	Day	Tail	2 Sep	8:31	Yes
	3E	Screenshot	Day	Tail	15 Sep	17:26
	4G	Photo	Day	Right hindlimb	1 Oct	12:10	No
	4C	Photo	Day	Right hindlimb	1 Oct	10:51
	5H	Photo	Day	Right flank and hindlimb	7 Sep	10:14	No
	5K	Photo	Day	Right flank and hindlimb	11 Oct	16:21

Note. ^aArabic numbers in the No. column are references to possible individual snow leopards. Capital letters in the No. column are references to camera trapping sites.

Figure 3. Pelage pattern variations on the dorsal surface of the tail of snow leopards on the north bank of the Yage Valley. The six distinct individuals are numbered following capture details in Table 2. The Arabic numbers are references to possible individual snow leopards, and the capital letters are references to camera trapping sites (see Figure 1)

Figure 4. Pelage pattern variations on the dorsal surface of the left flank and hindlimb of snow leopards on the north bank of the Yage Valley. The three indeterminate individuals are numbered following capture details in Table 2. The Arabic numbers are references to possible individual snow leopards, and the capital letters are references to camera trapping sites (see Figure 1)

Figure 5. Pelage pattern variations on the dorsal surface of the tail of snow leopards on the south bank of the Yage Valley. The three distinct individuals are numbered following capture details in Table 2. The Arabic numbers are references to possible individual snow leopards, and the capital letters are references to camera trapping sites (see Figure 1)

Figure 6. Pelage pattern variations on the dorsal surface of the right hindlimb and flank of snow leopards on the south bank of the Yage Valley. The two indeterminate individuals are numbered following capture details in Table 2. The Arabic numbers are references to possible individual snow leopards, and the capital letters are references to camera trapping sites (see Figure 1)