Here’s what you need to know.

Police leaders waited too long — three days — to trigger a national mobilization to tackle the anti-immigrant violence that broke out in Britain this year, a report found.

The general had faced sanctions for using chemical weapons in Ukraine.

The Islamists who now lead Syria have ruled the city of Idlib for years. Residents say they imposed some strict laws, but also heeded some complaints and improved public services.

We named the little cub Dagina. Over the years, we watched Dagina grow up on our research cameras. As she became an adult, we were able to track her even more closely through GPS-collars. Thanks to camera trap and GPS-collar data from Dagina and other female snow leopards in our study, we have been able to get a peek into the secret lives of snow leopard moms and cubs. We’ve gained insight into snow leopard litter sizes, breeding interval, cub survival rates and the age at which they disperse from their mothers, all of which are critical to our work to protect this endangered species.  How did we learn so much from Dagina specifically? One of the keys was being able to study her mother, Agnes (top photo). The first generation is important as it provides background data that ’sets the scene’ for the next generation. By collaring both Agnes and Dagina in the spring of 2012, we were able to map Dagina’s early home range and family dynamics. When Dagina had her first litter, we observed her and Agnes occasionally sharing kills and tracked how she ultimately inherited her mother’s territory. Such multigenerational understanding can only be gained from long-term studies like our work in the Tost Mountains. Dagina’s first cub in 2012. From a scientific standpoint, Dagina was a rare research opportunity. Her well-documented life allowed our team to trace her reproductive milestones precisely, including her first cub at age three through to her final litter at thirteen—both critical data points for understanding snow leopard reproduction. Dagina and cubs (including Presnel) in 2014. In October 2022, we collared one of Dagina’s daughters, Presnel, who has also contributed greatly to our growing wealth of knowledge. She was the missing link in that family for our collaring study, allowing us to gather valuable data from an unprecedented four generations of wild female snow leopards (which includes Dagina, her mother, daughter and granddaughter). Dagina with three cubs in 2019. Every year, we eagerly examined camera trap images to see if Dagina still roamed the mountains of Tost. And every year, together with her many fans around the world, we were elated to see this remarkable snow leopard make another appearance, often with cubs by her side. Her continued survival was a testament to her fierce adaptability and the conservation efforts of our partner indigenous communities and Mongolia team members. Dagina in 2021 But the life of a wild snow leopard is not an easy one. In addition to the dangers of hunting large prey in difficult terrain, they face many other threats, including climate change, habitat loss, retaliatory killings for livestock depredation, loss of prey species and the illegal wildlife trade. When a known snow leopard doesn’t show up on any of our camera traps for an entire year, we hold our breath—knowing what it could mean. However, we don’t jump to conclusions because it’s possible the cat was displaced and moved on to a different territory. But when a familiar face—especially that of an aging snow leopard—fails to appear on cameras for two consecutive years, it suggests that this remarkable life has reached its natural conclusion. We are grateful to have witnessed Dagina’s extraordinary journey for as long as we did. Dagina and two cubs in 2022. (Image: © BBC Studios) Though we didn’t know it at the time, the final documented sighting of Dagina was in 2022, when she and her two cubs were immortalized on film by the Planet Earth 3 film crew (above). At 13 years of age, she was then the oldest known snow leopard to give birth, a mother and grandmother many times over. Her daughter, Presnel and Dagina’s three grandcubs were also featured in the PE3 Extremes episode. (below) Presnel and three cubs in 2022. (Image: © BBC Studios) To all who knew her, Dagina was more than a snow leopard–she was a living testament to the power of resilience. She touched countless lives during her 13 years in the wild. With her five litters and pioneering contributions to our research, she expanded our understanding of her elusive species like never before. Her legacy will live on through our continued conservation efforts and the generations of cubs and grandcubs who carry her wild spirit.  To all the researchers, local communities and supporters who were privileged to know her, please join us in celebrating Dagina’s remarkable life. We hope she inspired you as much as she inspired us. Photos: SLCF-Mongolia, BBC Studios Acknowledgments: This long-term ecological study is in collaboration with Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation in Mongolia and Snow Leopard Trust, with special thanks to the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism, the Government of Mongolia, and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences for their support.  We would also like to acknowledge: National Geographic Society, Acton Family Giving, Bioparc Zoo de Doue la Fontaine, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park, John Ball Zoo, Kolmårdens Zoo, Korkeasaari Zoo, Nordens Ark, Parco Zoo Punta Verde, Play for Nature, Tierpark Berlin, The Big Cat Sanctuary/Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Tulsa Zoo, Whitley Fund for Nature, Zoo Basel, Zoo Dresden, Zoo New England and the many incredible partners who have supported programs like our Long-term Ecological Study and research in Mongolia since it began in 2008. We could not do this work without you. A special thank you to Kolmarden Zoo for naming Dagina. The post Remembering Dagina: Celebrating the Life of an Extraordinary Snow Leopard appeared first on Snow Leopard Trust.

This was just the second snow leopard sighting in a decade, and there were three of them. Kullu and a few young men from the village watched the three snow leopards for hours as they navigated the deep snow to a cliff above to rest for the afternoon. The village celebrated the momentous sighting with a feast. Every household brought their homemade brews and mutton dumplings to share as people sang and danced through the night. This surprised Kullu, as he had always thought the locals felt animosity towards these carnivores that preyed on their livestock. A snow leopard at a waterfall near Kibber village. Image by Prasenjeet Yadav However, our team, based at our country partner, Nature Conservation Foundation, has studied the snow leopard in this area since the late nineties. Starting with our Executive Director Charu’s work, our team has developed conservation programs designed to help Indigenous peoples and local communities coexist with snow leopards. In Spiti Valley, where Kibber is located, our strategy especially focused on increasing the population of blue sheep, the wild prey of snow leopards. Over the years, a remarkable partnership has developed between NCF, Snow Leopard Trust, and the people of Kibber to support these conservation initiatives. More than 25 men and women from the village have participated in research and conservation efforts to protect snow leopards. Over 50 research papers have been written from the research base camp, many co-authored by local community members. The conservation model pioneered in Kibber became a template for high mountain communities across Asia. By March 2021, snow leopard sightings had become too frequent to celebrate. When a BBC film crew arrived in winter 2022 to film snow leopards, they were sure of their success. In fact, local team members had deployed almost a hundred camera traps in the area to estimate the snow leopard population of their valley before filming. Women from Kibber village analyzing camera trap images of snow leopards. Image by Kesang Chunit The filming day presented a striking scene. While the village itself was quiet, the grounds beyond reminded Kullu of the celebration 15 years prior. Picnic tables were piled with colorful tea flasks, biscuits and cakes, while villagers and tourists quietly observed the elusive cats from a distance. It was a testament to how far the community had come in its relationship with these magnificent creatures. Kibber has become a model of human-carnivore coexistence. Scientific research and local knowledge have found innovative solutions to the age-old problem of livestock predation. Tourism generated by snow leopard sightings has become an additional benefit to the community. Members of Kibber Village accept the TOFT award for their well-managed tourism program. A potential threat emerged that same winter – a huge proposed solar power plant that would have taken away many of the pastures used by peoples’ livestock and the wild ungulate prey of snow leopards. Fortunately, the project was withdrawn. Yet, the community remains vigilant, understanding that such proposals might resurface. One thing remains certain: the people of Kibber Village will continue to stand together to protect their snow leopards. Their journey of conservation, collaboration and coexistence has transformed their relationship with this charismatic carnivore. You can help make coexistence with snow leopards the norm across the high mountains of Asia. Now through December 31, all gifts will be matched up to $90,000.  Photos: Noam Keydar, Prasen Yadav, Kesang Chunit & TOFT The post An Inspiring Conservation Tale from Kibber Village appeared first on Snow Leopard Trust.

A recent report by our India team, based at the Nature Conservation Foundation, presents the first photographic evidence of the elusive Pallas’s cat (also known as manul) in Himachal Pradesh, India, recorded during a snow leopard population survey in the Kinnaur region. Images of the species were captured at three camera trap sites at elevations of 3900–4100 meters in rocky habitats. Other species recorded during the survey include the snow leopard, red fox, stone marten, pika, chukar and snowcock. Manul are known to feed on small animals like pikas, voles and bird species. Despite their smaller stature, manul face many of the same threats as snow leopards and a declining population due to habitat fragmentation, illegal wildlife trade, climate change and growing numbers of feral dogs. These dogs are attracted by poor waste management and pose significant risks to wildlife through predation, disease and fear-induced behavioral disruptions. The cat’s habitat in this trans-Himalayan region also faces pressures from military activities, unregulated tourism and infrastructure development. Click to view slideshow. While conservation efforts related to snow leopards address many of these threats, a recurring issue for manul conservation is the need for more information. The species occupies a large area across Eurasia, yet no robust population estimates are available. Because manuls are so rare, raising awareness and mobilizing local stewardship is harder than for more iconic species like snow leopards or tigers. Click to view slideshow. Conservation of the manul requires holistic, landscape-level approaches. Recommended measures include better waste management and control of dog populations, robust population monitoring, habitat protection, and transboundary conservation initiatives with neighboring regions. Raising awareness and involving local communities and stakeholders is crucial for the species’ long-term survival and ecosystem health. Read the full paper here. Get all the latest updates when you sign up for our monthly E-News. Photos: NCF-India Acknowledgments: We are grateful to the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and the Kinnaur Forest Division for the research permits, assistance and support. We would like to thank Takpa Tanzin, Tanba Chhering and Prabhu Dhaya for their help during fieldwork. We’re also thankful to the people of Kinnaur for their cooperation.  The post First Photographic Evidence of Pallas’s Cat in Himachal Pradesh, India appeared first on Snow Leopard Trust.

A Syrian Air flight from Damascus landed in Aleppo on Wednesday, as the transitional government tries to demonstrate its ability to run the war-shattered country.

The image, from northern Spain, showed a man with a white bag in the trunk of a car. The National Police said it helped them solve a missing-person case.

Syrian soldiers step toward amnesty.