In a call with President Trump, Russia’s leader agreed to pause strikes on energy infrastructure. Ukraine also appeared willing to accept such a halt, though it fell short of the unconditional cease-fire the country had already agreed to.

Showdowns between people and bulls can still go on, but the animals can no longer be hurt or killed. Some bullfighting proponents said the law imperils an ancient tradition.

The man who ordered the Philippines’ bloody war on drugs is now in a cell at The Hague. Getting him there was far from a sure thing.

Canada’s foreign minister said the government would continue to ask for leniency from China for other Canadians in similar situations.

The Hungarian prime minister, who pioneered themes dear to U.S. conservatives, is seeking to tame inflation with methods that remind his critics of communist-era central planning.

The M23 militia is ruling over a vast stretch of territory in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, threatening the sovereignty of the biggest country in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Gobi Desert is one of the drier regions on Earth and access to water is a limiting factor for virtually all plants and animals in this harsh environment. It’s also typically extremely cold in winter, causing the watering holes and natural springs to freeze. However, access to water during these colder months is unlikely to be a concern. We know that ibex eat snow for hydration, and a thirsty snow leopard would probably do the same. The more significant water concern arrives in summer when droughts are common. We recently observed a female snow leopard visit a watering hole 37 times over two months in the Sevrei Mountains near our study location. That’s just over one visit every other day! While a snow leopard visiting a watering hole is not unusual, the frequency certainly piqued our interest. A snow leopard presumably receives a considerable part of its hydration needs from its prey. Before this female, we had never recorded a snow leopard visiting a watering hole more than 10 times during a 3-month camera trapping period. This female was a recent mother and trekked every day from the den where her cubs were born to wherever she could hunt or had already made a kill. Luckily for her, her favorite spring was near her den, so her frequent visits were not far off her well-traversed path. It’s not surprising that a lactating female would drink more frequently, but it showcases how closely these cats are tied to water sources at certain times of the year. It appears that the female chose a den site near a water source she was familiar with. But with so little precipitation in the Gobi Desert, easy access to water is not always a given. The watering holes and natural springs are the usual sources of hydration. Yet, even those sources may not be enough during especially dry summers. We recently highlighted a case of a male snow leopard digging for water, marking the first recorded instance of this behavior. Digging for water has been reported in ungulates and primates but not, to our knowledge, in large cats or other carnivores. We don’t know how common this behavior is among snow leopards in general or if it was learned by this specific individual. While this is not a widely observed phenomenon, it could indicate that snow leopards can adapt to arid, drought-prone conditions.  The link between snow leopards and water doesn’t end with their need for hydration. Despite our cheeky joke about cats with water-related grievances, we don’t know if snow leopards are water-avoidant. We recently saw a video from another organization of a snow leopard mother crossing a river with her cubs, likely a necessity in some parts of their habitat. And even our camera traps have picked up images of soaking-wet cats (admittedly, none of them look very happy!). Unlike the water-stressed Gobi Desert, the more typical high-mountain snow leopard habitats of Asia are often called the Third Pole because of the immense amount of glaciated fresh water atop their peaks. Almost a third of the world’s population relies on water that is ultimately sourced from High Asia’s glacial peaks. And these mountains are warming at a faster rate than other parts of the northern hemisphere. Unsustainable development will further pressure this delicate ecosystem, and existing and planned dams can harm some species’ access to freshwater sources. As we face the realities of a rapidly changing climate, it’s crucial to understand the complex relationship between wildlife, water and human development to develop effective conservation strategies.  Sign up for our monthly E-News to stay up to date on all the latest snow leopard research.  Photo credits: SLCF-Mongolia, Jake Davis, NCF-India 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. 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, National Geographic Society, Nordens Ark, Parco Zoo Punta Verde, Play for Nature, Sabin Snow Leopard Fund, Tallinn Zoo, The Big Cat Sanctuary/Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Tulsa Zoo, 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. The post Cats & H2O: What Our Research Reveals About Snow Leopards and Water appeared first on Snow Leopard Trust.

China is estimated to encompass 60% of the snow leopard’s habitat and likely holds a significant portion of the species’ population. Yet, no large-scale, systematic population assessment has been conducted in the country. Multiple organizations have, however, conducted local-scale camera trap surveys in small areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a crucial snow leopard habitat. In a first for the PAWS initiative, researchers have consolidated these smaller efforts to obtain a robust population estimate for the Sanjiangyuan region, which covers 360,000 km2 (about the size of Germany or the state of Montana) and contains the headwaters of the Huang Ho (Yellow), the Yangtze and the Mekong Rivers. Previous population assessment surveys in Sanjiangyuan were limited to small areas and not representative of the entire region. The Sanjiangyuan assessment had to reconcile camera trap data from multiple organizations to obtain a reliable population estimate. This was no small feat and required researchers from Snow Leopard Trust and other conservation organizations to adjust their usual methodology for population surveys.  “The beauty of the PAWS process is that it allows a great amount of flexibility in study designs and data analyses without compromising the reliability and replicability of the results. In the absence of such flexibility, it would not have been possible to facilitate such large-scale collaborations.” – Dr. Koustubh Sharma, Snow Leopard Trust Science & Conservation Director. While unorthodox, this approach can save valuable conservation resources by using existing datasets. It could be used as a framework to scale up snow leopard population estimates in other parts of China and elsewhere. The process could even be applied to population assessments for other endangered species. Moreover, it is a testament to the importance of cooperation between organizations and countries for conservation and scientific research.  The Sanjiangyuan region has a high density of snow leopards. Based on prior surveys and conservative estimates, this area accounts for as much as 20% of the world’s snow leopards. This highlights the importance of conservation efforts in the region and other parts of China. These results will help policymakers and conservationists develop more informed strategic plans to protect snow leopards where they need it most. Sign up for our monthly E-News to stay up to date on all the latest snow leopard research.  Acknowledgments: Thank you to everyone who contributed to this survey and publication, including the Sanjiangyuan National Park, the local governments in Yushu and Golok Prefecture and the researchers and rangers from their respective communities. Photo credits: Shan Shui, Panthera, Snow Leopard Trust The post Historic Snow Leopard Count Unveiled in China appeared first on Snow Leopard Trust.

The inclusion of women’s perspectives in conservation leads to more innovative solutions and better decision-making that benefits entire communities. Additionally, our research shows that when women are involved in conservation initiatives, they are also better able to pursue leadership opportunities within their communities and beyond. The training aimed to define gender-inclusive nature conservation and discuss how to ensure our work can be made more inclusive. By participating in this training, our women-led Mongolia team based at the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation (SLCF) aims to make their conservation initiatives more equitable, inclusive and sustainable. The training was attended by 11 conservationists and facilitated by our team members Agvaansteren Bayarjargal (Bayara pictured above), Dr. Chloe Lucas and Dr. Nadia Mijiddorj. Through a mix of activities, discussions and presentations, the training covered the intersection of gender with stereotypes, human rights, biodiversity, climate change and biases in conservation.  The team discussed how traditional gender roles and biases can often sideline women from conservation efforts. The training also highlighted how biodiversity loss and climate change often disproportionately affect women. For example, when resources such as fuel (wood), food and water become scarce, women spend more time performing household tasks and less time pursuing education or jobs outside the home. This reduces women’s participation in conservation initiatives and can exclude them from decision-making.    Team discussions highlighted women’s contributions to nature conservation and considered ways to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in conservation, including SLCF’s programs.  Overall, the training was thought-provoking and generated discussion about the importance of gender inclusivity in conservation and how we can continue moving toward equality. Participants left the training committed to integrating these principles into their work. Sign up for our monthly E-News to stay up to date on all the latest snow leopard research.  Photo credits: SLCF-Mongolia Acknowledgments: This training was sponsored by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) Small Grants program of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), commissioned by the Federal Government of Germany. The post How Women’s Perspectives Transform Conservation appeared first on Snow Leopard Trust.

People spray-painted a Tesla dealership, punctured tires and scratched vehicles in apparent protest of Elon Musk, who has made repeated jabs at Canada.