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YOUR ADOPTION UPDATESnow leopards

A FEMALE SNOW LEOPARD IS COLLARED IN NEPAL

LADYFIRST

YANGMA’S COMMUNITY COVER THE VALUE OF NATUREYOU NAME YOUR HEROES

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so we can best tackle the threats they face. In previous updates, Samundra has told you about Ghanjenjwenga and Omikhangri, the two males collared in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area. This time we hoped for a female, as her movements might reveal new information about range and behaviour compared with that of the males.

I knew the expedition would be thrilling, but challenging too. Our base camp was in Yangma, in the high Himalayas, and getting there meant a tough six-day walk. I wondered if my legs, heart and mind would be up to it!

We trekked high above the treeline to around 4,200 metres, experiencing all kinds of weather, from hot, sunny days to thundery downpours and snow. Finally, we reached Yangma and set up 20 traps in different locations. Then we waited.

t’s a huge privilege to meet the people who work tirelessly to protect your adopted snow leopards – incredible work you help support. So I was delighted when

my colleague at WWF-Nepal, Samundra Subba, invited me to join the latest collaring expedition. You may recognise the name. Samundra is also a member of the Snow Leopard Conservation Committee (SLCC) and your field reports usually come from him. This mission was another step towards our goal of learning more about these rare big cats,

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Earlier this year, I joined an exciting expedition to collar another of your adopted snow leopards. I wanted to share this unique and amazing experience with you

S N O W L E O PA R D S

SPECIAL REPORT FROM BECCI MAY, WWF-UK’S SPECIALIST ON ASIAN BIG CATS

YOUR FIELD REPORT

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The following afternoon came the message we’d hoped for – we had a snow leopard! I’ll never forget my first glimpse of the stunningly beautiful big cat. And she was female, just what we wanted! We quickly set about collaring her and taking measurements, so she could return to the wild as soon as possible.

First, a wildlife vet sedated the snow leopard, and then team members measured her, checked her health and fitted the satellite-tracking collar around her neck. The vet gave her a wake-up drug and we watched from a distance as she got back on her feet. Satisfied she was fine, we left the gorgeous creature in peace and headed back to Yangma, relieved and elated. You can read more about Yangma on page 6.M

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Over the next year or so, Lapchhemba’s collar should send location signals every four hours. We’ll study her activity patterns and compare them with

those of Ghanjenjwenga and Omikhangri, to help inform future conservation measures. For example, we learned from Ghanjenjwenga’s collar that he travelled from Sikkim in India and back to Nepal – highlighting the importance of protecting snow leopard habitats across country borders.

READ BECCI’S BLOGYou can read Becci’s full report on the collaring, with video links and lots more pics at: wwf.org.uk/beccisblog

2-3 YEARS LAPCHHEMBA WEIGHS 30KG AND IS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN TWO AND THREE YEARS OLDFEMININE FELINE

I’LL NEVER FORGET MY FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL BIG CAT. AND SHE WAS FEMALE, JUST WHAT WE WANTED!The beautiful

female snow leopard

ACTION STATIONS

Stay up-to-date wwf.org.uk Join the debate @wwf_uk Like us WWFUnitedKingdom Discover more wwfuk See us on @WWF_UK Visit our shop wwf.org.uk/shop Watch us WWFunitedkingdom Support us wwf.org.uk/join Follow us +WWFUnitedKingdom

Local people named the female Lapchhemba (pronounced laap-chem-baa), after a Tibetan Buddhist deity, who had a snow leopard as a pet

In Yangma, looking forsnow leopard signs

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ur forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water

we irrigate our crops with, and numerous other things we depend on for our health, happiness and prosperity. The total value of these natural assets in the UK is phenomenal –– estimated to be at least £1.5 trillion. But this is hardly ever taken into account in the decisions governments and businesses make about developments, such as new housing. That needs to change, urgently.The UK government has committed to developing a new 25-year Environment Plan. It’s a golden opportunity to put the natural world at the heart of policy-making and economic planning, and we’ve been working to influence its development. Find out more and watch our animation:

SNOW LEOPARDS SHARE THE NATURAL HABITATS THAT ARE VITAL TO OUR WAY OF LIFE. SO THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO PROTECT THESE AMAZING ANIMALS THROUGH YOUR ADOPTION

NATURE VALUING

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PRICE

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angma is a remote yak herding community of just 10 households. Everyone depends

on their livestock for food, income and even fuel – the women use livestock dung to make fuel ‘patties’ which they burn on their open stoves for cooking and heating. Life is tough, so if an animal is killed by a snow leopard it’s really devastating. But thanks to adopters like you, this tiny community is getting a boost. Funds from your adoption help support a community-run livestock insurance scheme which works like this: local herders pay a small premium to insure their animals for three years. Then, if any animals are killed by a snow leopard, they receive financial relief. If they don’t make a claim in the three years, they get all their money back, plus interest. Simples!

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IN YANGMA, A LIVESTOCK INSURANCE SCHEME YOU HELP SUPPORT IS IMPROVING PEOPLE’S FEELINGS TOWARDS SNOW LEOPARDS

The Snow Leopard Conservation Committee (SLCC) plays a big role in supporting insurance scheme members. For example, when livestock is preyed on, a team goes out to the site and confirms whether the culprit was a snow leopard or a different predator. Forms have to be filled in, but some people can’t read or write, so the SLCC helps ensure they get the money they’re due. Being compensated for their loss makes local people feel more positive towards the big cats. While their ancestors might have killed a snow leopard in retaliation for preying on livestock, they’re happy to leave the ‘ghost of the mountain’ in peace.

DID YOU KNOW?

People in Yangma mainly eat rice (which they buy from communities living

lower down the mountain), potatoes (which they grow and store in holes underground),

and dried yak meat with some added spices to make a tasty dish. A very

limited diet compared with what we’re used to!

SO HOW DOES THIS HELP SNOW LEOPARDS?

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YOUR HEROES

IN YOUR SUMMER UPDATE, WE ASKED YOU TO NAME YOUR CONSERVATION HERO AND LOTS OF YOU RESPONDED. NOT SURPRISINGLY, MANY OF YOU NOMINATED FAMOUS NATURALIST (AND WWF AMBASSADOR) SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, BUT THERE WERE OTHER MORE PERSONAL TRIBUTES TOO. HERE’S A SELECTION, AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WROTE IN:

“MY CONSERVATION HERO IS DAVID

ATTENBOROUGH BECAUSE HE IS SO INSPIRATIONAL

AND AMAZING”From Anna, age 10

“MY CONSERVATION HERO IS MY GEOGRAPHY

TEACHER, MS CARTILAGE. SHE TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT OUR

PLANET AND WHY IT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED”

From Shannon

“TO WWF, YOU ARE THE PEOPLE WHO INSPIRED

ME TO WANT TO BE A VET WHEN I GROW UP AND I THINK WHAT

YOU DO TO HELP ANIMALS IS AMAZING”

From Piper, age 8

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From Rosemary McLean

ALL CONSERVATION WORKERS ARE HEROES TO ME. THEIR DEDICATION

TO THE PRESERVATION OF WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITATS DESERVES OUR

UTMOST ADMIRATION, RESPECT AND GRATITUDE

FEELGOOD FACTORYaks are crucial to local people YOUR CHANCE TO WIN

Send us your pictures, poems and thoughts about wildlife and what you love about your adopted animal, and

you could win a polar bear print signed by conservation hero,

Sir David Attenborough. Email us at: myadoption@wwf.org.uk 

STAR LETTER

From Anonymous

MY CONSERVATION HERO IS MY DAD. HE

TAUGHT ME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROTECT

BEAUTIFUL WILDLIFE. THANK YOU DAD!

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12 WAYS OFCHRISTMAS

HOLD A FUNDRAISING PARTY: WWF.ORG.UK/FUNDRAISE

CHOOSE A FREE-RANGE

ORGANIC TURKEY

RECYCLE YOUR OLD CARDS

REPLANT OR RECYCLE YOUR TREEBE ENERGY SMART:

WWF.ORG.UK/SAVEENERGY

PASS UNWANTED

GIFTS TO

CHARITY SHOPS

CHOOSE PRODUCTS WITH LESS

PACKAGING

BUY GIFTS

THAT DON’T NEED

BATTERIESADOPT

ANOTHER ANIMAL: WWF.ORG.UK/ADOPT

As well as helping to safeguard snow leopards, your adoption supports our other vital work to help protect our beautiful planet and its wildlife.Thank you.

WWF.ORG.UK

For a future where people and nature thrive wwf.org.uk© 1986 panda symbol and ® “WWF” Registered Trademark of WWF. WWF-UK registeredcharity (1081247) and in Scotland (SC039593). A company limited by guarantee (4016725)

• YOUR SNOW LEOPARDS ADOPTION UPDATE • AUTUMN 2016

AVOID OUT-OF-SEASON FRUIT AND VEG

CHOOSE AN FSC-CERTIFIED TREE

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR CARING, NOT ONLY ABOUT LOVED ONES, BUT ALSO ABOUT OUR NATURAL WORLD, INCLUDING SNOW LEOPARDS, SO HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO ENJOY PLANET-FRIENDLY FESTIVITIES

OVER TO YOU! Do you have any tips for a greener and more ethical Christmas? Share them now! WWFUnitedKingdom @wwf_uk

COOK A SUSTAINABLE

FESTIVE FEAST

WWF.ORG.UK/FESTIVEFOOD