This special issue explores the evolving scientific and management landscape of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) conservation, highlighting a twentyfold increase in research output alongside the persistent threats of climate change and habitat fragmentation. The assembled studies address three core themes: establishing population baselines at geographic range edges, advancing non-invasive genomic and prey monitoring methodologies, and evaluating landscape connectivity across political boundaries. Findings reveal a significant “governance-ecology mismatch,” where current protected areas fail to encompass vital movement corridors and transboundary home ranges. To ensure the long-term persistence of this cryptic apex predator, the editorial advocates for a transition from site-specific protection to integrated, landscape-scale conservation characterized by standardized monitoring, protected corridors, and coordinated international governance.
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Bolch, T., J. M. Shea, S. Liu, et al. 2019. “Status and Change of the Cryosphere in the Extended Hindu Kush Himalaya Region.” In The Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment, edited by P. Wester, A. Mishra, A. Mukherji, and A. Shrestha, 209–255. Springer.
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| [2] |
Cheng, C., H. Chen, and X. Li, et al. 2025. “Next-Generation Sequencing of Fecal DNA: A Novel Insight Into the Mitogenome Phylogeography of the Snow Leopard.” Integrative Conservation 4: 277–283.
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Khanyari, M., O. Sanyal, P. Chandan, et al. 2024. “A New Dawn? Population Baselines of Snow Leopards and Other Mammals of the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, India.” Integrative Conservation 3: 271–280.
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Lovari, S., and F. Ferretti. 2025. “Snow Leopards: What's Next?” Integrative Conservation 4: 269–271.
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| [5] |
Maurer, J. M., J. M. Schaefer, S. Rupper, and A. Corley. 2019. “Acceleration of Ice Loss Across the Himalayas Over the Past 40 Years.” Science Advances 5: eaav7266.
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McCarthy, T., D. Mallon, R. Jackson, P. Zahler, and K. McCarthy. 2017. Panthera uncia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017.
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| [7] |
Norris, A., S. A. Cushman, and J. Wang, et al. 2025. “A Piece of the Puzzle: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Qilianshan National Park and Its Contribution to Snow Leopard Habitat Connectivity.” Integrative Conservation 4: 287–301.
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| [8] |
Solari, K. A., S. Morgan, A. D. Poyarkov, et al. 2025. “Exceedingly Low Genetic Diversity in Snow Leopards Due to Persistently Small Population Size.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122, no. 41: e2502584122.
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| [9] |
Subba, S. A., H. R. Acharya, S. Shrestha, et al. 2025. “Lessons for Transboundary Snow Leopard Conservation: Findings From a GPS Telemetry Study in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, Nepal.” Integrative Conservation 4: 45–56.
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| [10] |
Wang, D., J. Chen, and H. Yang, et al. 2025. “First Documentation of Snow Leopard in the Core Area of Mt. Siguniang National Nature Reserve, China.” Integrative Conservation 4: 272–276.
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| [11] |
Xiao, L., Y. Liu, B. Weckworth, L. Corlatti, and Z. Lu. 2025. “Can Distance Sampling Be Used to Estimate the Abundance of Mountain Ungulates?” Integrative Conservation 4: 302–309.
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| [12] |
Yang, L., H. Jin, Q. Yang, et al. 2025. “Genomic Evidence for Low Genetic Diversity but Purging of Strong Deleterious Variants in Snow Leopards.” Genome Biology 26: 94.
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RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
2026 The Author(s). Integrative Conservation published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG).
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