Not much has been known about the distribution and range of some of Africa's most secretive predators, including leopards and other big cats that hunt at night and sleep during the day. Where do they prowl after dark? Do they steal across farms when everyone is asleep?

By using a network of more than 400 camera traps, researchers have been able to monitor a number of carnivores as they move around in darkness across the northern part of the East African country Tanzania.

NGS camera trap shot of a leopard by Michael Nichols

The result of the investigation, according to the study by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), is that the meat-eaters tend to stay within specific habitat, avoiding other areas.

"Surprisingly, all the species surveyed tended to avoid croplands, suggesting that habitat conversion to agricultural land could have serious implications for carnivore distribution," said Wiley-Blackwell in a statement about the research. The study was published in the current issue of the Wiley-Blackwell research journal Animal Conservation.

NGS portrait of a leopard (Panthera pardus) in Africa by Chris Johns

The cameras recorded 23 out of 35 carnivore species known to occur in Tanzania.

Unsurprisingly, the cameras demonstrated that carnivore biodiversity tended to be higher in national parks than in game reserves and forest reserves.

Photo of serval caught in camera trap courtesy of Zoological Society of London

"We explored habitat use for seven species for which we had sufficient information. All species tended to be found near rivers and southern Acacia commiphora woodlands (except one mongoose species), and avoided deciduous shrubland, favouring deciduous woodland and/or open grassland," the researchers said in their paper.

"Camera traps provide a fantastic opportunity to gain knowledge on habitat use and spatial distribution of otherwise elusive and poorly known species," said Sarah Durant from ZSL. "This methodology represents a powerful tool that can inform national and site-based wildlife managers and policy makers as well as international agreements on conservation."

Nocturnal species under-reported

Until now, many of the species had been under reported because of their nocturnal habits, or because they live in heavily forested areas.

Photo of caracal caught in camera trap courtesy of Zoological Society of London

"The strength of the technique to document habitat preference of elusive species is highlighted by camera trap observations of bushy tailed mongooses--including the first ever records of this species from one of the most visited areas in the country," the researchers said.

Previously thought to be rare, the bushy-tailed mongoose (Bdeogale crassicauda) is in fact much more widely distributed in northern Tanzania than had been known, the scientists found by studying the camera trap images.

"These data can also be used to understand how Tanzania's carnivores may respond to habitat changes caused as a result of environmental change," the researchers noted.

Carnivores are sensitive to development

"Carnivores are generally thought to be relatively tolerant to land conversion, yet our study suggests that they may be more sensitive to development than previously thought, and that protected areas need to be sufficiently large to ensure that these charismatic animals will roam in Tanzania for the decades to come,' said Nathalie Pettorelli from ZSL.

All species were also foiund the be affected by rivers and habitat, and the analysis provides important information relevant to the examination of future impacts of climate change, the scientists said.

Photo of leopard caught in camera trap courtesy of Zoological Society of London

The project continues to map carnivore distribution across the country, working closely with the wildlife authorities to support local conservationists and to generate information that is used to inform conservation planning.

"Our study provides a first example where camera-trap data are combined with niche analyses to reveal patterns in habitat use and spatial distribution of otherwise elusive and poorly known species and to inform reserve design and land-use planning," the scientists said.

"Our methodology represents a potentially powerful tool that can inform national and site-based wildlife managers and policy makers as well as international agreements on conservation."

Photo of wild dog and warthog caught in camera trap courtesy of Zoological Society of London

Lions, cheetahs, leopards, jaguars, and other top felines are quickly disappearing, all victims of habitat loss and degradation as well as conflicts with humans.

To address this critical situation, the National Geographic Society has launched the Big Cats Initiative, an emergency intervention to halt the alarming decline of big cats combined with longer-term strategies to restore populations. For more information and to learn how you can help, visit the Big Cats Initative Web site.

ZooTube video by Woodland Park Zoo

Endangered in the wild, snow leopards are evidently stable and thriving in a breeding program managed cooperatively and carefully by North American zoos.

Photo by Ric Brewer, courtesy Woodland Park Zoo

Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo gave its new snow leopards their first physical check-up this week.

"We're pleased to announce that both cubs appear to be progressing normally. They're healthy and vigorous, and maternal care appears to be very good," said Woodland Park Zoo Associate Veterinarian Kelly Helmick. The cubs, a male and a female, currently weigh between 3.6 and 4 lbs.

The cubs are the first offspring for the 4-year-old mother, Helen, and 3-year-old father, Tom. The first-time mom and cubs are off public exhibit to allow bonding and proper nursing. "Since snow leopards are solitary animals in the wild, the father has been separated and is on public view with the zoo's other adult female, Nadia, in the snow leopard exhibit," the zoo said.

Nine Snow Leopards Born This Year

The last birth of snow leopards at Woodland Park Zoo was in 2000. A total of nine snow leopards have been born this year in five AZA zoos.

"The birth marks another milestone for Woodland Park Zoo and North American zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), as the cubs will help bolster the genetic diversity of the endangered species," noted zoo Interim Curator Tina Mullett in a news statement.

"These beautiful conservation ambassadors help visitors connect with snow leopards and become inspired to learn about and take action to help preserve their future in their range countries."

Photo by Ric Brewer, courtesy Woodland Park Zoo

The North American breeding program aims to maintain a stable population of captive snow leopards of around 300 cats, ensuring genetic diversity. There is a similar program in Europe.

Some 700 snow leopards are thought to live in captivity worldwide. Estimates of how many snow leopards are in the wild vary between 3,500 and 7,000.

Captive leopards not only retain a breeding pool for the endangered species in zoos, but they can also serve as ambassadors for their wild relatives, helping raise awareness and funding for wildlife conservation.

Snow Leopard Trust

As part of Woodland Park Zoo's partnership with field conservation projects around the world, the zoo partners with the Seattle-based Snow Leopard Trust. The Trust was created in 1981 by the late Woodland Park Zoo staff member Helen Freeman, the namesake of the mother of the cubs, Helen.

"Through innovative programs, effective partnerships and the latest science, the Snow Leopard Trust is saving these magnificent cats and improving the lives of people who live in the snow leopard countries of Central Asia," the zoo said.

"Woodland Park Zoo has a long history of caring for snow leopards and conserving them in the wild, since the zoo's first snow leopards arrived in 1972 from the USSR. Under the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP), managed by AZA, 28 cubs have been born at the zoo and sent to zoos worldwide to help diversify the genetic pool of the managed population."

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Snow leopard cubs are born helpless, with their eyes closed, and rely for several weeks on their mothers for nutrition.

Monitoring Snow Leopards by Web Cam

"To minimize disturbance, staff have minimal physical contact with the new family and are monitoring mother and cubs in a birthing den via a web cam," the zoo said.

The new parents, Helen and Tom, arrived last year from Tautphaus Park Zoo in Idaho Falls and Los Angeles Zoo, respectively, under a breeding recommendation made by the SSP for snow leopards. "Introducing new animals, especially with the important goal of breeding, requires a methodical strategy. Matchmaking doesn't always work out for animals, just like it doesn't always work out for humans," explained Mullet.

"Our keeper staff invested many hours into daily observations of visual introductions between the adults before introducing them together physically. The expertise and patience of our staff and, of course, letting nature take its course, have paid off with a successful introduction, breeding and these precious cubs."

Photos of the neonatal exam can be found on the zoo's blog.

The Snow Leopard is among 39 Species Survival Plans that Woodland Park Zoo participates in, including the western lowland gorilla, Humboldt penguin, Komodo dragon and red panda. Under the auspices of AZA, SSPs also involve a variety of other collaborative conservation activities such as research, public education, reintroduction and field projects.

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Snow Leopards, 32 Other Species Receive Protection in Afghanistan

Snow leopards, wolves, Marco Polo sheep, and brown bears are among 33 endangered and threatened species that have gained the protection of the Afghanistan Government, the country's National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) has announced.

Snow Leopard photo by Julie Larsen Maher/WCS

The listing of protected species--20 mammals, seven birds, four plants, an amphibian, and an insect--provides legal protection to Afghanistan's wildlife, which have been devastated by more than 30 years of conflict, said the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

NEPA, WCS (with funding from USAID), Kabul University, and Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, created the Afghanistan Wildlife Executive Committee (AWEC) to facilitate the listing, the first of its kind in Afghanistan.

Marco Polo sheep Photo by Stephane Ostrowski/WCS

"In July 2008, AWEC began evaluations of species such as the snow leopard, Marco Polo sheep, and Asiatic black bear," WCS said in a statement. "To make status determinations, AWEC and WCS worked with world experts to obtain the most recent and accurate information available for Afghanistan and the region, and then evaluated those data using scientific criteria established by the global authority on species listing: the IUCN Red List."

The list of protected Afghanistan wildlife may be expanded to as many as 70 species by the end of the year, WCS added.

Asiatic Black bear Photo by WCS

"The Wildlife Conservation Society commends the Afghanistan's National Environment Protection Agency for showing a continued commitment to conserving its natural heritage--even during these challenging times," said Steven E. Sanderson, President and CEO of WCS.

"WCS believes that conservation can often serve as diplomacy, and we are optimistic that this commitment to conservation will benefit all of Afghanistan's people."

Pallas Cat photo by Julie Larsen Maher/WCS

The snow leopard and other species are under pressure from excessive hunting, loss of key habitat and illegal trade.

Snow leopard pelts for sale in tourist shops sell for as much as $1,500 each, WCS said."International trade in species like the snow leopard is illegal under international law because it is globally endangered. Now that the snow leopard is protected under Afghan law, it is also illegal for Afghan nationals or internationals to hunt or trade the species within Afghanistan."

Greater Flamingo Photo by Mark Anderson

NEPA will be responsible for managing Afghanistan's protected species, including writing recovery plans for species designated as threatened.

Species will be re-evaluated every five years to determine whether populations have recovered to the extent where they may be removed from the protected list.

Eurasian Lynx photo by George Schaller

Last month Afghanistan announced the creation of its first national park: Band-e-Amir, six deep-blue lakes separated by natural dams made of travertine, a mineral deposit.

WCS, the only organization conducting ongoing scientific conservation studies in Afghanistan in the past 30 years, is working with the Afghan government to establish a network of parks and protected areas.

Markhor Photo by Graham Jones

Asiatic Cheetah (photographed in Iran) by Iran DOE/WCS/CACP/UNDP

Persian Leopard (photographed in Iran) by Iran DOE/WCS/CACP/UNDP

Urial Photo by George Schaller

Saker Falcon Photo by Mark Thomas