NEWS July 1, 2015

Program news: camera traps were set in new areas in the Eastern Kazakhstan

In June 2015 the Pallas' cat team set new camera traps in the Eastern Kazakhstan - in the mountains around the Zaissan lake. Camera traps were checked in the Tarbagatai ridge.

more... June 28, 2014

Program news: Pallas' cat was recorded by camera traps in the Eastern Kazakhstan

The field trip of Siberian Environmental Center to Eastern Kazakhstan was over in the end of June. The main goal of the work was checking camera traps set in September 2013 in the eastern part of Central-Kazakhstan Upland. Pallas's cat was recorded by 3 stations.

more... October 7, 2013

Program news: Pallas' cat research in eastern Kazakhstan continued in September 2013

This September Siberian Environmental Centre organized an expedition to eastern Kazakhstan to check the camera traps that were set up in May this year.

more... August 25, 2013

Program news: Pallas' cat was recorded in chalk lowhills in Altai Mountains

Pallas' cat was shooted by the camera trap only in one day for a month and a half in Altai mountains. The trap was set during the field work conducted in June-July this year.

more... July 10, 2013

Program news: The search for manul's den is yet to yield results

From 21 June to 5 July a field study was conducted as a part of manul research and conservation initiative. The aim of the study was discovering manul's dens in a test area in Kosh-Agachsky District of the Altai Republic.

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RECENT ARTICLES Serum Concentrations of Lipids, Vitamin D Metabolites, Retinol, Retinyl Esters, Tocopherols and Selected Carotenoids in Twelve Captive Wild Felid Species at Four Zoos

Susan D. Crissey, Kimberly D. Ange, Krista L. Jacobsen, Kerri A. Slifka, Phyllis E. Bowen, Maria Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis, Craig B. Langman, William Sadler, Stephen Kahn and Ann Ward

..Serum concentrations of several nutrients were measured in 12 captive wild felid species including caracal (Felis caracal), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), cougar (Felis concolor), fishing cat (Felis viverrinus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo), ocelot (Felis pardalis), pallas cat (Felis manul), sand cat (Felis margarita), serval (Felis serval), snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and tiger (Panthera tigris). 137 kb

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download zip... On number and distribution of Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul) in Altai Republic

A.N. Barashkova, I.E. Smelansky, A.A. Tomilenko, S.V. Naidenko, A.B. Dambain

..The number and distribution of Pallas' cat (Otocolobus manul) in Russia are less studied. The results of Pallas' cat investigation in the Kosh-Agach district of the Altai Republic are presented in the article. Pallas' cat was studied by the means of snow-tracking surveys in December 2006 and December 2009 and by the interviewing method. The density of Pallas' cat tracks in suitable biotopes was on average 2.02 tracks per 10 kilometers of the route. The number of Pallas' cats on the survey sites was on average 1.58 individuals per 10 sq.km (1.96 in the Sailughem ridge survey site and 1.15 in the Kurai ridge survey site respectively). A total number of Pallas' cats inhabited the Altai Republic was estimated as 650-680. The northern edge of Pallas' cat range in the Altai Republic is the Kurai intermountain depression. The single findings to the north from it (in the Chuia and Inegen' valleys) are probably rarely remote comings. The main threat for Pallas' cat is killing by the herders' dogs. Sometimes Pallas' cats were trapped in the traps for other animals and were poached. The educational work with the local people is a decisive measure for Pallas's cat conservation. It's necessary to create and enlarge the protected areas in the key habitats of Pallas's cats in the Altai Republic, firstly in the Sailughem ridge.(full text is available in Russian) 420 kb

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download zip... Dietary composition, plasticity, and prey selection of Pallas’s cats

Steven Ross, Bariushaa Munkhtsog, Stephen Harris

..Dietary plasticity and diet composition of Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul) was quantified in central Mongolia. Diet of Pallas’s cat was assessed by scat analyses, and prey surveys were used to estimate prey availability. Prey selection was calculated using multinomial likelihood ratio tests. Analysis of 146 scats identified 249 prey items. Pallas’s cats ate a broad range of small mammals, insects, birds, reptiles, and carrion, but Daurian pikas (Ochotona dauurica) were the most frequently consumed prey. Multinomial likelihood ratio tests indicated nonrandom selection of prey species. Pikas were selected disproportionately to their availability, and other more numerous prey items were used less than expected, indicating feeding specialization. 207 kb

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download zip... The effect of environmental enrichment on the activity level of a captive male Pallas' cat (Felis (Otocolobus) manul), 2010

Alekseicheva I. А.

ANNOTATION

In captivity Pallas' cats usually lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle, which negatively affects their physical health. The use of feeding enrichment and changing exhibit design to achieve a more complex environment structure increases the level of physical activity and stimulates playing and exploring behavior. We can conclude that Pallas' cat's well-being was increased (full text is available in Russian). 48 kb

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