Because they are so dependent on the environment for their livelihoods, they are constantly monitoring their surroundings. Despite this, they are often not consulted when conservation management decisions are being made. This is a large problem because long term solutions for snow leopard conservation require the support, participation and input of the people that live with them. That means our research efforts include local people. To accomplish this, we actively participate in the community that our field sites are found in, interview herders about how they feel about snow leopards, and train them in scat collection to provide additional jobs in the area for those who are interested.
I've visited almost all of our field sites at least twice, so the local community knows who I am and why I'm there. However, the first time I visit and introduce myself to the Tibetans living nearby it often takes some adjustment. I just look a lot different than anyone else, including my Chinese research team. We both have a lot of questions for each other, and the language barrier can make it very difficult to communicate. I only know a few words in Tibetan. Some speak Mandarin Chinese so we can communicate in simple sentences and I've only ever met one Tibetan who spoke English. Just as I'm curious about what their daily lives are like, and how they co-exist with snow leopards, they want to know where I am from and why I care about snow leopards, too.
In my experience, the Tibetan community has been open, kind, and welcoming. A simple smile can go a long way, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet new people and learn about cultures that are new to me.
