The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) is one of the most most endangered big cats, and while there are many laws and programs that seek to protect the animals poaching is still a problem. Earlier this year NPR featured a short report on this problem, but it's not only scientists that are concerned about the disappearance of these cats and other animals. Photographers and a growing number of wildlife sound technicians are also heading out into the the places where rare species are still hanging on, and yesterday NPR featured another report featuring big cat conservation expert Alan Rabinowitz, photographer Franz Lanting, and bio-acoustician Bernie Krause. It's well worth a listen, especially Krause's part about how sound can be a useful indicator of biodiversity and ecosystem change.
For spectrograms and more about Krause's biodiversity research visit http://www.wildsanctuary.com click on About WSI/Publications/Testing Biophony as an Indicator of Habitat Fitness and Dynamics and Dynamics in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park, 2001-2002 - all best to the Laelaps!
Cute kitties, Brian. I'll have to direct Heather to this thread. She loves 'em.