Field work snapshot: improvements made to manul camera trap network

A team of researchers from the Manul Working Group and Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan (ACBK) recently completed the upgrade and maintenance of the manul (Pallas’s cat) camera trap monitoring network in central Kazakhstan, actions that will improve accuracy of population counts, expand understanding of the cat’s behavior, and shed additional insights…

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Summer 2024 fieldwork – horses, birds, and bats, oh my!

We are nearing the half-year mark since we started this new chapter. During that time, we have established and strengthened relationships with partners in Kazakhstan, promoted wildlife-focused initiatives, and told stories about the region’s wildlife. Here are a few highlights: Przewalski’s horses: Homecoming In June we reported on the return of Przewalski’s horses to their…

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Adopt a Camera for the Pallas’s “Grumpy” Cat

ABOUT THOSE FUZZY FELINES.  Also known as a “Manul Cat,” a name with roots in the Mongolian language, Pallas’s cats are characterized by their thick fur, big round ears, and grumpy expressions. Native to Central Asia, Pallas’s cats are elusive, hampering the calculation of accurate population counts.  Without more data, scientists struggle to know how…

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International Pallas’s “Grumpy” Cat Day – April 23

Manul trotting by against a rocky backdrop

Every dog has its day, or so the expression goes, but so do cats! Arguably one of the lesser-known animal holidays (and one of several cat calendar observances) is International Pallas’s Cat Day, an educational and conservation-oriented holiday observed on April 23.  Read on to learn more about the holiday’s honoree and support Pallas’s cat…

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