New research by a Hampshire based conservation charity is helping to shape the future of snow leopard conservation.

The studies by Marwell Wildlife, which runs Marwell Zoo, shed light on the movement patterns of these elusive big cats across Central Asia's rugged mountain landscapes, offering vital insights for targeted conservation strategies.

Philip Riordan, director of conservation at Marwell and professor at the University of Southampton, said: "This ongoing research highlights the need to better understand the ways in which snow leopards use their habitats, so that conservation management can be targeted to critical areas."

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Professor Riordan co-authored two research papers, one focused on China's Qilianshan National Park and the other on snow leopard movements in Kazakhstan's Dzungarian Basin.

The studies highlight the importance of habitat connectivity, showing that snow leopards depend on movement corridors beyond protected areas.

These findings have already begun to inform policy decisions in China and Kazakhstan, guiding the expansion of protected areas and restoration of habitat corridors.

Snow leopards are listed as vulnerable, with an estimated 3,000 mature individuals remaining in the wild.