Work

Greenery or fear: Site use of Himalayan ibex in a predator-dominant landscape

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ), has increased in abundance alongside snow leopard populations due to ongoing conservation efforts. However, the behavioral strategies that enable ibex to persist in the predator-rich mountain ecosystems of Pakistan remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we investigated habitat use and co-occurrence patterns of Himalayan ibex and snow leopards by using occupancy modeling. Ibex occupancy was positively associated with rugged terrain and higher elevations and negatively associated with distance from roads. Snow leopards showed a preference for rugged habitats. The co-occurrence of these species was mediated by roads. Ibex avoided snow leopard abundant areas by shifting toward more remote locations to reduce predation risk, whereas snow leopards adaptively track these prey movements. This study suggests that protecting remote, heterogeneous landscapes is essential for sustaining mountain ecosystems and predator-prey dynamics in northern Pakistan.

Source: iScience

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.117885

Authors: Hussain Ali, Chris Sutherland, Jaffar Ud Din, Muhammad Ali Nawaz

Institutions: Quaid-i-Azam University, Snow Leopard Foundation, University of St Andrews, Qatar University

Language: English

Topic: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,240