Snow Leopard digging for water in an arid environment

Abstract

Adaptations to arid environments are vital for wildlife, involving strategies to conserve and utilize water. In these regions, water availability depends on seasonal rainfall, affecting species distribution and behavior. This note documents a snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in the Tost Mountains of southern Mongolia digging for water, an undocumented behavior. The first author identified evidence of snow leopards digging for water, and we then used camera-traps to document this behavior. Unique pelt patterns identified one snow leopard digging for water in the summer of 2022, with drinking observed. Other species also drank at the site, suggesting snow leopards may act as ecological engineers by creating water sources for other species. Four other snow leopards were observed to visit the site in the late fall, winter, and early spring of 2022 and 2023. These snow leopards did not dig or drink but this may largely have been related to subzero temperatures and the ground being frozen for most of this period. The snow leopard digging for and exposing water may help to support biodiversity in desert ecosystems. However, further research is needed to determine its prevalence and impact. Understanding these strategies is crucial for conservation, especially with increasing droughts and extreme weather in arid landscapes.