In Qinghai province’s Three-River-Source National Park, local herders are playing a pivotal role in wildlife conservation efforts on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The collaboration between researchers and communities underscores that protecting species such as snow leopards requires more than scientific tools—it depends on the willingness of residents to coexist with wildlife and share in the benefits of conservation.

Since 2015, a joint team from Peking University and the Shanshui Conservation Center has been working in Angsai township, Zadoi county, collaborating with local herders and ecological rangers to monitor snow leopard populations. The approach integrates traditional ecological knowledge with modern technology, including the deployment of 98 infrared cameras across 72 designated grids. To date, the project has collected nearly 9 terabytes of data and captured over 1,900 images of snow leopards, identifying 142 individuals. Among these, about 20 to 30 leopards are regularly sighted annually, with some documented as matriarchs raising multiple litters over the years.

The cameras also reveal that the local ecosystem remains robust, with blue sheep density at about four individuals per square kilometer, providing sufficient prey to support large carnivores like snow leopards. Artificial intelligence aids by filtering non-animal footage and sorting images with similar patterns, reducing manual workload by up to half. However, experienced volunteers and researchers still perform final identifications, as weather conditions and the animals’ thick fur can obscure details.

Crucially, the success of this long-term monitoring hinges on herders’ participation. These community members serve as “local scientists,” sharing insight into animal behavior, locations, and habitat use, and assisting with sample collection for genetic analysis. Without their continuous cooperation and knowledge, experts acknowledge that maintaining over a decade of consistent wildlife monitoring would not be feasible.

Alongside research, community-based initiatives have sought to balance conservation with local livelihoods. Between 2018 and recent policy changes, a nature experience program trained 22 herding families to host wildlife observation visits, facilitating over 750 trips. Revenue from the program was shared, with nearly half allocated directly to participating households and the remainder supporting communal and conservation funds. In total, the initiative generated approximately 2.5 million yuan (about $370,000), with average earnings per household nearing 70,000 yuan.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. Livestock losses to predators continue to impose financial burdens on herders, and while insurance schemes mitigate immediate impacts, sustaining coexistence requires additional economic opportunities linked to conservation. To this end, a handicraft cooperative established in late 2025 offers a supplementary source of income and skills development for community members, particularly women, by producing goods inspired by local flora and fauna.

Conservation leaders caution that tourism and economic activities must be carefully managed to avoid disturbing fragile ecosystems. Visitors are required to maintain distance from wildlife and adhere to ecological guidelines, with ongoing efforts to balance habitat protection and community engagement.

Long-term success is measured not only by wildlife population data but also by the strength of community relationships and cultural preservation. Each incident of a herder reporting livestock loss without hostility toward snow leopards, each ranger’s patrol up a mountain, and each family choosing to accommodate wildlife represents a daily reaffirmation of this delicate pact. As conservation teams continue their work, the future of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau’s unique landscape depends on maintaining this enduring partnership between people and nature.