# Guidelines for Telemetry Studies on Snow Leopards
## 2 Evaluation  
To determine the validity of any proposed collaring study, the initial step is to formulate a clear research plan, outlining and justifying each question that the study seeks to answer, and articulating if and how telemetry data are necessary for addressing those questions. Are the study goals (a) exploratory--i.e., describing patterns without reference  
Figure 1: Flowchart summarizing the main steps needed to launch a telemetry study. to explicit _a priori_ hypotheses; (b) inferential--i.e., for confirming/testing _a priori_ hypotheses about specific ecological patterns; or (c) predictive--i.e., forecasting the effects of ecological change through time and/or space [15; 16]? What are the statistical and biological populations of interest? Articulating these goals and answering these questions in advance will help interested parties to assess whether the expected data will be suitable for their intended purpose. If the aim is to improve conservation or management goals, the plan needs to explain how the data from the proposed study will contribute to those improvements. Moreover, the process of justifying research questions and goals will help all parties evaluate the merits of the proposed research, avoid potentially trivial questions/hypotheses [17] and hopefully identify and rectify potential inadequacies early. The research plan should address how the 3 Rs--_Replacement_, _Reduction_, _Refinement_[18]--will be implemented to ensure that the proposed research is humane [19]. Within the _Replace_ theme, researchers should demonstrate that alternative methods to gain the information needed are inadequate, and thus leave collaring as the only option. Analytical and technological innovations in non-invasive tools such as camera traps and fecal genetics are increasingly capable of at least partially addressing questions that previously required collar-based location data [20]. In many instances, existing literature and research (possibly relying on analogous taxa) may be sufficient for project needs. The research plan should summarize the weight of evidence that unequivocally shows that no other suitable, less invasive methods are available, with explanations as needed and a review of relevant literature. _Reduction_ of the number of individuals required is rarely a salient concern in snow leopard telemetry studies because of the inherent challenges of capturing snow leopards. It is nonetheless important to consider that once the desired sample size is achieved, captures should be stopped until a new study plan is developed that justifies the need for additional captures. Reduction can also be obtained by ensuring that all captured animals are comprehensively studied, for example, by collecting samples for future disease surveys or genetic analyses, without compromising animal welfare. Similarly, reduction may entail archiving telemetry data in a repository like Movebank [21], with an embargo period if needed (for sensitive data) and/or commitment to make data available to others upon reasonable request. This would help reduce the need for additional animals to be captured for future studies. Reduction also refers to the duration of time that the animals are affected, for example by ensuring that tracking devices are removed from the animals once the batteries are depleted. Re-capturing individuals to change collars when batteries are depleted allows the same individuals to be monitored for a long time, generating valuable data on life history, intra-specific space use dynamics, and longer-term habitat or behavioral changes. This can be justified if the aims require such data but the impact on the animals from re-captures and wearing tracking devices for a longer duration need to be considered. Non-target species that are affected should be considered as well, and reduction can be obtained by choosing a capture technique that minimizes the risk of capturing non-target animals.