Camera‑trap evidence of Myricaria sp. consumption and head‑rubbing by a wild snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in an alpine ecosystem: Event‑level dataset
Data files
Jun 22, 2026 version files 27.86 KB
-
Dryad_Camera-Trap_Data_Kinoshita_unformatted.xlsx
22.42 KB
-
README.md
5.44 KB
Abstract
Plant consumption by felids is widely reported, however direct behavioral evidence in wild individuals remains scarce. A camera-trap was used to document plant-directed behaviors by wild snow leopards (Panthera uncia) toward Myricaria sp. and to compare responses of sympatric mammals. A camera was deployed at approximately 2,580 m in the Shamshy co-managed nature protected area, Kyrgyzstan, recording 60‑s videos upon motion detection across 412 monitoring days. In total, 1,065 videos were obtained, including 131 mammal encounters representing nine wild species and four domestic species. Plant consumption was observed in snow leopards, domestic horses (Equus ferus caballus), Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), and domestic cattle (Bos taurus), however Myricaria sp. ingestion occurred only in snow leopards and horses. A single adult male snow leopard was recorded on 15 occasions across three non-consecutive days. Across 15 videos, feeding on Myricaria sp. occurred during 14, typically following sniffing (11/15) and then, often, head‑rubbing (7/15). The snow leopard progressively consumed branches from distal tips toward the proximal base. These events occurred in winter and early spring when Myricaria sp. bore mostly stubbles and stems. Horses appeared on six non-consecutive days (50 videos) and fed on Myricaria sp. only during the leafy period recorded on one day (14 videos) on 25th September 2022 seven of 18 passing horses fed, defoliating shrubs. Domestic dogs and ibexes sniffed Myricaria sp. in three and four videos respectively but did not consume it. These observations provide the first camera‑trap evidence of Myricaria sp. consumption by wild snow leopards and reveal associated sniffing followed by feeding and then head‑rubbing, suggestive of olfactory assessment and also potential marking. Species-specific use of Myricaria sp. indicates roles beyond forage. The findings motivate targeted chemical and physiological studies to clarify functional drivers (e.g., gastrointestinal, self‑medication, oral stimulation, or scent‑marking) of plant‑directed behaviors in felids.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.905qftv0r
Description of the data and file structure
Dataset Title
Camera-trap records of snow leopard and sympatric mammals interacting with Myricaria sp. in Kyrgyzstan
Description
This dataset contains camera-trap records collected in the Shamshy co-managed nature protected area, Kyrgyzstan. The data were used to investigate interactions between snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and Myricaria shrubs, including feeding, sniffing, and rubbing behaviors, and to compare these interactions with those of sympatric wild and domestic mammals.
The dataset supports the findings reported in:
Kinoshita, K., Yoshimura, H., Zhumabai uulu, K., Sharma, K., Sergek uulu, A., Djaparov, E., Tolok uulu, K., & Kikuchi, D. M. (2026). Camera-Trap Evidence of Myricaria sp. Consumption and Head-Rubbing by a Wild Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) in an Alpine Ecosystem. Ecology and Evolution, 16(6), e73765. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73765
Files and variables
File: Dryad_Camera-Trap_Data_Kinoshita_unformatted.xlsx
This file contains all camera-trap records used in the study. Formatting was removed.
Each row represents one independent camera-trap video record.
Study Area
Data were collected in the Shamshy co-managed nature protected area, Kyrgyzstan. The camera trap was installed near naturally occurring Myricaria shrubs in alpine habitat used by snow leopards and other mammal species.
Methods
A motion-triggered camera trap was deployed to monitor animal activity around Myricaria shrubs. The camera was programmed to record 60-second videos when triggered by animal movement.
Video footage was reviewed manually, and species identity and behavior were recorded for each detection event.
Behavioral observations followed a standardized ethogram (see Table S1 in the associated publication). Particular attention was given to interactions with Myricaria shrubs, including:
- Consumption of Myricaria sp.
- Consumption of plant species other than Myricaria sp.
- Sniffing of Myricaria sp.
- Rubbing against Myricaria sp.
Behavioral data were recorded using one-zero sampling, indicating whether a given behavior occurred at least once during a video record.
Variables
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| Date | Date of the camera-trap record (YYYY-MM-DD). |
| Time | Time of the camera-trap record (24-hour format). |
| temperature (°C) | Ambient temperature recorded by the camera trap at the time of detection. |
| Species | Species detected in the video. |
| Behavior (refer to the standardized ethogram in Table S1) | Behavioral category assigned according to the ethogram provided in Table S1 of the associated publication. |
| Eating Myricaria sp. | Indicates consumption of Myricaria sp. during the video. |
| Eating plants other than Myricaria sp. | Indicates consumption of plant species other than Myricaria sp. during the video. |
| Sniffing Myricaria sp. | Indicates sniffing behavior directed toward Myricaria sp. during the video. |
| Rubbing Myricaria sp. | Indicates rubbing behavior directed toward Myricaria sp. during the video. |
Code/software
Data Coding
Behavioral variables were recorded as presence/absence observations.
- A non-empty entry indicates that the behavior was observed at least once during the video record.
- Blank cells indicate that the behavior was not observed.
- Species names follow the identifications used in the associated publication.
- Behavioral definitions are provided in Table S1 of the associated publication.
Limitations
The dataset represents observations from a single camera-trap location and should therefore be interpreted as site-specific behavioral observations rather than estimates of population-level behavior.
Because behavioral observations were derived from motion-triggered videos, the absence of a behavior in a record does not necessarily indicate that the behavior never occurred outside the camera's field of view.
Access information
Associated Publication
Kinoshita, K., Yoshimura, H., Zhumabai uulu, K., Sharma, K., Sergek uulu, A., Djaparov, E., Tolok uulu, K., & Kikuchi, D. M. (2026).
Camera-Trap Evidence of Myricaria sp. Consumption and Head-Rubbing by a Wild Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) in an Alpine Ecosystem.
Ecology and Evolution, 16(6), e73765.
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.73765
Recommended Citation
Please cite both this dataset and the associated publication when using these data.
Contact
Kodzue Kinoshita
Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan