Snow Leopard Conservation
Snow leopards are known as the “ghosts of the mountains,” a nod to their excellent camouflage and compelling mystique. But the specter of extinction haunts these cats, and if conservation efforts are not sustained and supported, snow leopards may become no more than ghosts afterall.
Here’s a look at the state of snow leopard conservation today.
Are Snow Leopards Endangered?
Snow leopards were previously listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Endangered. Since 2016, however, their status has been listed as Vulnerable, which is one level less urgent. This is because their population numbers were determined to exceed the Endangered maximum of 2,500 mature individuals.
This isn’t to say that their species is safe. The Red List classification of Vulnerable still denotes a “species threatened with global extinction.” Snow leopard populations are on a decreasing trend, with a continuing decline of mature individuals.
Threats to the Snow Leopard
A host of threats spells danger for the snow leopard. The biggest issues at play are these:
Poaching: Snow leopard fur is highly valued, while their bones and other body parts are sought as ingredients in traditional medicine. Despite laws that ban the trade of snow leopard parts, illegal hunting continues. The Snow Leopard Trust reports that between 2008 and 2016 alone, 220-450 cats were killed and traded each year.
Retaliatory Killings: When snow leopards stray into nearby communities, they prey on livestock and cause significant economic losses for already hard-pressed herders. In retaliation, locals may hunt and kill snow leopards to preemptively protect their livestock and livelihood.
Habitat Loss: Snow leopards also suffer from habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation because of industrial activities like mining and large-scale ecological threats like climate change. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that “impacts from a warming planet could result in a loss of up to 30% of the snow leopard habitat in the Himalayas alone.”
Snow Leopard Conservation Initiatives
Organizations are working to support snow leopard conservation from many different angles. Education, anti-poaching initiatives, and policy advocating are just a few of these efforts.
The Land of Snow Leopard Network, a collaboration between western science and traditional ecological knowledge, is “reviving ancient conservation practices and creating pathways for Indigenous Cultural Practitioners to be coequal partners in research and planning for the conservation of snow leopards.” The Snow Leopard Conservancy is supporting local economies by demonstrating the value of living snow leopards via ecotourism and sustainable travel.
At International Veterinary Outreach (IVO), we’re working with the Snow Leopard Conservancy to prevent livestock depredation in Annapurna, Nepal. Our snow leopard conservation program will help stop retaliatory killings while benefiting local community members.
Donate today to support our conservation efforts and our other animal health programs around the globe! Here at IVO, we’re on a mission to create a healthy global community free of animal suffering. We want to improve the lives of people and animals worldwide, and you can help us do it! Find out how you can get involved, sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date, and learn more about our decade of positive impact!
