The snow leopard: elegant and elusive species:
Affected by: Habitat loss and fragmentation , Climate change , Human wildlife conflict , Illegal wildlife trade
The elegant and well-camouflaged snow leopard is one of the world’s most elusive cats. Thinly spread across 12 countries in central and south Asia, it’s at home in high, rugged mountain landscapes. But habitat deterioration, loss of prey species, retaliatory killings due to human-wildlife conflict, poaching and climate change are now threatening their survival.
The snow leopard has a beautiful, spotted coat, thick enough to insulate them from the cold. Their wide, fur-covered feet distribute their weight over soft snow.
Snow leopards are solitary creatures, and skilful predators, able to kill prey up to three times their own weight in challenging terrain. It’s been found that poaching and retaliatory killing (as a consequence of a snow leopard killing livestock) are sometimes linked, and the attitudes and support from local communities living in these remote mountain areas are critical to the success of snow leopard conservation.
Where snow leopards live
Where snow leopards live
Snow leopards are sparsely distributed across 12 countries in central and south Asia, from southern Russia down to the Tibetan plateau, including Mongolia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal.
They’re usually at home in high, rugged mountain landscapes at heights of over 3,000 metres.
Why snow leopards are so important
Why snow leopards are so important
Snow leopards are top predators in their environment, and their prey include mountain sheep and goats. Without the snow leopard, the ecological balance would be disrupted. For example, herbivore populations would increase, resulting in changes to the vegetation, also affecting other wildlife that live in these areas.
The same mountainous landscape also contributes to human wellbeing, locally and regionally. They provide natural resources upon which millions of people depend in addition to being headwaters for river systems that benefit over 2 billion of the world’s human population. So by protecting the snow leopard, we’re benefitting the whole natural environment in these areas and the people who rely on it.
Challenges affecting snow leopards
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© Staffan Widstrand 2004, All Rights ReservedMore Loss of living space
In many areas the snow leopard’s living space is being destroyed or broken up because of the activities of people – for instance grazing livestock.
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© WWF-Canon / Steve MorganMore Climate change
Climate change is an emerging threat. As our planet becomes warmer, plants and animals that need colder temperatures may need to move higher up mountains or further north. This is likely to shift and shrink the snow leopard’s range.
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© James Morgan / WWF-USMore Conflict with people
Because their natural prey are also in decline, snow leopards sometimes eat local livestock, which can result in the farmers killing them in retaliation. This is now one of the biggest threats to snow leopards in parts of their range.
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More Poaching and Illegal wildlife trade
Despite their godlike local status, snow leopards are also poached for their fur and body parts. Their stunning coat is most in demand, but their bones are also sold, mainly for use in traditional Asian medicine.
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