Snow Leopards - Pictures

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Snow Leopards - Distribution

The Snow Leopards can be found in the mountainous regions of central Asia ranging from Russia and Mongolia to China and Tibet into the Himalayan regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. There are two subspecies of Leopards and they are Uncia uncia uncia and Uncia uncia uncioides. They are divided according to their range distribution. The first type is found mainly in the northern regions and the other in the southern regions.

Nowadays the population of Snow Leopards is estimated to be between 4,000 and 7,000, with sharp declines in certain regions reported since the 1990s. The remaining Snow Leopards live in remote areas of the following 12 countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Although in several areas this cat is extinct completely, approximately 600 to 700 Snow Leopards can be found in zoos around the world.

Snow Leopards - Status

The Snow Leopard is listed as endangered on the IUCN-World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species. In addition, the Snow Leopard, with all the big cats, is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which makes trading of live cats or cat parts (i.e., fur, bones and meat) illegal in signatory countries. There are also special national laws that protect these animals.

Snow Leopards - Threats

These animals are being killed by hunters for the sake of their coat and for their internal organs that are used in traditional medicine. The other threat of the animal is revenge killings by herders. Loss of prey has also contributed to the extinction of these animals, nowadays.

Across parts of the cat's range, unregulated hunting by people has diminished its food supply. And herders have moved further into Snow Leopard territory, creating competition between wild sheep and domestic livestock for the same grazing lands, pushing the wild prey to other areas.

The other very serious problem is illegal trade. Some parts of Snow Leopard's body are used in medicine and cost much on the black market; thus, the animals are traded for their pelts, bones, and body parts.

Recent reports indicate that trade in Snow Leopard bone for use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has increased. Earlier tiger's parts were most popular, but as the tiger has become rare so the Snow Leopard parts are used instead. Another threat to the Snow Leopards is habitat fragmentation and the deliberate poisoning of small mammals, which affects both the Snow Leopard and its prey.

Snow Leopards - Special Protecting Organizations

Among organizations for protection is a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) that supports research and habitat conservation projects for the Snow Leopard in many parts of its range. In Mongolia, WWF has created an anti-poaching team and also supports Snow Leopard Enterprises, a non-profit handicraft enterprise started by the International Snow Leopard Trust.

This project offers herders an opportunity to increase their income in return for protecting the Snow Leopard. Another aim of WWF consists in working out a plan to put a stop to the illegal traffic in endangered cat skins, and to create and maintain reserves to protect them and other endangered species.

The total population of the Snow Leopard is now in hundreds rather than thousands. It has been fully protected in India since 1952, and is also protected in the USSR. It is also illegal to possess a coat made from snow leopard fur, but such coats are still sold. Urgent and decisive action must be taken if Snow Leopards are going to survive into the 21st century.

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