Snow Leopards rightly called the ghost of the mountains are the most elusive species of big cats out there in the wild, they are an apex predator in the ecosystem they reside in and they are responsible for the health of the ecosystem, but are the most endangered species of big cats in the world with an estimated population of 4000-6500 in the wild they reside in the high mountains of Central Asia, the Himalayan ranges and the Tian Shan ranges.
According to the IUCN, they are listed as Vulnerable mainly due to the loss of habitat and Human-Wildlife Conflict, poaching of Snow Leopard does happen for their skin to make fur coats, though not targetted for Chinese medicine like the Tiger is, but, they are on the path towards of extinction. They are prolific mountain climbers and their diet mainly consists of Blue Sheep and other species of Mountain Cattle, which is the main reason why they come into contact with Humans putting themselves at risk.
The threats which Snow Leopards face today can be listed below:
Poaching: Snow leopards are poached for their skin to make luxury items such as rugs, fur coats, and a host of other things, their use in Traditional medicine is limited and it will not be the same once other cat species become inaccessible, the onus to fulfill the demand for bones and other parts will fall on the Snow Leopard.
Prey Depletion: Snow leopard’s diet consists of many prey species such as Blue Sheep, Ibex, Marmots, and other small and medium herbivores along with cattle due to the habitat loss caused by Human activity high up in the alpine mountain environment the prey population is decreasing which indirectly impacts the Snow Leopard population forcing them to feed on cattle reared by humans living in the Vicinity which is another reason for their population reduction- Human-Wildlife Conflict.
Climate Change: Climate change is causing the rapid melting of glaciers and snowpacks which is depleting the water and food source for species that the snow Leopard depends on.
Retaliatory Killings: due to the low availability of prey species for the Snow Leopard to feed on the Snow Leopard targets cattle which brings them in direct conflict with Humans who sometimes kill them.
To save and preserve this magnificent species for future generations the current Snow Leopard countries should pool their resources and collaborate so that the Snow Leopard can be saved across all the home range countries, which in turn will preserve the alpine ecosystem where the Snow Leopard is Found.
Currently, there are a lot of Organizations dedicated to the conservation of Snow Leopards such as the
Snow Leopard Network- It is the leading organization dedicated to the conservation and research of Snow Leopards and they work in almost all the Snow Leopard range countries, promoting peaceful co-existence, reducing poaching and preventing loss of habitat, and spreading awareness among the local communities.
WWF (World Wildlife Fund)- is an organization that has a global presence and works with member countries to protect endangered wildlife of which Snow Leopars is also a part of their program.
Snow Leopard Conservancy- it is a non-profit organization that focuses on community-based conservation by teaching communities to co-exist with snow leopards and make them the guardians of Snow Leopards in the process.
The Future of Snow Leopards is uncertain but with continued conservation efforts and educational awareness, we can be rest assured that the Magnificent Ghost of the Mountains will roam the Mountains of Central Asia and Asia for generations to come.
