Can You Spot the Danger? Take the Snow Leopard Threats Quiz

The correct answers are a, c & d. A snow leopard baby boom is not feasible because of their slow reproductive rate and relatively high age of sexual maturity.

False – According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a significant part of the world’s illegal trade in wild animal products is driven by U.S. consumers.

All of these options help prevent retaliatory killings and promote coexistence between human and wildlife. Read more about our conservation programs here.

TRUE – The high mountains of Asia, known as Earth’s Third Pole, are among the planet’s most vulnerable regions to climate change, with the rate of warming expected to be twice that of the average rate for the Northern Hemisphere. 

The answer is all of the above. These threatened big cats are killed and illegally traded for their fur and other body parts, including teeth, claws, and bones.

FALSE – Flash floods, disease outbreaks, droughts and other climate disasters are already causing significant losses to lives, livestock and livelihoods. Additionally, these catastrophic weather events can result in altered human-wildlife interactions and negative encounters and, thus, lower tolerance for snow leopards.

Snow leopards face many significant threats, including poaching for the illegal wildlife trade (and retaliatory killings), habitat loss from development (such as mining and poorly planned roads) and the various effects of climate change. Frostbite is not a serious concern because snow leopards are well adapted to living in cold climates.

False – Mining and poorly planned infrastructure development are destroying and fragmenting their habitats, reducing their prey base and increasing access for illegal hunting. In addition, climate change is further impacting their mountain habitat.

True – The white rhino population is estimated to be >10,000 animals. The snow leopard population is estimated to be between 3,500 and 7,000.

Human activities pose the greatest threat to snow leopards. Fortunately, humans can also be their greatest hope. Thank you for supporting our conservation efforts to ensure a future for this endangered species.