The snow-capped mountains of northern Pakistan are home to some of the world’s most elusive species, from the iconic snow leopard to wolves, bears, and ibex. Protecting them is no easy task. They roam vast, rugged landscapes, often at low densities, making them difficult to track. Yet, our team at the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) is finding new ways to “listen” to nature’s hidden signals, while also relying on local guardians who keep a watchful eye on the ground.
Those words, spoken by a woman living in the heart of snow leopard country in Pakistan, capture something that has been unfolding across mountain communities for decades. Since Snow Leopard Enterprises (SLE) first launched in Mongolia in 1998, a growing number of people have found that protecting snow leopards and building a better life for their families are not competing goals. They are the same goal.
In the mountain valleys of northern Pakistan, a snow leopard lived a long life. He hunted and roamed freely. He survived the most dangerous years an apex predator can face in a human-dominated landscape. And then, at roughly 12 years of age, he died quietly in a forested area above the village of Wakht, in Chitral’s Garam Chashma valley.
Deep in the northern highlands of Pakistan lies Laspur, a valley like no other. Nestled near Shandur, the world’s highest polo ground, this alpine region is known for its dramatic peaks, expansive green meadows, vibrant summer polo festivals, and the quiet presence of the snow leopard, often called the Ghost of the Mountain.
For decades, the snow leopard has roamed silently across Pakistan’s high peaks, rarely seen and never counted. For the first time, researchers at our partner organization in the country, Snow Leopard Foundation, have produced a robust, nationwide estimate of its population. The results are sobering: the two independent methods employed yielded estimates of 155 and 167 individuals, scattered across some of the world’s most inhospitable terrain.
In the remote Kuju Valley of Chitral, a young woman with a passion for education and social impact is transforming her community through her leadership and commitment to conservation. This success story comes from our partner organization in Pakistan, Snow Leopard Foundation.
As humanity learned the hard way from the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of disease outbreaks has been increasing for humans and animals, amplified by globalization and climate change. Improving livestock health is critical for preventing disease outbreaks in wildlife, and to help enhance the resilience of Indigenous peoples and local communities. Our partner organization in Pakistan, the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF), has successfully launched the first round of its 2025 Livestock Vaccination Campaign. This initiative is a crucial component of our community-centric conservation programs to promote coexistence with snow leopards.
Wildlife crime is a significant threat to global biodiversity, and Pakistan is no exception. Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a multi-billion-dollar industry endangering species like the vulnerable snow leopard. In Pakistan, an estimated eight snow leopards are poached annually. Yet, only a small number of these cases are reported. This highlights the urgent need for specialized training to tackle wildlife crimes. Recently, a Wildlife Crime Scene Investigation (WCSI) Training was organized in Chitra by our country team based at the Snow Leopard Foundation Pakistan (SLFP), providing field staff with essential skills to collect and analyze evidence related to such offenses.
Our team in Pakistan, based at the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF), produces a monthly newsletter with the vision of inspiring the people of Pakistan to live in harmony with wildlife. They advocate for a world where nature is valued and conserved and ecosystem services are sustained to deliver benefits essential for all people. This month, we’re excited to share one of their many uplifting stories.
Community-based and led conservation practices have been part of Snow Leopard Trust’s modus operandi for decades. However, the performance of such programs is rarely measured, making it difficult to assess their impact. A recent study evaluated the effectiveness of our large-scale, community-based conservation initiatives in five countries.
