In 2021, park rangers, environmental specialists and local citizens in Kyrgyzstan, intercepted poachers with pelts and bones of snow leopards and other species bound for illegal wildlife markets. Many mountain ungulates were also confiscated, most of which were illegally hunted for bushmeat. The illegal trade in endangered species is a significant threat to snow leopards and their wild prey. This success story reinforces how conservation partnerships can help ensure a future for snow leopards.
How improving ID skills can impact snow leopard population counts. Snow leopards are famously elusive, making them challenging to observe and study. We rely on technology like research cameras to be our window into their wild lives.
How one endurance company is making a difference for snow leopard conservation.
Locating wild snow leopards isn’t easy. These threatened cats live across vast and often inaccessible mountain territory. Some individuals use home ranges that can be several hundred square kilometers large. These factors make it extremely challenging to find and monitor them. But we’ve learned never to underestimate the skill and expertise of our field teams!
During the pandemic, even the most rural communities prioritized safety and adapted to using technology for virtual meetings and trainings about handling encounters with snow leopards.
A lot has changed in 40 years, explore how Snow Leopard Trust has evolved and grown since our inception four decades ago.
A firsthand account from Benazir and Ulukbek as they travel the Ala Too Mountains in Kyrgyzstan and speak with herders about their livelihood and the challenges they face.
Research cameras reveal a snow leopard’s long-distance travels in Mongolia.
Karma Sonam from Snow Leopard Trust India Programme receives the NatWest Group Earth Heroes Inspire Award 2021
