Thanks to an international effort, on March 23 the Mongolian government rescinded the permit that would have allowed four snow leopards in Mongolia to be killed for “research.” Our senior staff were in Mongolia when the crisis developed and worked with the Snow Leopard Network and local NGOs to convince the government that killing snow leopards for research is completely unnecessary. Read the official press release below:
The Mongolian Government has reversed its earlier decision to allow the killing of four wild snow leopards in the country. The conservation community around the world had been shocked when an article in a local Mongolian newspaper reported earlier this month that permits had been issued by the Mongolian government to kill four specimens of this endangered species in the name of research.
Mongolia is the second most important country after China for wild snow leopards. Only 3,500‐7,000 snow leopards remain in the mountains of Central Asia and their numbers will continue to fall without proper conservation actions. The Snow Leopard Network, a global alliance of over 400 individuals and institutions involved in snow leopard conservation, co‐ordinated a sustained campaign and collaborated closely with Mongolian institutions and scientists to oppose the Government’s earlier decision. SLN’s Executive Director met with the Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism Luimed Gansukh on 21st March.
On 22nd March, the Minister’s office conducted a meeting to discuss this issue with representatives of all leading Mongolian conservation institutions and the SLN. Following this meeting, on 23rd March, the Government decided to cancel its earlier permission to kill this endangered cat. Chair of the SLN Steering Committee Ashiq Ahmad Khan congratulated Luimed Gansukh and his Ministry for their decision, saying “Minister Gansukh’s actions prove that he is willing to uphold Mongolia’s image as a leader in conservation”. He added, “This was a test case for the Snow Leopard Network and its partners, and I am proud that thanks to the collective international and national effort, sense has prevailed”.
The Snow Leopard Network’s activities are currently supported by the Whitley Fund for Nature, The Snow Leopard Conservancy, and The Snow Leopard Trust.
Photo Courtesy of SLT/Panthera
This killing in the name of “research” sounds just as bogus a reason as the Japanese killing the whales. What on earth were the Mongolian government thinking when they originally issues the permits? I guess a lot of money probably changed hands somewhere along the way…. bagged a tiger, bagged a lion, bagged a grizzly bear, bagged a snow leopard…
peter
It is indeed a great spet to save our natural heritage, if we want to be alive we have to think for these beautiful creatures who are killed for men’s spoilt sport..
I congratulate Mongolian conservation institute on this wise desigion,this magnificent cats must stay protected!
Thank you.
Sincerely
Irena Edwards
Killing snow leopards for research won’t work. Studying their habitat and life would. Killing these beautiful creatures would be a monstrosity.
Mara