Elizabeth Brill spends her days preserving intricate works of art and science as a Blaschka Glass Marine Invertebrate Preservation Specialist. But when that workday ends, her heart travels thousands of miles away to the high mountains of Asia, where snow leopards roam.
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.
Findings from a new study have upended long-held assumptions about snow leopard eating habits. The results? Bigger is (almost) always better.
When our team recently visited five wild snow leopard cubs in their dens in Mongolia, the news made waves around the world. But this rare event isn’t just headline worthy—it’s scientifically important for the survival of the species. Since 2008, we’ve only visited snow leopard dens five other times. Each discovery provides vital data about reproduction in these elusive cats. Read on to find out why these moments matter so much for snow leopard conservation.
In honor of World Ranger Day, we are shining the spotlight on Munkhtenger Tumursukh, a wildlife ranger from Mongolia. He was recently lauded as the Best of the Best among rangers in snow leopard habitat for 2024 in a ceremony organized by Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation. He stood shoulder to shoulder with 19 other rangers hailing from across the country, all celebrated for their service and commitment to protecting the vast natural diversity of Mongolia.
Our recent discovery of 5 healthy cubs in two separate den sites in Mongolia’s Tost Mountains is another breakthrough moment for snow leopard science. Effective conservation depends on understanding the factors that drive population stability and growth. We use GPS collars and camera traps to monitor individual cats over many years, but these methods can’t capture the earliest stages of cub life. That’s why, when a rare occasion presents itself, our team conducts den visits using extreme care to minimize disturbance.
Let’s find out! Learn what makes these mountain dwellers special, and take the quiz to test your ungulate IQ.
Snow Leopard Trust Eco-Camps inspire school-aged children to connect with nature and support the conservation of Asia’s high mountain landscapes and wildlife. This firsthand (translated) account is from Iskenalieva, a seventh-grade student who recently attended a camp in Kyrgyzstan, who had the sighting of a lifetime!
New recommendations for avoiding negative impacts of infrastructure in snow leopard landscapes from the International Snow Leopard Trust, WWF, and the Center for Large Landscape Conservation
