While you go about your daily life, something remarkable is unfolding in the rugged peaks of Mongolia: motion-triggered research cameras are capturing extraordinary moments in the lives of Earth’s most elusive big cat. These secret “selfies” of wild snow leopards aren’t just incredible images – they’re vital pieces of a complex conservation puzzle.
Our researchers have documented a previously unseen behavior: a snow leopard digging for water in Mongolia’s Tost Mountains. This observation sheds light on how these endangered cats may adapt to drought and arid environments.
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.
This Oct. 23 is the 11th anniversary of International Snow Leopard Day. We invite you to celebrate with us and spread the word about the need to protect the elusive ghost of the mountains and its fragile ecosystems. Read on to find out how twelve nations, often at odds with one another, set aside their differences to create this momentous day.
Snow Leopard Trust Senior Scientist Dr. Örjan Johannson has a bit of a reputation. Yes, he and our Mongolian team of conservationists have safely collared more snow leopards than all other studies put together, but what he’s really known for are his insightful and often dry email updates from the field. We’ve compiled a sampling below from the latest collaring effort in Mongolia. Enjoy!
Our team in Pakistan, based at the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF), is safeguarding snow leopards and fragile high mountain ecosystems by implementing various climate adaptation interventions focused on sustainable resource management, ecological restoration and community-led conservation. These initiatives help local communities build resilience in the face of a changing climate and mitigate further damage to their shared ecosystem.
Snow Leopard Trust’s partner organization in India, Nature Conservation Foundation, recently completed a population assessment of snow leopards in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar High Altitude National Park (KHANP). This is the first assessment of its kind in this area.
Test your knowledge about the threats snow leopards face and spread the word to help support our conservation efforts to protect the endangered ghost of the mountains. Answers will be revealed when you complete the quiz. You can retake the quiz as many times as you’d like!
Decades after Snow Leopard Trust Founder Helen Freeman’s work at Woodland Park Zoo inspired her commitment to protecting this iconic species, we carry her legacy forward by ensuring a future for snow leopards in the wild, while also collaborating with zoos around the world.
Horses are integral to the livelihood and culture of herding communities who coexist with snow leopards. Last year, one of our dedicated community partners in Mongolia, Enkhburen (Buren) Nyam, experienced the loss of a foal to a snow leopard attack. Both wolves and snow leopards pose a threat to young horses.
