As we prepare to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, we’re reminded of our shared responsibility to protect our planet’s fragile ecosystems. This global day of observance highlights that the story of conservation is not just about the endangered snow leopard. It’s also about you and how you can be a powerful force for nature.
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.
Nestled in the wild mountains of Kyrgyzstan, a weathered cabin serves as a sanctuary where rangers protecting endangered snow leopards find themselves sharing quarters with unexpected visitors. Kubanych Jumabai, Director of our Kyrgyzstan Program and head of the Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan (SLFK), our partner organization in the country, shares the magic of conservation work on nature’s frontlines.
In the northern reaches of Mongolia, where the taiga forest meets rugged borderlands, ranger Boldbaatar’s exceptional vigilance has earned him recognition among his peers. His steadfast work combating illegal hunting and safeguarding the mountain home of an isolated snow leopard demonstrates how one dedicated guardian can make a difference.
Water is essential for all life—even for cats, despite their longstanding grievance towards it! All animals rely on water—a limited resource in the more arid parts of snow leopard habitat. During our long-term research study in the Gobi Desert, we’ve encountered multiple examples of the tight connection between cats and water.
Results from China’s first large-scale assessment of snow leopard populations were recently published. Researchers estimate a population of 1,002 individuals and a density of 0.90 cats per 100 km2 within the Sanjianyuan region of Qinghai Province, reinforcing China as a crucial player in global snow leopard conservation.
Our team recently conducted a training workshop in Mongolia focused on gender inclusivity in conservation. Promoting gender equality is crucial for ensuring ethical and effective practices in conservation efforts.
The moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here! As part of our long-term efforts to broaden our understanding of the endangered snow leopard and its prey, we’re currently monitoring three GPS-collared cats, one ibex and 14 domestic goats. We have successfully tracked a total of 42 snow leopards in the protected area of Mongolia’s Tost Mountains since 2009.
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.
Snow Leopard Trust and its partners recently led a second “training-of-trainers” workshop on ethical community engagement for conservation in Mongolia’s Hustai National Park. All the conservationists traveled for multiple days with multiple layovers to participate in the training workshop. However, long layovers weren’t the biggest obstacle for many participants.
